Some terms make the quality management world difficult to understand at first. We define the main quality terms you could find in standards, websites or our ISO 9001 pack. The following definitions come from the ISO organization which is the quality management reference. Whether you want an ISO 9001 certification or are looking for quality definitions, this article gathers all the quality terms you need. We highly recommend the use of Ctrl+F.
Terms related to organization
Organization
Person or group of people that has its own functions with responsibilities, authorities and relationships to achieve its objectives.
Note : The concept of organization includes, but is not limited to, sole-trader, company, corporation, firm, enterprise, authority, partnership, association, charity or institution, or part or combination thereof, whether incorporated or not, public or private.
Context of the organization
Combination of internal and external issues that can have an effect on an organization’s approach to developing and achieving its objectives.
Note : The organization’s objectives can be related to its products and services, investments and behaviour towards its interested parties.
Interested party, stakeholder
Person or organization that can affect, be affected by, or perceive itself to be affected by a decision or activity.
Example: Customers, owners, people in an organization, providers, bankers, regulators, unions, partners or society that can include competitors or opposing pressure groups.
Customer
Example : Consumer, client, end-user, retailer, receiver of product or service from an internal process, beneficiary and purchaser.
Note : A customer can be internal or external to the organization.
Provider, supplier
Organization that provides a product or a service.
Example : Producer, distributor, retailer or vendor of a product or a service.
Note : A provider can be internal or external to the organization. In a contractual situation, a provider is sometimes called contractor.
External provider, external supplier
Dispute resolution process provider
Person or organization that supplies and operates an external dispute resolution process.
Note: Generally, a DRP-provider is a legal entity, separate from the organization or person as an individual and the complainant. In this way, the attributes of independence and fairness are emphasized. In some situations, a separate unit is established within the organization to handle unresolved complaints. The DRP-provider contracts with the parties to provide dispute resolution, and is accountable for performance. The DRP-provider supplies dispute resolvers. The DRP-provider also utilizes support, executive and other managerial staff to supply financial resources, clerical support, scheduling assistance, training, meeting rooms, supervision and similar functions.
Terms related to activity
Improvement
Continual improvement
Management
Quality management
Management with regard to quality.
Note : Quality management can include establishing quality policies and quality objectives, and processes to achieve these quality objectives through quality planning, quality assurance, quality control, and quality improvement.
Quality planning
Part of quality management focused on setting quality objectives and specifying necessary operational processes, and related resources to achieve the quality objectives.
Note : Establishing quality plans can be part of quality planning.
Quality assurance
Quality control
Quality improvement
Part of quality management focused on increasing the ability to fulfil quality requirements.
Note : The quality requirements can be related to any aspect such as effectiveness, efficiency or traceability.
Configuration management
Change control
Project management
Terms related to process
Process
Set of interrelated or interacting activities that use inputs to deliver an intended result.
Note : Whether the “intended result” of a process is called output, product or service depends on the context of the reference. Inputs to a process are generally the outputs of other processes and outputs of a process are generally the inputs to other processes.
Note : Two or more interrelated and interacting processes in series can also be referred to as a process.
Note : Processes in an organization are generally planned and carried out under controlled conditions to add value.
Note : A process where the conformity of the resulting output cannot be readily or economically validated is frequently referred to as a “special process”.
Project
Unique process, consisting of a set of coordinated and controlled activities with start and finish dates, undertaken to achieve an objective conforming to specific requirements, including the constraints of time, cost and resources.
Note : An individual project can form part of a larger project structure and generally has a defined start and finish date.
Note : In some projects the objectives and scope are updated and the product or service characteristics defined progressively as the project proceeds.
Note : The output of a project can be one or several units of product or service.
Note : The project’s organization is normally temporary and established for the lifetime of the project. The complexity of the interactions among project activities is not necessarily related to the project size.
Quality management system realization
Procedure
Specified way to carry out an activity or a process.
Note : Procedures can be documented or not.
Outsource
Make an arrangement where an external organization performs part of an organization’s function or process.
Note : An external organization is outside the scope of the management system, although the outsourced function or process is within the scope.
Design and development
Set of processes that transform requirements for an object into more detailed requirements for that object.
Note : The requirements forming input to design and development are often the result of research and can be expressed in a broader, more general sense than the requirements forming the output of design and development. The requirements are generally defined in terms of characteristics. In a project there can be several design and development stages.
Note : A qualifier can be applied to indicate the nature of what is being designed and developed (e.g. product design and development, service design and development or process design and development).
Note : In English the words “design” and “development” and the term “design and development” are sometimes used synonymously and sometimes used to define different stages of the overall design and development. In French the words “conception” and “développement” and the term “conception et développement” are sometimes used synonymously and sometimes used to define different stages of the overall design and development.
Terms related to system
System
Infrastructure
Management system
Set of interrelated or interacting elements of an organization to establish policies and objectives, and processes to achieve those objectives.
Note : A management system can address a single discipline or several disciplines, e.g. quality management, financial management or environmental management.
Note : The management system elements establish the organization’s structure, roles and responsibilities, planning, operation, policies, practices, rules, beliefs, objectives and processes to achieve those objectives.
Note : The scope of a management system can include the whole of the organization, specific and identified functions of the organization, specific and identified sections of the organization, or one or more functions across a group of organizations.
Quality management system
Work environment
Set of conditions under which work is performed.
Note : Conditions can include physical, social, psychological and environmental factors (such as temperature, lighting, recognition schemes, occupational stress, ergonomics and atmospheric composition).
Metrological confirmation
Set of operations required to ensure that measuring equipment conforms to the requirements for its intended use.
Note : Metrological confirmation generally includes calibration or verification, any necessary adjustment or repair, and subsequent recalibration, comparison with the metrological requirements for the intended use of the equipment, as well as any required sealing and labelling.
Note : Metrological confirmation is not achieved until and unless the fitness of the measuring equipment for the intended use has been demonstrated and documented.
Note : The requirements for intended use include such considerations as range, resolution and maximum permissible errors.
Note : Metrological requirements are usually distinct from, and are not specified in, product requirements.
Measurement management system
Policy
Quality policy
Policy related to quality.
Note : Generally the quality policy is consistent with the overall policy of the organization, can be aligned with the organization’s vision and mission and provides a framework for the setting of quality objectives.
Vision
Mission
Strategy
Terms related to requirement
Object, entity, item
Anything perceivable or conceivable.
Example : Product, service, process, person, organization, system, resource.
Note: Objects can be material (e.g. an engine, a sheet of paper, a diamond), non-material (e.g. conversion ratio, a project plan) or imagined (e.g. the future state of the organization).
Quality
Grade
Category or rank given to different requirements for an object having the same functional use.
Example : Class of airline ticket and category of hotel in a hotel brochure.
Note : When establishing a quality requirement, the grade is generally specified.
Requirement
Need or expectation that is stated, generally implied or obligatory.
Note : “Generally implied” means that it is custom or common practice for the organization and interested parties that the need or expectation under consideration is implied.
Note : A specified requirement is one that is stated, for example in documented information.
Note : A qualifier can be used to denote a specific type of requirement, e.g. product requirement, quality management requirement, customer requirement, quality requirement.
Note : Requirements can be generated by different interested parties or by the organization itself.
Note : It can be necessary for achieving high customer satisfaction to fulfil an expectation of a customer even if it is neither stated nor generally implied or obligatory.
Quality requirement
Statutory requirement
Regulatory requirement
Product configuration information
Non-conformity
Defect
Nonconformity related to an intended or specified use.
Note : The distinction between the concepts defect and nonconformity is important as it has legal connotations, particularly those associated with product and service liability issues.
Note : The intended use as intended by the customer can be affected by the nature of the information, such as operating or maintenance instructions, provided by the provider.
Conformity
Capability
Traceability
Ability to trace the history, application or location of an object.
Note : When considering a product or a service, traceability can relate to: — the origin of materials and parts; — the processing history; — the distribution and location of the product or service after delivery.
Dependability
Innovation
New or changed object realizing or redistributing value.
Note : Activities resulting in innovation are generally managed.
Note : Innovation is generally significant in its effect.
Terms related to result
Objective
Result to be achieved.
Note : An objective can be strategic, tactical, or operational.
Note : Objectives can relate to different disciplines (such as financial, health and safety, and environmental objectives) and can apply at different levels (such as strategic, organization-wide, project , product and process).
Note : An objective can be expressed in other ways, e.g. as an intended outcome, a purpose, an operational criterion, as a quality objective or by the use of other words with similar meaning (e.g. aim, goal, or target).
Note : In the context of quality management systems quality objectives are set by the organization, consistent with the quality policy, to achieve specific results.
Quality objective
Objective related to quality.
Note : Activities resulting in innovation are generally managed.
Note : Quality objectives are generally based on the organization’s quality policy.
Note : Quality objectives are generally specified for relevant functions, levels and processes in the organization.
Success
Achievement of an objective.
Note : The success of an organization emphasizes the need for a balance between its economic or financial interests and the needs of its interested parties, such as customers, users, investors/shareholders (owners), people in the organization, providers, partners, interest groups and communities.
Sustained success
Success over a period of time.
Note : Sustained success emphasizes the need for a balance between economic-financial interests of an organization and those of the social and ecological environment.
Note : Sustained success relates to the interested parties of an organization, such as customers, owners, people in an organization, providers, bankers, unions, partners or society.
Output
Result of a process.
Note : Whether an output of the organization is a product or a service depends on the preponderance of the characteristics involved, e.g. a painting for sale in a gallery is a product whereas supply of a commissioned painting is a service, a hamburger bought in a retail store is a product whereas receiving an order and serving a hamburger ordered in a restaurant is part of a service.
Product
Output of an organization that can be produced without any transaction taking place between the organization and the customer.
Note : Production of a product is achieved without any transaction necessarily taking place between provider and customer, but can often involve this service element upon its delivery to the customer.
Note : The dominant element of a product is that it is generally tangible.
Note : Hardware is tangible and its amount is a countable characteristic (e.g. tyres). Processed materials are tangible and their amount is a continuous characteristic (e.g. fuel and soft drinks). Hardware and processed materials are often referred to as goods. Software consists of information regardless of delivery medium (e.g. computer programme, mobile phone app, instruction manual, dictionary content, musical composition copyright, driver’s license).
Service
Output of an organization with at least one activity necessarily performed between the organization and the customer.
Note : The dominant elements of a service are generally intangible.
Note : Service often involves activities at the interface with the customer to establish customer requirements as well as upon delivery of the service and can involve a continuing relationship such as banks, accountancies or public organizations, e.g. schools or hospitals.
Note : Provision of a service can involve, for example, the following: — an activity performed on a customer-supplied tangible product (e.g. a car to be repaired); — an activity performed on a customer-supplied intangible product (e.g. the income statement needed to prepare a tax return); — the delivery of an intangible product (e.g. the delivery of information in the context of knowledge transmission); — the creation of ambience for the customer (e.g. in hotels and restaurants).
Note : A service is generally experienced by the customer.
Performance
Measurable result.
Note : Performance can relate either to quantitative or qualitative findings.
Note : Performance can relate to the management of activities, processes, products, services, systems or organizations.
Risk
Effect of uncertainty.
Note : An effect is a deviation from the expected — positive or negative.
Note : Uncertainty is the state, even partial, of deficiency of information related to, understanding or knowledge of, an event, its consequence, or likelihood.
Note : The word “risk” is sometimes used when there is the possibility of only negative consequences.
Note : Risk is often characterized by reference to potential events. Risk is often expressed in terms of a combination of the consequences of an event.
Efficiency
Effectiveness
Terms related to person or people
Top management
Quality management system consultant
Person who assists the organization on quality management system realization, giving advice or information.
Note : The quality management system consultant can also assist in realizing parts of a quality management system.
Note : ISO 10019:2005 provides guidance on how to distinguish a competent quality management system consultant from one who is not competent.
Involvement
Engagement
Configuration authority, dispositioning authority
Person or a group of persons with assigned responsibility and authority to make decisions on the configuration.
Note : Relevant interested parties within and outside the organization should be represented on the configuration authority.
Dispute resolver
Individual person assigned by a DRP-provider to assist the parties in resolving a dispute.
Example : Staff, volunteer, contract personnel.
Terms related to data, information
Data
Facts about an object.
Information
Meaningful data.
Objective evidence
Data supporting the existence or verity of something.
Note : Objective evidence can be obtained through observation, measurement, test, or by other means.
Note : Objective evidence for the purpose of audit generally consists of records, statements of fact or other information which are relevant to the audit criteria and verifiable.
Information system
Document
Information and the medium on which it is contained.
Example : Record, specification, procedure document, drawing, report, standard.
Note : The medium can be paper, magnetic, electronic or optical computer disc, photograph or master sample, or combination thereof.
Note : A set of documents, for example specifications and records, is frequently called “documentation”.
Note : Some requirements (e.g. the requirement to be readable) relate to all types of documents. However there can be different requirements for specifications (e.g. the requirement to be revision controlled) and for records (e.g. the requirement to be retrievable).
Documented information
Information required to be controlled and maintained by an organization and the medium on which it is contained.
Note : Documented information can be in any format and media and from any source.
Note : Documented information can refer to: — the management system, including related processes; — information created in order for the organization to operate (documentation); — evidence of results achieved (records).
Specification
Document stating requirements.
Example : Quality manual, quality plan, technical drawing, procedure document, work instruction.
Note : A specification can be related to activities (e.g. procedure document, process specification and test specification), or products (e.g. product specification, performance specification and drawing).
Note : It can be that, by stating requirements, a specification additionally is stating results achieved by design and development and thus in some cases can be used as a record.
Quality manual
Specification for the quality management system of an organization.
Note : Quality manuals can vary in detail and format to suit the size and complexity of an individual organization.
Quality plan
Specification of the procedures and associated resources to be applied when and by whom to a specific object.
Note : These procedures generally include those referring to quality management processes and to product and service realization processes.
Note : A quality plan often makes reference to parts of the quality manual or to procedure documents.
Note : A quality plan is generally one of the results of quality planning.
Record
Document stating results achieved or providing evidence of activities performed.
Note : Records can be used, for example, to formalize traceability and to provide evidence of verification, preventive action and corrective action.
Note : Generally records need not be under revision control.
Project management plan
Document specifying what is necessary to meet the objective(s) of the project.
Note : A project management plan should include or refer to the project’s quality plan.
Note : The project management plan also includes or references such other plans as those relating to organizational structures, resources, schedule, budget, risk management, environmental management, health and safety management, and security management, as appropriate.
Verification
Confirmation, through the provision of objective evidence, that specified requirements have been fulfilled.
Note : The objective evidence needed for a verification can be the result of an inspection or of other forms of determination such as performing alternative calculations or reviewing documents.
Note : The activities carried out for verification are sometimes called a qualification process.
Note : The word “verified” is used to designate the corresponding status.
Validation
Confirmation, through the provision of objective evidence, that the requirements for a specific intended use or application have been fulfilled.
Note : The objective evidence needed for a validation is the result of a test or other form of determination such as performing alternative calculations or reviewing documents.
Note : The word “validated” is used to designate the corresponding status.
Note : The use conditions for validation can be real or simulated.
Configuration status accounting
Specific case
Subject of the quality plan.
Note : This term is used to avoid repetition of “process, product, project or contract”.
Terms related to customer
Feedback
Customer satisfaction
Customer’s perception of the degree to which the customer’s expectations have been fulfilled.
Note : It can be that the customer’s expectation is not known to the organization, or even to the customer in question, until the product or service is delivered. It can be necessary for achieving high customer satisfaction to fulfil an expectation of a customer even if it is neither stated nor generally implied or obligatory.
Note : Complaints are a common indicator of low customer satisfaction but their absence does not necessarily imply high customer satisfaction.
Note : Even when customer requirements have been agreed with the customer and fulfilled, this does not necessarily ensure high customer satisfaction.
Complaint
Customer service
Customer satisfaction code of conduct
Promises, made to customers by an organization concerning its behaviour, that are aimed at enhanced customer satisfaction and related provisions.
Note : Related provisions can include objectives, conditions, limitations, contact information, and complaints handling procedure.
Dispute
Disagreement, arising from a complaint, submitted to a DRP-provider.
Note : Some organizations allow their customers to express their dissatisfaction to a DRP-provider in the first instance. In this situation, the expression of dissatisfaction becomes a complaint when sent to the organization for a response, and becomes a dispute if not resolved by the organization without DRP-provider intervention. Many organizations prefer their customers to first express any dissatisfaction to the organization before utilizing dispute resolution external to the organization.
Terms related to characteristic
Characteristic
Distinguishing feature.
Note : A characteristic can be inherent or assigned.
Note : A characteristic can be qualitative or quantitative.
Note : There are various classes of characteristic, such as the following: a) physical (e.g. mechanical, electrical, chemical or biological characteristics); b) sensory (e.g. related to smell, touch, taste, sight, hearing); c) behavioural (e.g. courtesy, honesty, veracity); d) temporal (e.g. punctuality, reliability, availability, continuity); e) ergonomic (e.g. physiological characteristic, or related to human safety); f) functional (e.g. maximum speed of an aircraft).
Quality characteristic
Inherent characteristic of an object related to a requirement.
Note : Inherent means existing in something, especially as a permanent characteristic.
Note : A characteristic assigned to an object (e.g. the price of an object) is not a quality characteristic of that object.
Human factor
Characteristic of a person having an impact on an object under consideration.
Note : Characteristics can be physical, cognitive or social.
Note : Human factors can have a significant impact on a management system.
Competence
Ability to apply knowledge and skills to achieve intended results.
Note : Demonstrated competence is sometimes referred to as qualification.
Metrological characteristic
Characteristic which can influence the results of measurement.
Note : Measuring equipment usually has several metrological characteristics.
Note : Metrological characteristics can be the subject of calibration.
Configuration
Configuration baseline
Terms related to determination
Determination
Review
Determination of the suitability, adequacy or effectiveness of an object to achieve established objectives.
Example : Management review, design and development review, review of customer requirements, review of corrective action and peer review.
Note : Review can also include the determination of efficiency.
Monitoring
Determining the status of a system, a process, a product, a service, or an activity.
Note : For the determination of the status there can be a need to check, supervise or critically observe.
Note : Monitoring is generally a determination of the status of an object, carried out at different stages or at different times.
Measurement
Process to determine a value.
Note : According to ISO 3534-2, the value determined is generally the value of a quantity.
Measurement process
Measurement equipment
Inspection
Determination of conformity to specified requirements.
Note : If the result of an inspection shows conformity, it can be used for purposes of verification.
Note : The result of an inspection can show conformity or nonconformity or a degree of conformity.
Test
Determination according to requirements for a specific intended use or application.
Note : If the result of a test shows conformity, it can be used for purposes of validation.
Progress evaluation
Assessment of progress made on achievement of the project objectives.
Note : This assessment should be carried out at appropriate points in the project life cycle across projectprocesse, based on criteria for project processes and product or service.
Note : The results of progress evaluations can lead to revision of the project management plan.
Terms related to action
Preventive action
Action to eliminate the cause of a potential nonconformity or other potential undesirable situation.
Note : There can be more than one cause for a potential nonconformity.
Note : Preventive action is taken to prevent occurrence whereas corrective action is taken to prevent recurrence.
Corrective action
Action to eliminate the cause of a nonconformity and to prevent recurrence.
Note : There can be more than one cause for a nonconformity.
Note : Corrective action is taken to prevent recurrence whereas preventive action is taken to prevent occurrence.
Correction
Action to eliminate a detected nonconformity.
Note : A correction can be made in advance of, in conjunction with or after a corrective action.
Note : A correction can be, for example, rework or regrade.
Regrade
Concession
Permission to use or release a product or service that does not conform to specified requirements.
Note : A concession is generally limited to the delivery of products and services that have nonconforming characteristics within specified limits and is generally given for a limited quantity of products and services or period of time, and for a specific use.
Deviation permit
Permission to depart from the originally specified requirements of a product or service prior to its realization.
Note : A deviation permit is generally given for a limited quantity of products and services or period of time, and for a specific use.
Release
Rework
Action on a nonconforming product or service to make it conform to the requirements.
Note : Rework can affect or change parts of the nonconforming product or service.
Repair
Action on a nonconforming product or service to make it acceptable for the intended use.
Note : A successful repair of a nonconforming product or service does not necessarily make the product or service conform to the requirements. It can be that in conjunction with a repair a concession is required.
Note : Repair includes remedial action taken on a previously conforming product or service to restore it for use, for example as part of maintenance.
Note : Repair can affect or change parts of the nonconforming product or service.
Scrap
Action on a nonconforming product or service to preclude its originally intended use.
Example : Recycling, destruction.
Note : In a nonconforming service situation, use is precluded by discontinuing the service.
Terms related to audit
Audit
Systematic, independent and documented process for obtaining objective evidence and evaluating it objectively to determine the extent to which the audit criteria are fulfilled.
Note : The fundamental elements of an audit include the determination of the conformity of an object according to a procedure carried out by personnel not being responsible for the object audited.
Note : An audit can be an internal audit (first party), or an external audit (second party or third party), and it can be a combined audit or a joint audit.
Note : Internal audits, sometimes called first-party audits, are conducted by, or on behalf of, the organization itself for management review and other internal purposes, and can form the basis for an organization’s declaration of conformity. Independence can be demonstrated by the freedom from responsibility for the activity being audited.
Note : External audits include those generally called second and third-party audits. Second party audits are conducted by parties having an interest in the organization, such as customers, or by other persons on their behalf. Third-party audits are conducted by external, independent auditing organizations such as those providing certification/registration of conformity or governmental agencies.
Combined audit
Audit carried out together at a single auditee on two or more management systems.
Note : The parts of a management system that can be involved in a combined audit can be identified by the relevant management system standards, product standards, service standards or process standards being applied by the organization.
Joint audit
Audit programme
Audit scope
Extent and boundaries of an audit.
Note : The audit scope generally includes a description of the physical locations, organizational units, activities and processes.
Audit plan
Audit criteria
Audit evidence
Audit findings
Results of the evaluation of the collected audit evidence against audit criteria.
Note : Audit findings indicate conformity or nonconformity.
Note : Audit findings can lead to the identification of opportunities for improvement or recording good practices.
Note : In English, if the audit criteria are selected from statutory requirements or regulatory requirements, the audit finding can be called compliance or non-compliance.
Audit conclusion
Audit client
Auditee
Guide
Audit team
One or more persons conducting an audit, supported if needed by technical experts.
Note : One auditor of the audit team is appointed as the audit team leader.
Note : The audit team can include auditors-in-training.
Auditor
Technical expert
Person who provides specific knowledge or expertise to the audit team.
Note : Specific knowledge or expertise relates to the organization, the process or activity to be audited, or language or culture.
Note : A technical expert does not act as an auditor in the audit team.
Observer
Person who accompanies the audit team but does not act as an auditor.
Note : An observer can be a member of the auditee, a regulator or other interested party who witnesses the audit.
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