To quote William A. Foster, "Quality is never an accident. It is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction and skillful execution. It represents the wise choice of many alternatives." And thus, the deliberate pursuit and assurance of Quality is a critical and worthwhile management discipline for many organizations.

So, what is Quality Management?

Quality Management & Assurance, or Quality Management for short, is the practice of managing, assuring, and improving the quality of an organization's products, services, and processes. Quality Management & Assurance is based on the belief that an organization's success is determined by the quality of its products, services, and processes; and that by focusing on quality, organizations can improve their Performance, Customer Satisfaction, and Competitive Advantage.

The most obvious reason why Quality Management is important is that it helps to improve the quality of an organization's products and services. By implementing best practices in Quality Management, organizations can identify and address quality issues; and can ensure that their products and services meet or exceed customer expectations.

By delivering high-quality products and services, organizations can create positive and lasting impressions on their customers, and can build strong and enduring relationships with them. This can help to increase Customer Retention and Loyalty; and can provide a significant Competitive Advantage in a crowded and competitive market.

Quality Management can also help to increase operational efficiency and effectiveness by identifying and addressing inefficiencies and waste in an organization's processes. By implementing Quality Management practices, organizations can streamline their processes, reduce waste and errors, and improve their overall performance. This can help to reduce costs, improve productivity, and increase the overall competitiveness of the organization.

In many industries, Quality Management & Assurance may be a regulatory and compliance requirement. Organizations must meet certain quality and safety standards to avoid potential fines, penalties, and other consequences of non-compliance. This also protects the organization's reputation and assets; and potential legal issues due to quality issues experienced by customers.

For effective implementation, take a look at these Quality Management & Assurance best practices:

• ISO 9001:2015 (QMS) Awareness Training (78-slide PowerPoint deck and supporting ZIP)
• TPM: Quality Maintenance (Hinshitsu Hozen) (145-slide PowerPoint deck and supporting PDF)
• Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) (66-slide PowerPoint deck and supporting Excel workbook)
• Reducing the Cost of Quality (COQ) (131-slide PowerPoint deck)
• Total Quality Management (TQM) (181-slide PowerPoint deck and supporting ZIP)

Related Management Topics

• Cost of Quality
• Quality Control
• Performance Management
• Total Quality Management
• Cost Reduction Assessment
• Product Strategy
• Continuous Improvement
• ISO 9001
• APQP
• Malcolm Baldrige
• Healthcare

Related Flevy Management Insights: Case Studies

• Quality Management Efficiency Improvement for a Global Pharmaceutical Company
• Quality Management & Assurance Improvement for Global Tech Firm
• Quality Management Improvement Initiative for a Global Pharmaceutical Firm
• Enhanced Quality Assurance and Management Strategy for a High-Growth Tech Firm
• Quality Management & Assurance Improvement for a Global Pharmaceutical Firm
• Aerospace Quality Management Enhancement Initiative
• Quality Management Enhancement in Telecom Sector
• Quality Assurance Revamp for E-commerce Platform
• Quality Assurance Enhancement for Telecom Infrastructure Provider