Quality Assurance Management Issues - Assignment Example

Name of student Name of instructor Literature Date Quality Assurance Management Principles of Total Quality Management (TQM) Apparently, Total Quality Management has three key principles, including continuous quality improvement (CQI), customer focus, and teamwork. Continuous quality improvement focuses on seeking continuous improvement of services on a system or a process (Jain, 2015).The common belief in this aspect is that any component of a system or a process can be improved at any time. Therefore, the concept underscores the need to continuously improve services delivery in an organization, institution or their sections. The underlying aspect is that a task or a process can be simplified in order to solve an issue or improve it before the problem escalates beyond irreversible levels (Mukherjee, 2006). “Customer focus” emphasizes the need to have customer-oriented approaches when addressing issues at the healthcare facility. The organization and the employees should be trained to focus their efforts on meeting customer demands at all levels. Finally, teamwork underscores the role that all employees should play in collectively improving services in an organization. Construct a tree of hierarchy relating to your QA organizational structure QC: Quality Control QA: Quality Assurance QE: Quality Engineering IQC: Incoming Quality Control LQC: Line Quality Control IPQC: In Process Quality Control FQC: Final Quality Control SQA: Source （Supplier) Quality Assurance DCC: Document Control Center PQA: Process Quality Assurance FQA: Final Quality Assurance DAS: Defects Analysis System FA: Failure Analysis CPI: Continuous Process Improvement CS: Customer Service Explain the responsibilities of each position on the above tree The quality control manager will be responsible for ensuring that all aspects are followed. In this way, the manager will be regulating the steps being taken and see that they are conforming to the quality measures. in order to regulate control measures, the quality control manager will be working in conjunction with Incoming Quality Control supervisor, Line Quality Control supervisor, In Process Quality Control supervisor, and Final Quality Control supervisor(Jain, 2015). On the other hand, the main responsibility of quality assurance manager will be to ensure that the standards are meeting in the production of products and services. However, although the manager will be working with the assurance supervisors, he will as well work closer with quality control team in order that the final products and services meet the expected standard. Therefore, the quality assurance will be expected to not only measuring the level of standard but also to ensure that the materials and process used are of the required quality. The quality engineering manager will be expected to ensure that all quality standards are met in the engineering section. Notably, it must be noted that quality control manager and quality assurance manager may not be able to regulate quality levels in all fields of the organization. In this way, as an engineer, quality engineering manager will be able to ensure that all engineering standards are met in the production of iron sheets (Armstrong 2014). Further, the incoming quality control supervisor will be responsible for ensuring that all incoming materials in the company which are used for the production of iron sheets are meeting the quality levels stipulated by the company or the industry. At the same time, the line quality control supervisor will be making sure those the workers are following the quality standards stipulated in the organizational policies. For example, workers are required to use different measured through various equipment. In such as the line quality control supervisor will ensure that employees are properly using the equipment that determines the quality standards of a given product. The in process quality control supervisor is responsible for ensuring that the process used by employee in the production of good including services are meeting the required quality levels. The final quality control supervisor is tasked to monitor the end process by ensuring the final product stages of production meet the expected levels of standards. The Source (Supplier) Quality Assurance supervisor helps the quality assurance manager in ensuring that the material provide by suppliers are meeting the required standards. On the other hand, the Document Control Center supervisor is tasked to ensure that all documentation process is correct with proper records based on the quality issues, thus aligning with the actual materials or deliveries. The final quality assurance supervisor is expected to give quality assurance of all aspects such as the documentation and deliveries from the suppliers (Jain, 2015). The three supervisors are however supposed to report to the quality assurance manager. As the name suggests, the failure analysis supervisor analysis any failure in the engineering section. For example, this superior is expected to assess the failure of a machined and provide a report to the quality engineering manager who provides further instructions (Armstrong 2014). On the other hand, the continuous process improvement supervisor is always expected to regularly check the entire engineering process in order to ensure that the system is functioning well. Finally, the customer service supervisor is responsible for ensuring that all needs and demands of clients are addressed through compiling and analyzing the complaints and forwarding to the relevant managers. How would you implement change to your QA procedures? One of the key issues that will be integrated in the implementation of change the QA procedure is to ensure that management and other stakeholders buy-in the expected change in the system. Critical to note is that quality in any organization is led from the top down but it is implemented from the bottom up (Armstrong 2014). In this way, it would be prudent to ensure that the senior management understands the changes being introduced and the the lower levels of the organizational structure such as the subordinate staff is involved in the planning and implementation process, which minimizes the level of resistance. The review of the organizational and its culture will have to be undertaken (Rao 2016). Notably, one of key challenges in the implementation of quality procedures is that the management forgets to align the new changes with the organizational policies and culture. The intention of reviewing organizational policies and culture is to make sure that the employees are able to easily integrate the changes in their daily activities within the organization, thus reducing errors in the implementation process. What part does training play in your TQM SYSTEM? In the process of implementing the TQM, training plays a critical role (Rao 2016). The importance of training in the successful process of implementation of TQM programs is acknowledge widely since it offers an opportunity for reforming employees on the objectives of the TQM (Jain 2015) . Training offers stakeholders with a better understanding of the quality expectations. The continuous training on the quality standards and the steps needed to be taken to meet them is critical at both individual and organizational level. Firstly, the organization is able to meet the expectation of customers based on the final products (Hakes 2008). Secondly, an organization will boots its sales volumes since the quality levels are being met due to aggressive training efforts by the management. At an individual level, one comes to not only understand what is required in the entire TQM program but also find it easy in meeting the set standards. In some organization, the TQM program consists of incentives where employees are awarded for their efforts. Therefore, due to training, some employees are able to earn more from the incentives provided by the organization. How is Vendor rating used as a method of measuring quality? Firstly, vendor rating the outcome of formal process of evaluating suppliers. Suppliers or vendors are given standing, title, or status based on their attainment of different levels of performance in terms of variables such as lead time, delivery, price, quality, or some combination of these variables (Rao 2016). The objective of establishing such a rating system is to ensure that the desired quality and characteristics of the expected products as well as services are meet by the suppliers, which makes vendors and suppliers part of the whole process of quality improvement. Notably, the process of vendor rating may take the form of a hierarchical ranking ranging from poor to excellence or whatever form of ranking that an organization may choose. For example, in some organizations, the vendor rating may come in the form of award system or the variation of certification. Critically to note is that the review process should be conducted in order to accomplish the vendor rating (Rao 2016). The review process stars by identifying the vendors who will not only supply the organization with the needed materials but also matches with the buying firm. After this step, the factors for evaluation criteria are determined, which is then followed by the method that is devised in judging the vendor or rating based on the individual factor. Describe how do you collect and analyze data relating to your suppliers Apparently, there are different ways used in collecting the data relating to the suppliers. However, in the organization, three methods are used which include gathering information from the organization’s IT systems and documentations: obtain experiences of customers and workers through different ways such as face to face interviews, use of questionnaires , phones, and emails : and through meeting were suppliers permanence is discussed. Notably, the information sourced the organization’s IT systems such as computers include gathering factual information regarding suppliers’ performance in terms of lead times from order, pricing compliance, quality standards being met, or any other relevant parameters that are laid out in the organization’s contract. From the IT systems, this data is sourced as the “management information” (Rao 2016). The rating is done on how many errors or issues rose per supplier and under which circumstances before decision is made. Interviews, questionnaires, and general and phone or email conventions are conducted from customers and employees aiming to get their views on the services provided by specific supplier, the response rates, attitude among other factors. The collected data is analyzed by the management based on the responses received. Depending on the kind of questions asked, each supplier is ranked through the use of vendor rating method. Finally, meetings are held sometimes to discuss the permanence of supplier and their viability to continue supplying the organization. The senior management and few representatives of different groups in the organization are involved in this process. Based on the views of members of the board, the opinions of the majority inform the decision to be made on each supplier. Factors to be considered in the implementation of QA system The following are the key factors in the implementation of QA system Leadership and commitment of the top management Involvement of employees Supplier quality management Continuous improvement Customer focus and satisfaction Training and education Leadership and commitment of the top management is the willingness of top management such as senior managers in showing the direction to be followed through leadership, thus necessitating change in the TQM program. Further, employees should be involved in all processes to enhance understanding and reduce resistance. Supplier quality management is the efforts applied in ensuring that suppliers consistently meet the required standards of quality. However, continuous improvement of processes, Customer focus and satisfaction as well as Training and education are necessary for a successful TQM program. How many employees are held responsible for your company’s QA system? In the organization, the main responsible for the QA system is held by three key manages, the quality control manager, quality assurance manager, and quality engineering manager. However, each of these managers has several supervisors making the entire team fifteen. Describe how a “Quality Circle” is used in the production of your company’s products A quality circle refers to the participatory management technique that enlists the assistance of employees in the process of solving organizational problems that relate to their own jobs (Mehta, 2006). Notably, circles are formed of employees that work together in specific area of work where they may meet in intervals in order to discuss problems that they face as well as finding solutions. In the organization, employees from different sections such as engineering and customers care from groups with the intention of finding solutions to different individual and organization issues. Briefly, they are trained on how to solve problems using different methods such as brain storming. In some specific ways, the customer care team has widely been involved in finding ways of enhancing customer experience, which has assisted the company in improving the quality of its products. References Armstrong, G. (2014). Marketing: an introduction. International edition Ed. New Jersey: Prentice Hall. Hakes, C. (2008). Total quality management: the key to business improvement. London, Chapman & Hall. Jain, P. L. (2015). Quality control and total quality management. New Delhi, Tata McGraw-Hill. Mehta, P. V. (2006). An introduction to quality assurance for the retailers. New York, iUniverse, Inc. Morfaw, J. N. (2009). Total quality management (TQM): A model for the sustainability of projects and programs in Africa. Lanham [Md.: University Press of America. Mukherjee, P. N. (2006). Total quality management. New Delhi: Prentice-Hall of India. Rao, A. (2016). Total quality management: a cross functional perspective. New York; Toronto, J. Wiley. Read More