What is a quality management system (QMS)? The ISO 9000 based standards define the requirements for a quality system. The QMS is a foundational management system that helps ensure you deliver to your customer a consistent product or service. The related standards such as ISO 13485 and ISO/TS 16949 add industry requirements in addition to the foundational system. The requirements outline the foundation for good, common sense business practices.

What does a successful quality system do for you?
By implementing an ISO based quality management system, your company will see internal and external benefits. A good quality system provides the following.

• It helps you provide a consistent product or service
  
• It gives your customers confidence that they will receive the quality product they ordered.
  
• It gives your employees confidence to do their job well: they are trained in all areas of their job which affect quality, and their responsibilities are clearly defined, communicated, and documented.
  
• It eliminates time wasted on "fighting fires," because problems are attacked at their root, to prevent them from reoccurring.
  
• It ensures that communication within the company and with clients and suppliers is clear and documented to avoid misunderstandings.
  
• It allows you to objectively evaluate and improve your processes, increasing efficiency as well as quality.
  
• It helps improve your bottom line by accomplishing the above!

For more information about Quality management systems (QMS):

What does a quality system look like?
What are the benefits of an ISO QMS?
How long will it take?
Who should be involved?
Should we use outside help?
How much will it cost?

Start your quality management system process here:

ISO Planning and Implementation

ISO Implementation