Quality systems implementation in Welsh small- to medium-sized enterprises: A global comparison and a model for change

Author(s):  
A J Thomas ◽  
D Webb

This paper initially investigates the rate of development and subsequent implementation of structured quality management systems (e.g. ISO 9000, EFQM, etc.) within small- to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in South Wales. While the effective implementation of quality systems in SMEs is seen as a major priority to the supply chain and quality professionals alike [1], the implementation of formal quality systems within SMEs in South Wales is still very low. The common reasons of high cost, high effort and limited effectiveness are given by SMEs for the poor implementation rate, but a wider set of arguments that go beyond these issues are presented. This naturally raises the question as to whether it is at all possible to implement such formal systems within SMEs, or whether there is a need to develop an effective model specifically for small-to-medium manufacturing enterprises. The findings from a survey of some 500 manufacturing-based SMEs in South Wales are used alongside comparative studies conducted by academics in the United States, Sweden, Australia and New Zealand into SME activities in order to provide a broader explanation for the poor implementation level of quality management systems. The paper then goes on to developing a conceptual framework for the development of a specific SME quality model.

2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 35-42
Author(s):  
Natalie Taylor ◽  
Robyn Clay-Williams ◽  
Hsuen P Ting ◽  
Gaston Arnolda ◽  
Teresa Winata ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective Little is known about the influence that hospital quality systems have on quality at department level, in Australia and elsewhere. This study assessed the relationships between organizational-level quality management systems, and the extent to which hospital-level quality management systems and department-level quality management strategies are related. Design A multi-level, cross-sectional, mixed-method study. Setting and participants As part of the Deepening our Understanding of Quality in Australia (DUQuA) project, we invited all large hospitals in Australia (~200 or more beds) which provided acute myocardial infarction (AMI), hip fracture and stroke care. The quality managers of these hospitals were the respondents for one of seven measures of hospital quality management systems and strategies. Data across the six remaining measures were collected through site visits by external surveyors assessing the participating hospitals. Main outcome measures Relationships were assessed between three organization-level quality management system measures: a self-report measure assessing organization-level quality activities (quality management systems index, QMSI); externally assessed organization-level compliance to procedures used to plan, monitor and improve quality of care (quality management compliance index, QMCI); and externally assessed implementation of quality systems (clinical quality implementation index, CQII). Associations were also assessed between organization-level quality management systems and department-level quality management strategies: how clinical responsibilities are assigned for a particular condition; whether department organization processes are organized to facilitate evidence-based care recommendations; compliance with selected recommendations of international agencies; and whether clinical reviews are performed systematically. Results Of 78 invited hospitals, 32 participated in the study. QMSI was positively associated with QMCI and CQII, but after controlling for QMSI, no relationship was found between QMCI and CQII. There appears to be a cluster of relationships between QMSI and department-level measures, but this was not consistent across all departments. Conclusion This is the first national study undertaken in Australia to assess relationships within and between organization-level and department-level quality management systems. These quality management system tools align with many components of accreditation standards and may be useful for hospitals in continuously monitoring and driving improvement.


Target ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 253-287 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gaby Thomson-Wohlgemuth ◽  
Ian Thomson

There is increasing pressure on all industries to introduce Quality Management Systems, a development which has now also found entry into the translation industry. Industrial standards like the ISO family provide the basis of many such systems; however, for several reasons, such process-based standards are regarded by many as inappropriate for translation businesses. One common factor considered in this article is their failure to emphasise the role of people both in the definition of the processes and in their implementation. The present article proposes a new model for translation businesses, accepting the importance of people in the translation industry and recognising that process-driven quality systems may be inadequate in maintaining consistent levels of quality. The model is based on identifying the capabilities that incorporate the processes of an organisation and the behaviours embodied in the people involved in these processes. In this article, the model is referred to as Acquired Capabilities for Translation Systems (ACTS).


Author(s):  
Chyrkova Yu. ◽  
Petryshyn N. ◽  
Bortnikova M.

The article focuses on examining the problems of developing the quality management systems at the enterprises engaged in foreign economic activities. Today, companies operate in constantly changing market conditions. The formation of a new competitive environment forces companies to pay attention again to the efficiency and quality of goods and services, because in a fierce competition only those com-panies survive that could quickly adapt to such conditions. Globalization of markets, on the one hand, gives the consumer the right to choose the best, and, on the other hand, forces the manufacturer to look for new means to improve quality at the lowest cost. All these factors lead to the active development of quality management systems and methods, considering the wishes of consumers, the search for weaknesses in production and the best adjustment of the whole process for further successful development. Considering the above mentioned, the pur-pose of the article is to study the development and implementation of quality management system, as well as to identify the main problems of formation of quality management systems at enterprises-subjects of foreign economic activity and provide theoretical recommendations for their solution. The article reveals the essence of “quality” notion and discloses the concept of “quality management of the enterprise”. The description of modern quality management systems is implemented on the example of quality management system ISO 9001, food safety management system ISO 22000, environmental management system ISO 14001 and occupational safety and health management system OHSAS 18001. It has been studied the experience of world leaders in forming quality management systems on enterprises, namely the United States, Japan and European countries. Statistics on the number of ISO quality certificates received in 2013–2019 in Ukraine is presented to reveal the dynamics of developing the processes of business entities quality certification in our state. The problems that arise in domestic enterprises engaged in foreign economic operations during the formation of quality management systems are generalized.Keywords: quality, quality management, quality management system, international quality standards, certification, enterprise com-petitiveness. Статтю присвячено вивченню проблем формування систем менеджменту якості на підприємствах-суб’єктах зовнішньо-економічної діяльності. Розкрито сутність понять «якість» та узагальнено категорію «управління якістю діяльності підприємства». Охарактеризовано сучасні системи менеджменту якості підприємницьких структур, зокрема: систему управління якістю ISO 9001, систему управління безпечністю харчових продуктів ISO 22000, систему екологічного керування ISO 14001 та систему управління безпекою та гігієною праці OHSAS 18001. Відстежено досвід світових лідерів щодо формування систем менеджменту якості, а саме Сполучених Штатів Америки, Японії та європейських країн. Простежено динаміку розвитку процесів сертифікації якості бізнес-одиниць, зокрема за кількістю отриманих сертифікатів якості групи ISO у 2013–2019 роках в Україні. В результаті, узагальнено проблеми, які виникають у вітчизняних підприємств-суб’єктів ЗЕД під час формування систем управління якістю, а також наведено рекомендації щодо їх вирішення. Ключові слова: якість, управління якістю, система менеджменту якості, міжнародні стандарти якості, сертифікація, конкурентоспроможність підприємства.


2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 22-34
Author(s):  
Robyn Clay-Williams ◽  
Natalie Taylor ◽  
Teresa Winata ◽  
Hsuen P Ting ◽  
Gaston Arnolda ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective The aim of this study was to develop and refine indices to measure organization and care pathway-level quality management systems in Australian hospitals. Design A questionnaire survey and audit tools were derived from instruments validated as part of the Deepening Our Understanding of Quality improvement in Europe (DUQuE) study, adapted for Australian hospitals through expert opinion. Statistical processes were used to explore the factor structure, reliability and non-redundancy and descriptive statistics of the scales. Setting Thirty-two large Australian public hospitals. Participants Audit of quality management processes at organization-level and care pathway processes at department level for three patient conditions (acute myocardial infarction (AMI), hip fracture and stroke) and senior quality manager, at each of the 32 participating hospitals. Main Outcome Measure(s) The degree of quality management evident at organization and care pathway levels. Results Analysis yielded seven quality systems and strategies scales. The three hospital-level measures were: the Quality Management Systems Index (QMSI), the Quality Management Compliance Index (QMCI) and the Clinical Quality Implementation Index (CQII). The four department-level measures were: Specialised Expertise and Responsibility (SER), Evidence-Based Organisation of Pathways (EBOP), Patient Safety Strategies (PSS) and Clinical Review (CR). For QMCI, and for seven out of eight subscales in QMSI, adequate internal consistency (Cronbach’s $\alpha$ >0.8) was achieved. For CQII, lack of variation and ceiling effects in the data resulted in very low internal consistency scores, but items were retained for theoretical reasons. Internal consistency was high for CR (Cronbach’s $\alpha$ 0.74–0.88 across the three conditions), and this was supported by all item-total correlations exceeding the desired threshold. For EBOP, Cronbach’s $\alpha$ was acceptable for hip fracture (0.80) and stroke (0.76), but only moderate for AMI (0.52). PSS and SER scales were retained for theoretical reasons, although internal consistencies were only moderate (SER) to poor (PSS). Conclusions The Deepening our Understanding of Quality in Australia (DUQuA) organization and department scales can be used by Australian hospital managers to assess and measure improvement in quality management at organization and department levels within their hospitals and are readily modifiable for other health systems depending on their needs.


2010 ◽  
Vol 30 (02) ◽  
pp. 55-62
Author(s):  
M. Fritzer-Szekeres

SummaryDuring the 20th century understanding for quality has changed and international and national requirements for quality have been published. Therefore also medical branches started to establish quality management systems. Quality assurance has always been important for medical laboratories. Certification according to the standard ISO 9001 and accreditation according to the standard ISO 17025 have been the proof of fulfilling quality requirements. The relatively new standard ISO 15189 is the first standard for medical laboratories. This standard includes technical and management requirements for the medical laboratory. The main focus is the proof of competence within the personnel. As this standard is accepted throughout the European Union an increase in accreditations of medical laboratories is predictable.


2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 54-60
Author(s):  
Mikhail Jurievich Rudiuk ◽  
Anastasiia Vladislavovna Gerasimova ◽  
Ekaterina Mikhailovna Pomozova

The authors' task was to analyze the development of quality management systems at the current stage in Russia, as well as at the previous stage in the USSR. As a result, we came to the conclusion that the factors stimulating the implementation of ISO 9000 standards are the need to promote products on the world market, as well as the possibility of receiving orders from the state. In the future, strict adherence to these standards will allow enterprises to significantly reduce the likelihood of lawsuits from consumers, which is important in the context of the development of the legislative framework and increased control over the business. The practical significance of the article is the possibility of familiarizing management and personnel with quality services, whose task is to prepare for certification for compliance with ISO 9000 standards in how this process took place in other companies. The originality of this work is to summarize the experience of implementation of ISO 9000 standards at enterprises and to analyze the factors contributing to or hindering this process.


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