QS-9000 – Using the Automotive Requirements to Improve Existing ISO 9000 Systems

1998 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.F. Young
Keyword(s):  
Continuous Improvement ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Iso 9000 ◽  
The United States ◽  
Quality System ◽  
General Motors ◽  
Improvement Program ◽  
Quality Initiatives ◽  
Cost Of Quality ◽  
Improvement Programs

Abstract In this paper, we will discuss how to incorporate several of the QS-9000 quality system requirements into an existing ISO 9000 quality system. This expansion of the existing quality system will be cost effective and ensure that the continuous improvement program will meet its goals. The QS-9000 quality system was developed in 1994 by the "Big Three" automotive and truck producers in Detroit, Michigan. This document, originated in the United States, is based upon the International Standard: ISO 9001-94. It is mandatory that any supplier of goods and/or services to either Chrysler, Ford or General Motors must have their quality system registered to the QS-9000 standard. We believe that there can be benefits to non-automotive organizations if they will incorporate some of the QS-9000 clauses into their current ISO 9000 quality systems. We will discuss actual cases in the following areas: purchasing, safety, process control, training, business management and continuous improvement. We will show how these examples of quality system enhancement are both effective and efficient ways of driving cost reduction and process improvement programs. Cost of quality initiatives can be better managed.

scholarly journals Structure Please; Continuous Improvement and Employee Consequences in a Dynamic Task Environment

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (20) ◽  
pp. 5564 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jos Benders ◽  
Michiel Bal ◽  
Lander Vermeerbergen
Keyword(s):  
Nursing Home ◽  
Continuous Improvement ◽  
Reference Group ◽  
Work Processes ◽  
Improvement Program ◽  
Daily Work ◽  
Dynamic Task ◽  
Employee Wellbeing ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Improvement Programs

Whilst continuous improvement (CI) programs have had an enduring appeal for several decades, their sustainability has been a concern for almost as long. Sustaining a CI program requires permanent support of all its stakeholders, particularly of the most important ones—employees. Some authors argue that continuous improvement programs are beneficial for employee wellbeing, while others contest this. We contribute to the small empirical basis for such claims by presenting results from research among care workers in Flemish nursing homes. Questionnaires from 553 care workers in a nursing home applying continuous improvement and in a reference group of nine comparable homes were analyzed to study differences in job demands, job resources, burnout risk, and work engagement. In addition, we have drawn on interviews, site visits, and other qualitative data to assess the extent to which the differences found may be attributed to the CI program used. Overall, the care workers in the nursing home with the CI program evaluated their jobs as better than their colleagues in the reference group. These differences are at least partly caused by the continuous improvement program. We argue that the main effect is that over time, daily work processes become more structured. The work pressure decreases as work becomes less hectic.

An International Survey of Quality and Safety Programs in Radiology

2020 ◽  
pp. 084653711989919 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeremy Dick ◽  
Kathryn E. Darras ◽  
Frank J. Lexa ◽  
Erika Denton ◽  
Shigeru Ehara ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Critical Incident ◽  
The United States ◽  
Quality Initiatives ◽  
Dose Monitoring ◽  
The Status ◽  
Imaging Appropriateness ◽  
Quality Programs ◽  
Radiation Dose Monitoring ◽  
Improvement Programs ◽  
Quality Improvement Programs

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the status of radiology quality improvement programs in a variety of selected nations worldwide. Methods: A survey was developed by select members of the International Economics Committee of the American College of Radiology on quality programs and was distributed to committee members. Members responded on behalf of their country. The 51-question survey asked about 12 different quality initiatives which were grouped into 4 themes: departments, users, equipment, and outcomes. Respondents reported whether a designated type of quality initiative was used in their country and answered subsequent questions further characterizing it. Results: The response rate was 100% and represented Australia, Canada, China, England, France, Germany, India, Israel, Japan, the Netherlands, Russia, and the United States. The most frequently reported quality initiatives were imaging appropriateness (91.7%) and disease registries (91.7%), followed by key performance indicators (83.3%) and morbidity and mortality rounds (83.3%). Peer review, equipment accreditation, radiation dose monitoring, and structured reporting were reported by 75.0% of respondents, followed by 58.3% of respondents for quality audits and critical incident reporting. The least frequently reported initiatives included Lean/Kaizen exercises and physician performance assessments, implemented by 25.0% of respondents. Conclusion: There is considerable diversity in the quality programs used throughout the world, despite some influence by national and international organizations, from whom further guidance could increase uniformity and optimize patient care in radiology.

Continuous improvement in product development

2005 ◽  
Vol 22 (8) ◽  
pp. 753-768 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lars Nilsson‐Witell ◽  
Marc Antoni ◽  
Jens J. Dahlgaard
Keyword(s):  
Product Development ◽  
Organizational Performance ◽  
Continuous Improvement ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
Critical Mass ◽  
Improvement Program ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Quality Principles ◽  
Development Context ◽  
Improvement Programs

PurposeContinuous improvement has become an important strategy in improving organizational performance. Unfortunately, product development is often excluded in continuous improvement programs due to the special characteristics of product development activities. The overall purpose of this paper is to contribute to a better understanding of continuous improvement in the context of product development.Design/methodology/approachA central aspect in this context is that many organizations find it difficult to improve and learn if work is carried out in the form of projects. In this paper, a quality perspective on continuous improvement is introduced and its usefulness is tested empirically through three case studies in Swedish organizations. The focus is on the improvement programs used and the quality principles displayed in a product development context.FindingsThe results show that the three investigated organizations have multiple improvement programs, but that some configurations of improvement programs seem to be more successful than others. For instance, co‐ordination of multiple improvement programs, scope creep, and separating between product development processes and project management models are important success factors for continuous improvement. In addition, an introduction of an improvement program without adoption of a critical mass of quality principles is doomed to fail.Originality/valueThe research initiative is one of the first to conduct an empirical investigation of how organizations design and work with improvement programs in the context of product development. It provides knowledge to both academics and practitioners on how organizations can design and implement initiatives on quality management, especially in the context of product development.

Detection of enteroviruses in marine waters by direct RT-PCR and cell culture

1995 ◽  
Vol 31 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 323-328 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. A. Reynolds ◽  
C. P. Gerba ◽  
I. L. Pepper
Keyword(s):  
Cell Culture ◽  
Polymerase Chain Reaction Amplification ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
The United States ◽  
Water Runoff ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Marine Waters ◽  
Storm Water Runoff ◽  
Routine Monitoring ◽  
Reaction Amplification

Sewage outfalls and storm water runoff introduces pathogenic human enteric viruses into marine coastal waters, which may pose a potential public health risk. Although members of the enterovirus group have been suggested as possible indicators of sewage pollution in marine waters, the lack of rapid, sensitive and cost effective methods have prevented routine monitoring in the United States. This study compared traditional cell culture and direct RT-PCR (reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction) amplification for detection of an enterovirus. Poliovirus could be recovered from 100 L of artificial seawater with an average efficiency of 77%, using adsorption and elution from electronegative filters. Viruses were eluted from the filters with 1.5% beef extract for viruses (BEV) adjusted to pH 9.5 and reconcentrated by organic flocculation to a volume of 30 mL. Substances which interfered with detection by RT-PCR were removed by treatment of the concentrates with sephadex and chelex resins. Direct RT-PCR could detect 2.5 and 0.025 PFU (plaque forming units) for single (25 cycles) and double PCR (2 × 25 cycles) in 10 μL of pure culture poliovirus samples, respectively. These methods are currently being applied to assess the occurrence of enteroviruses at marine bathing beaches influenced by sewage discharges.

Racial and Sex Disparities in Trauma Outcomes Based on Geographical Region

2020 ◽  
pp. 000313482096006
Author(s):  
William Q. Duong ◽  
Areg Grigorian ◽  
Cyrus Farzaneh ◽  
Jeffry Nahmias ◽  
Theresa Chin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
The United States ◽  
Trauma Patients ◽  
Improvement Program ◽  
Trauma Outcomes ◽  
Risk Of Death ◽  
Hospital Access ◽  
Risk Of Mortality ◽  
Sex Disparities ◽  
Male Patients

Objectives Disparities in outcomes among trauma patients have been shown to be associated with race and sex. The purpose of this study was to analyze racial and sex mortality disparities in different regions of the United States, hypothesizing that the risk of mortality among black and Asian trauma patients, compared to white trauma patients, will be similar within all regions in the United States. Methods The Trauma Quality Improvement Program (2010-2016) was queried for adult trauma patients, separating by U.S. Census regions. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed for each region, controlling for known predictors of morbidity and mortality in trauma. Results Most trauma patients were treated in the South (n = 522 388, 40.7%). After risk adjustment, black trauma patients had a higher associated risk of death in all regions, except the Northeast, compared to white trauma patients. The highest associated risk of death for blacks (vs. whites) was in the Midwest (odds ratio [OR] 1.30, P < .001). Asian trauma patients only had a higher associated risk of death in the West (OR 1.39, P < .001). Male trauma patients, compared to women, had an increased associated risk of mortality in all four regions. Discussion This study found major differences in outcomes among different races within different regions of the United States. There was also both an increased rate and associated risk of mortality for male patients in all regions. Future prospective studies are needed to identify what regional differences in trauma systems including population density, transport times, hospital access, and other trauma resources explain these findings.

scholarly journals Appendiceal adenocarcinoma found by surgery for acute appendicitis is associated with older age

BMC Surgery ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
John P. Skendelas ◽  
Victor S. Alemany ◽  
Vincent Au ◽  
Devika Rao ◽  
John McNelis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Acute Appendicitis ◽  
Incidental Finding ◽  
Population Sample ◽  
Operative Therapy ◽  
Operative Management ◽  
The United States ◽  
Improvement Program ◽  
Common Procedure ◽  
Appendiceal Neoplasms

Abstract Background Appendectomy for acute appendicitis is the most common procedure performed emergently by general surgeons in the United States. The current management of acute appendicitis is increasingly controversial as non-operative management gains favor. Although rare, appendiceal neoplasms are often found as an incidental finding in the setting of appendectomy. Criteria and screening for appendiceal neoplasms are not standardized among surgical societies. Methods The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database was queried for all patients who underwent appendectomy over a 9-year period (2010–2018). Over the same time period, patients who underwent appendectomy in two municipal hospitals in The Bronx, New York City, USA were reviewed. Results We found a 1.7% incidence of appendiceal neoplasms locally and a 0.53% incidence of appendiceal tumors in a national population sample. Both groups demonstrated an increased incidence of appendiceal carcinoma by age. This finding was most pronounced after the age of 40 in both local and national populations. In our study, the incidence of appendiceal tumors increased with each decade interval up to the age of 80 and peaked at 2.1% in patients between 70 and 79 years. Conclusions Appendiceal adenocarcinomas were identified in patients with acute appendicitis that seem to be associated with increasing age. The presence of an appendiceal malignancy should be considered in the management of older patients with acute appendicitis before a decision to embark on non-operative therapy.

BioWorma as an Aid for Controlling Ruminant Nematode Parasites

2021 ◽  
Vol 99 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 36-36
Author(s):  
James E Miller ◽  
Joan M Burke ◽  
Thomas H Terrill
Keyword(s):  
Delivery System ◽  
Control Method ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Late Pregnancy ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
The United States ◽  
Gastrointestinal Nematodes ◽  
Mineral Supplement ◽  
Larval Stages ◽  
Nematode Parasites

Abstract Nematode-trapping fungi are biological control agents used against the larval stages of gastrointestinal nematodes in livestock feces. These fungi are normal soil inhabitants where they feed on a variety of non-parasitic soil nematodes. Of the various fungi tested, Duddingtonia flagrans spores (BioWorma, International Animal Health Products, Australia) have been shown to survive passage through the gastrointestinal tract of ruminants. After defecation, the spores germinate and grow in the feces to form sticky, sophisticated traps/loops which are able to trap the developing larval stages in the fecal environment. This form of control has been successfully applied under field conditions and is an environmentally safe biological approach for forage-based feeding systems. BioWorma has recently been approved for use in the United States. The primary delivery system is mixing BioWorma into supplement feedstuffs daily where each animal has the opportunity to consume an adequate amount of the mixture. To achieve optimum control of larvae during the transmission season (May–October), BioWorma needs to be fed for a period of no shorter than 60 days, starting at the beginning of the grazing season (especially young after weaning). Feeding BioWorma to dams during late pregnancy and lactation will also help to reduce pasture contamination, especially for growing young that will graze the same pasture. Another delivery system is mixing BioWorma into loose mineral supplement where animals will consume it free choice. The mineral needs to be kept covered and dry. The spores cannot be incorporated into pellets as the heat of the pelleting process will kill the spores. One drawback in using BioWorma is the relatively high cost. Research is being conducted to evaluate other delivery schemes that could be more cost effective. This product is the only control method that targets nematodes on pasture, where a majority of the total population reside.

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