Log in. The CQI. Community. Membership. Training. Qualifications. Knowledge Hub. Careers in quality. Cudtomers & sh. Body of Knowledge. 1.1 - History and tradition. It is difficult to try to pin down the origins of quality control or quality assurance.
One would first have to identify the start of what we might call 'quality' before deciding when it progressed to organised systems for ensuring this quality was maintained - the control element. Similarly, quality assurance was the next step of designing quality into manufacturing processes. Also, before supporting processes for delivering products 'right first time', quality had individual breakthroughs through the course of history. Quality control as a practice has been around ever since man has been making things. There is even a school of thought that evolution itself is a form of quality control. 'As natural selection works solely by and for the good of each being, all corporeal and mental endowments will tend to progress towards perfection.' The detailed information that follows is available to CQI members only.
Technology and techniques. Concepts of quality. This section of the knowledge centre, corresponding to module one of the Body of Quality Knowledge, looks at the development of quality through history, the experts who have driven that development and the contemporary situation.
Subjects include: 1.2 Evolution of quality thinking. For example, there is huge difference between 'quality' management and 'quality management'.
Both terms rely on an understanding of the meaning of both 'quality' and 'management', which will vary depending on the context in which they are used. 1.2 Evolution of quality thinking: in-depth. Introduction As stated in the public pages, the meaning, use and interpretation of words is of particular significance for this topic, as are perceptions, attitudes and trends.
The quality movement has for perhaps too long been based around conformance and stability - but managing change is now more of a challenge than maintaining the status quo, and radical change can achieve more than minor enhancements. Corporate strategy. This section of the Body of Knowledge looks at corporate strategy, and its impact on stakeholders within and without the organisation, and across the world.
Subjects include: Strategic managementVision, values and mission; business environment; quality planning within the corporate strategy; goals, objectives and principles; customer focus strategy; business plans; stakeholder concerns. Continual improvement: in-depth. Continual improvement is referred to in countless annual reports, corporate policies, and value statements, but it is often hard to define.
It sometimes seems to be the same as six sigma or total quality, but these terms are also ill-defined. Kaizen is another term that literally means continual improvement, but even this single word has such variation in application that it is best to confirm its meaning before accepting its use. Why is continual improvement needed? Because in its absence things will get worse. Anyone with children, a garage or a garden knows that tidiness is not a natural state. Our response as parents, house owners or gardeners to these challenges is usually either to ignore the deterioration, or to engage in episodes of effort to put things right again. So it takes a lot to keep something in the condition it started. Some organisations are run as if they don't need continual improvement. What is continual improvement? Compliance and organisations. Module 5 of the Body of Quality Knowledge covers the legal, standardisation and other frameworks that frame the implementation of quality and the organisations and activities that support it.
Subjects in this area include LegislationLegal framework; consumer protection, enforcement agencies; EU directives; employment directives, product liability, legal requirements. Find a job. Knowledge Hub. ISO 9001:2015 Review. In 2015, the new ISO 9001:2015 standard will be published.
Early feedback indicates this will be a major overhaul that will significantly impact certification bodies, training organisations and businesses using ISO 9001. As a holder of Category A liaison status with ISO Technical Committee 176, the CQI is playing a major role in shaping the direction of the revision process. Through this section of the website, we will be bring you the latest news, insights and support up to and beyond the launch in 2015. Find a consultant. Sometimes, in order to improve, organisations need to seek help from beyond their own resources and look to external consultancy.
In these cases we can help you find credible and recognised consultants from the CQI Management Consultants Register (MCR) whose contribution is to bring value to business. Quality World magazine. Find an auditor. Organisations worldwide need competent auditors who carry out effective audits that achieve increased efficiency, greater competitiveness and enhanced credibility.
By using certificated auditors, you can be confident that your management system is assessed by individuals whose skills and knowledge meet the internationally recognised standards set by the CQI’s auditor certification body, IRCA (the International Register of Certificated Auditors). Use the online find an auditor tool to pick from our register of over 15,000 IRCA auditors in more than 150 countries, competent in auditing the range of management systems: Quality – ISO 9001 (including Aerospace, Maritime and TickITEnvironmental – ISO 14001 Occupational Health & Safety – OHSAS 18001 Food Safety – ISO 22000 Information Security – ISO 27001 IT Management – ISO 20000 Business Continuity – BS 25999 Social Systems and Accountability. Quality Express newsletter. Sign up to receive Quality Express and be kept up to date with industry developments and opinions More than 16,500 quality professionals worldwide currently receive Quality Express, the monthly e-newsletter from the CQI.
Packed full of expert opinions on the quality industry's hot topics, it brings you the latest news on quality every month. Tools and resources. Brigheoform. Research and reports.