What is a Quality Management System?
A quality management system (QMS) is a set of policies, processes, and procedures required for planning and execution (production/development/service) in the core business area of an organization (i.e., areas that can impact the organization’s ability to meet customer requirements).
What is a Quality Management System Standard?
ISO 9001:2015 is internationally-recognized as a standard that sets out the criteria for a quality management system. It is based on a number of quality management principles including a strong customer focus, the motivation and implication of top management, the process approach, and continual improvement. These principles are explained in more detail in the PDF: Quality Management Principles.
According to ISO, using ISO 9001:2015 helps ensure that customers get consistent, good quality products and services, which in turn brings many business benefits. It can be used by any organization, large or small, regardless of its field of activity. In fact, there are over one million companies and organizations in over 170 countries certified to ISO 9001.
Industry sector-specific examples of quality management systems standards include:
- IATF 16949:2016 (automotive)
- AS9000 (aerospace)
- ISO 13485:2016 (medical devices)
- … and more
