GUIDEBOOK NO: 02

QUALITY MANAGEMENT
& PLANNING

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QUALITY MANAGEMENT & PLANNING
Quality management ensures that an organisation, product or service is consistent to a set
of standards or specifications; focused not only on product and service quality, but also on
the means to achieve it.

It has four main components: Quality Planning, Quality Assurance, Quality Control and
Quality Improvement.

1. QUALITY PLANNING
The focus on quality planning is fundamental to any organisation or even a standalone
project. The following diagram shows the sequence of approach from step one, establishing
company requirements, to the final step of Auditing.

Planning for quality starts with the company requirements and management standards that
we apply in every day work activities. However, there are always additional requirements
that need consideration, from legal, clients and other third parties.

The main standard we follow is ISO 9001:2015, which is the

international standard for Quality Management. This
standard outlines the basic establishment of a quality
management system.
The standard is the reference document for external
auditing and accredited certification by an ISO (International
Organization for Standardization) approved body

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2. QUALITY ASSURRANCE & QUALITY CONTROL

Quality assurance (QA) and quality control (QC) are two terms that are often confused,
although similar, there are distinct differences between the two concepts.

It is important that you understand the differences between quality control and quality
assurance if you are to establish an effective quality management system,

QUALITY ASSURANCE (QA)

Quality assurance (QA) defined as, "part

of the quality management system
focused on providing confidence that
quality requirements will be fulfilled."
QA applies equally to the office and to The management processes used to ensure
standards or controls.
construction activities. It is any
systematic process for making sure a Examples of quality assurance include, process
product meets specified requirements or documents procedures, checklists, schedules,
standards. project audits, specifications and standards

QUALITY CONTROL (QC)

Quality control can be defined as, "part

of a quality management system to
ensure quality requirements are
fulfilled”.
Quality control is more the operational
Quality control used to verify deliverables and
techniques and activities used to meet
activities.
requirements, typically focused on
construction activities, inspections and Examples of quality control activities include,
verifications. test and inspection, calibrations, construction
engineering, maintenance, concrete testing

To establish the correct QA and QC functions you need to ensure that you do a complete
review of all activities and task within an organisation or a project.

The management processes put in place should be risk focused to ensure that the quality
management system actual improves work productivity; decreases cost and delivers
acceptable quality standards.

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3. QUALITY IMPROVEMENT

Quality improvement is a structured approach to evaluating the performance of a

management system or processes, and determining if improvements are required in both
functional and operational areas. Stakeholders within an organisation can monitor and
evaluate initiatives and results through a continuous improvement process
For improvements in management to be successful, there must be a routine collection and
analysis of data. The typical model we use in quality management is the PDCA Module.

QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PLAN

A quality improvement plan is the written commitment to specific changes for an

organisation. The plan defines what the organisation wants to improve, how it will make the
improvements, and the anticipated outcomes. Any quality improvement plan should
include the following elements:

 Specify changes required and to

what level.
 Clearly defined ownership and
accountability for the plan
 Dedicated resources to allow the
plan to succeed.
 Methods for measuring any data
or results.
 Feedback process to communicate
progress with organisation.

The whole purpose of the quality improvement plan is make positive change that help the
organisation. The approach should be to “Work Smarter, not Harder” that way you will get
employees acceptance and compliance to any changes made.

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If you would like further information on Quality Management
Contact
Coteccons Training Academy.

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