Quality Management System (Qms) Definition

A quality management system (QMS) is a formalized system that documents processes, procedures, and responsibilities for achieving quality policies and objectives. A QMS helps coordinate and direct an organization’s activities to meet customer and regulatory requirements and improve its overall performance.

A QMS is often represented as a diagram showing how the various elements of the system interact. The most common QMS model is known as the Deming cycle or PDCA cycle: Plan-Do-Check-Act. This model was first described by W. Edwards Deming, who is considered the father of modern quality management.

The PDCA cycle begins with planning, where quality objectives are established and a plan for achieving them is created. This plan includes identifying which process will be used to produce the product or service, what resources are required, and what tolerances or standards must be met.

Once the plan is in place, it’s time to do or execute it. This phase involves putting the plan into action and collecting data on how well it’s working.

Next comes checking or monitoring, where this data is analyzed to see if the process is meeting its objectives and identify any areas that need improvement. Based on these findings, corrective actions are taken to improve the process before moving on to the next cycle.

The final step in the PDCA cycle is acting, which involves making permanent changes to the process based on what was learned