Quality Management Systems - Key Terms (VOCAB Flashcards)

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from the lecture notes on quality management systems, quality tools, standards, and quality gurus.

Quality

The degree to which a product or service meets customer needs; traditionally fitness for use; modern view links quality to lower variability; often defined as performance divided by expectations.

Juran's Quality Trilogy

Quality Planning, Quality Control, and Quality Improvement—the three managerial activities for achieving and maintaining quality.

Crosby's Four Absolutes of Quality

1) Quality is conformance to requirements; 2) Quality requires a system of prevention; 3) Quality is zero defects; 4) Measurement is the price of non-conformance.

Deming's 14 Points

A set of management principles for quality improvement emphasizing constancy of purpose, elimination of fear, and many systemic changes.

PDCA Cycle (Deming Cycle)

Plan-Do-Check-Act: a cycle for planning a change, implementing it, studying the results, and standardizing or abandoning the change.

Statistical Process Control (SPC)

On-line quality control tool using statistical methods to monitor and control a process.

Control Chart

A graphical SPC tool used to determine if a process is in control by comparing data to control limits.

Design of Experiments (DOE)

Systematic method to vary controllable input factors to determine their effects on outputs; off-line tool crucial for variability reduction.

Acceptance Sampling

Inspection and classification of a random sample from a batch to decide on disposition; types include outgoing (after production) and incoming (before use).

Total Quality Management (TQM)

A managerial framework to achieve quality improvement; also known as CWQC, Total Quality Assurance, or Six-Sigma in some contexts.

5S Program

Sort, Systematize, Sweep, Standardize, Shitsuke; a workplace organization method to improve efficiency and safety.

Total Productive Maintenance (TPM)

A holistic maintenance program involving all employees; emphasizes 8 pillars and the idea that maintenance is a shared responsibility.

Quality Circle / Quality Teams

Small, usually cross-functional groups of employees that meet to solve quality problems; often self-directed.

Suggestion System

A formal program to collect employee ideas for improvement; management acts on suggestions and may reward contributors.

Six Sigma

A statistical measure of process capability aiming for near defect-free performance; goal of 3.4 defects per million opportunities and a broader business strategy.

Cost of Poor Quality (COPQ)

Costs associated with producing or delivering nonconforming products/services; categories include prevention, appraisal, internal failure, and external failure.

ISO 9000

International standard for Quality Management Systems; focuses on managing an organization’s key processes and continuous improvement.

Quality Management Principles (ISO 9000, Eight Principles)

Customer focus; leadership; engagement of people; process approach; system approach to management; continual improvement; factual decision making; mutually beneficial supplier relationships.

HACCP (Hazard Analysis & Critical Control Points)

Prevention-based food safety system identifying hazards and critical control points where control prevents/eliminates hazards.

GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice)

Minimum sanitary and processing requirements for all food processing establishments; foundational for food safety and quality systems.

GHP (Good Hygiene Practice)

Hygiene practices and standards in food production and processing.

SQF 2000

SQF code for food safety and quality; aligned with HACCP and ISO 9000; applicable across the agri/food supply chain.

Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award (Baldrige Award)

The U.S. national award recognizing organizational excellence and performance improvement.

Philippine Quality Award (PQA)

National award in the Philippines recognizing exemplary organizational performance and continuous improvement; focuses on results and customer satisfaction.

Quality Characteristics – Physical/Structural

Measurable physical attributes of a part or product, such as length, weight, strength, viscosity.

Quality Characteristics – Sensory

Attributes perceived by senses, such as taste, smell, aesthetics.

Quality Characteristics – Time-oriented

Measures like warranty, reliability, and maintainability.

Quality Characteristics – Ethical

Non-tactual attributes such as honesty, courtesy, and professionalism.

Quality Assurance (QA)

Systematic activities to provide confidence that quality requirements will be met; ongoing assessment and timely corrective action.

Quality Control (QC)

Operational techniques and activities used to fulfill quality requirements and assess conformity.

Process Approach

Managing activities and resources as processes with defined interfaces and inputs/outputs, aiming for value-added results and continual improvement.

Quality Planning

Strategic activity to determine customer needs, translate them into requirements, and plan to meet them.

Quality Improvement

Activities to reduce variability and improve processes and products, often through SPC, DOE, and other tools.

Juran's Road Map

Identify customers; determine needs; translate needs; develop product; optimize product features; develop process; optimize process; prove the process can produce.

ISO/TS16949:2002

ISO Technical Specification aligning automotive quality system standards; specifies QMS requirements for design/development, production, installation, and servicing of automotive-related products.

DMAIC (Six Sigma methodology)

Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control—structured problem-solving approach used in Six Sigma projects.

HACCP – Critical Control Point (CCP)

A step at which control can be applied and is essential to prevent or eliminate a food safety hazard.

USL/LSL

Specification limits used to judge whether a process output lies within acceptable bounds.