Quality Management Principles: Part 5

August 16th, 2010

The quality management system standards of ISO 9000:2008 series are based on eight quality management principles. These principles can be used by senior management as a framework to guide their organizations towards improved performance.

This is the fifth of eight articles which provide a general perspective on these quality management principles, each giving an overview of one of these principles and showing how they can be applied to form a basis for performance improvement and organizational excellence.

Principle 5: System approach to management

Identifying, understanding and managing interrelated processes as a system contributes to the organization’s effectiveness and efficiency in achieving its objectives.

How to apply the principle:

Following on from the process approach (principle #4), identify and understand how the processes within your business are interrelated and inter-dependent. Look at the interfaces between processes and consider whether they are efficient and effective.

Use the information gathered to ensure the system is structured to achieve your objectives, and to provide a better understanding of the roles and responsibilities needed to achieve objectives and thereby reduce cross-functional barriers.

Develop an understanding of your organisation’s capabilities and resource constraints.

Define monitoring and measurement of the effectiveness of the processes and use the data gathered to drive continual improvement through the system.

Key benefits:

Processes will develop in an integrated and aligned manner that will best achieve desired results.

Effort can be focused on key processes.

The consistency, effectiveness and efficiency of your organisation will improve.

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