What Is Quality

If we study this process to determine where issues of quality may be present, we find the following  

Integrity of data. It is necessary to ensure that all records and reports correlate with the raw analytical data obtained from analyses. This is to make sure that analysts have transferred the required results from the raw data to the records or report. It is also used to ensure that 

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So what is quality in pharmacy practice Extrapolating from the preceding discussion, it can be said that quality in pharmacy practice... 

Yes, everyone is for quality. But, in the context of this book, what is quality and how do we achieve it as we plan and manage projects and carry out our other student and practice activities How do we make quality operational in our daily work as we provide services and products to our internal colleagues and to our clients, owners, customers, and stakeholders Those questions are pragmatically answered in this chapter. 

Clearly, we need a common definition of quality for this book and for your possible use as a student and practitioner, because it is the desired end point. More particularly, what is quality in the consulting business, in government, in academia, and in volunteer organizations ... 

What is quality provision What are we doing at Key Stage 4 [The LA] used to dump at this phase. Now a student doesn t turn up, a phone call gets made. A few years ago this would not have happened. 

Material and welding quality inspections, based on industry standards, are desirable. Again, API gives some guidance. Beyond this, the inspection method and acceptance criteria must be clearly stated. In preparing his bid, the vendor must understand exactly what is desired. 

Quality systems can address one of the quality goals or all of them, they can be as small or as large as you want them to be. They can be project-specific, or they can be limited to quality control that is, maintaining standards rather than improving them. They can include Quality Improvement Programs (QIPs) or encompass what is called Total Quality Management (TQM). 

Although I have defined terms such as quality control and quality assurance in this chapter, what is important is not the definition but the deeds which it imbues. Whether we call the set of principles I have listed under the heading Quality assurance, Quality Assurance, Quality Improvement or Quality Control makes no difference since it does not change the set of principles. We often seem to invent a term then decide what it means rather than invent or discover a set of principles and think of a suitable name which conveys exactly what we intend without confusing people. Instead of saying Quality control is. .. or TQM is. .. to which there will be many propositions, we should be asking What should we call this group of principles so that we can communicate with each other more efficiently As Shakespeare once said That which we call a rose/By any other name would smell as sweet. ... 

In determining whether the policy is understood, auditors should not simply ask What is the quality policy All this will prove is whether the auditee remembers it The standard does not require that everyone knows the policy, only that it be understood. To test understanding therefore, you need to ask, for example ... 

The note in clause 4.1.1.1 clearly indicates that the objectives should be achievable within a defined time period. Therefore quality objectives should be expressed in the form what is to be achieved and by when. 

The standard requires measurements to be defined to deploy the quality policy. This is a rather odd requirement as measurements cannot deploy anything. What is intended here is that the objectives be expressed in measurable terms. The extent to which the quality policy is being implemented can thus be measured from tracking achievement of quality objectives. 

Productivity is a measure of productive efficiency calculated as the ratio of what is produced to what is required to produce it. Productivity can therefore be considered as a characteristic of a process, and therefore a measure of the quality of a process. Consider two process each producing the same product but one delivers the result using less resources and hence as a consequence has a higher productivity. The process with the higher productivity could thus be regarded as being of better quality. However, measuring resource consumption alone would not be a valid means of comparison as inputs could be vastly different. Hence productivity is a quality characteristic. 

Defining individual responsibilities and authority alone will not define how personnel relate to one another. Interrelation means to place in mutual relationship, so what is needed is a definition of the relationships between all staff with quality responsibilities. The primary reason for defining interrelationships is to establish channels of communication so that work proceeds smoothly without unplanned interruption. Staff need to know from whom they will receive their instructions, to whom they are accountable, to whom they should go to seek information to resolve difficulties, and to whom information or product should be submitted when complete. 

A problem is the difference between the way things are and the way things ought to be, as perceived by the one identifying it. A problem relating to the product, process, or quality system (or quality problem) is therefore a difference between what has been achieved and what is required. There is no requirement in this clause for you to actually identify and record such problems (see below). You are only required to define the... 

What is the purpose of the quality system and where is it defined ... 

These lists tell us something about the nature of quality records, especially by what is not included. Absent from the lists are policies, procedures, instructions, plans, specifications, and any other prescriptive documents. The records all have one thing in common they describe the results of some activity - the results of inspections, tests, reviews, audits, assessments, calculations, etc. However, these lists are dominated by records relating to product quality rather than to the operations of the quality system. In addition to audit records, the following records may need to be maintained to demonstrate the effectiveness of the quality system ... 

It is advisable to identify all your quality records within your procedures. This will avoid arguments on what is or is not a quality record, because once you have chosen to identify a record as a quality record you have invoked all the requirements that are addressed in this chapter. Any document which describes the achieved features and characteristics of a product or service are quality records. Those records which will demonstrate that work has been planned, organized, resourced, monitored, verified, and corrected when found deficient are also quality records. The note following the requirement acknowledges that quality records can be in hard copy or held on a computer disk or magnetic tape. Should both forms be held, you will need to declare which are the masters and provide the appropriate security to prevent inadvertent loss or damage (see below). 

PSM buiids on what is in piace, and seeks to integrate safety issues into ongoing business operations"as opposed to imposing an eiaborate exter-nai structure. The goais of PSM are process-oriented, not procedure-driven, and reflect the Total Quality Management principle of continuous improvement. 

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