QM: 8.5 Improvement (Continual improvement)

Introduction:

There are different management strategies for improvement depending upon the type of product and process. Few examples of opportunities and implementation of improvement are listed below.

Opportunities of improvement identified through-

• Establishing the quality policy which is communicated and understood within the organization, this policy provides framework for quality objectives and is reviewed for continuing suitability
• Establishing and monitoring Quality objectives at relevant functions and levels within the organization which are measureable and consistent with the quality policy
• Inputs from employees, suppliers, and other interested parties
• Customer satisfaction and any other customer feedback
• Market research and analysis
• Internal and external audits of the quality system
• Records of product nonconformance
• Data from process and product characteristics and their trends
• Opportunities for improvement may also be identified on a special project basis. 

       The following are examples of such projects:

Non value-added use of floor space

Excessive inspection/ testing

Excessive handling and storage

Excessive failure quality costs

Machine set-up changeover times

Implementation of Improvements through-

• Corrective actions
• Preventive actions
• Change control
• Risk assessment
• Revision of quality policy and quality objective
• Improvement project (which may be initiate as a response to opportunities for improvement and in addition from lessons learned, problem resolutions, bench marking of best practices, management directives, announcements, memoranda, and so forth.

8.5	IMPROVEMENT
8.5.1	Continual Improvement

8.5     Improvement

8.5.1 Continual improvement

The company plans and manages the processes necessary for the continual improvement of the QMS. Causes of nonconformance are identified, investigated, and where appropriate, corrective actions are implemented to ensure there are no reoccurrences. Preventive actions are implemented to eliminate the cause of potential nonconformance.

Owner of each process is responsible for the continual improvement of the quality management system in his or her respective areas. Effectiveness of continual improvement activity is assessed during the management review.

The inputs for improvement opportunities are obtained from the following sources:

Establishing the quality policy which is communicated and understood within the organization, this policy provides framework for quality objectives and is reviewed for continuing suitability

Establishing and monitoring Quality objectives at relevant functions and levels within the organization which are measureable and consistent with the quality policy

Inputs from employees, suppliers, and other interested parties

Customer satisfaction and any other customer feedback

Market research and analysis

Internal and external audits of the quality system

Records of product nonconformance

Data from process and product characteristics and their trends.

Evaluation & prioritization of opportunities for improvement and there implementation is done at different levels. If national and regional regulations require notification, this is handled through change control procedure.

Opportunities for improvement from daily feedback on operational performance (i.e., disposition of nonconforming product, internal audits, customer complaints, etc) are evaluated by the Quality Department. Typically they are implemented through corrective and preventive action system.

Opportunities for improvement from analysis of longer-term data and trends are evaluated and implemented through the management review process. They are prioritized with respect to their relevance for achieving quality objective. When opportunities for improvement are no longer supported by the current policy and objective, management will establish new quality objective, and review the quality policy. Long term improvement projects are initiated through the management review process, as well as the corrective and preventive action system.

Product improvement opportunities are evaluated by marketing, quality and developmental groups with top management. They are implemented through change control system.