John E. (Jack) West

Noted Author, Consultant & Business Advisor
Back to Basics

Abstract

Many organizational executives and quality leaders express frustration that their Quality management system no longer provides the great benefits and improvements that were seen during initial implementation and operations.  In a number of cases, probing of the situation revealed that the organizations had strayed away from some of the basics of quality management.  This is a particularly acute problem during challenging economic times.  This presentation discusses why this happens and what organizations can do about it

The presentation will discuss implementation tolls that are often forgotten in implementing quality management systems.  The benefits of understanding and building the management system on the principles given in ISO 9000:2005 will be stressed.  This list of principles has become recognized as a good basis for most any management system that is focused on achieving results.  These eight principles will be briefly reviewed:

a) Customer focus
b) Leadership
c) Involvement of people
d) Process approach
e) System approach to management
f) Continual improvement
g) Factual approach to decision making
h) Mutually beneficial supplier relationships

The presentation will discuss the relationship between principle-based quality management systems and organizations’ financial position.