ASSIGNMENT ON Quality Assurance System

Quality Assurance System

Definitions: Quality!!!
Degree or standard of excellence. Totality of characteristics of an entity that bear on its ability to satisfy stated and implied needs (ISO). The degree to which health care services for individuals and populations increase the probability of desired health outcomes and are consistent with current professional knowledge of best practice.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN Quality Control Quality assurance

Quality Control: Operational techniques and activities that are used to fulfil requirements for quality. Quality assurance: All the planned and systematic actions implemented within the quality system, and demonstrated as needed to provide adequate confidence that an entity will fulfill requirements for quality.

Definition: total quality management

TQM is a management approach for an organization, centered on quality, based on the participation of all its members and aiming at long-term SUcess through customer satisfaction, and benefits to all members of the organization and to society.

Principles of quality management

. Customer-Focused Organisation Leadership

 Involvement of People Process Approach System Approach to Management Continual Improvement Factual Approach to Decision Making Mutually Beneficial Supplier Relationships

IMPORTANCE OF FOOD QA SYSTEM

Food quality assurance has gained importance in the past few years with the food industry also following the quality monitoring and management system as per strict guidelines. Quality guarantee has become a necessary component of the food service business with the adoption of analysis and control systems for food safety.

Need for food Quality system

Customer expectations - Today the customers have become more demanding and knowledgeable. They are more concerned about the ingredients of the food products and hence maintaining optimum quality standards in food industry has become very necessary.

Environmental concerns - Nowadays, people are more concerned about the environment. Environment protection laws have also become stringent. Hence, employing environmental friendly methods in the food industry has become necessary. QA plays a big role in all this.

Organic Foods There is more demand for organic foods because people have realized the ill effects of in-organic foods like damage to the environment and

health. Hence quality monitoring and guarantee ensures that the chemicals are within the specified limits in any food product.

Technology - With the development in technology, various methods for food processing and other food related activities have emerged. These methods provide safer and higher quality food to the customers. Today all organizations related to food have to ensure good quality systems to compete in the market. Regulatory requirements - Food being a critical element of life, the regulatory agencies have also put in place stringent requirements for its safety and quality. Here also food quality assurance.

Programs help the food industry to meet these requirements consistently and deliver food that is fit for consumption

Tools of quality assurance

Focus on the client(Internal/external): services should be designed so as to meet the needs and expectations of clients and communities. Focus on system and Processes:providers must understand the service delivery system and its key service processes in order to improve them. Focus on mesasurement :analyze processes, identify problems, and measure performance.

Focus on teamwork: quality is best achieved through a team approach to problem solving and quality improvement

Institutionalization of QA

The Essential Elements of Institutionalizing QA:

1. The Internal Enabling Environment. 2. A Structure to Support QA Implementation. 3. Essential Support Functions

THE INTERNAL ENABLING ENVIRONMENT

Policy: written policies that support quality through clear, explicit, and communicated directions/directives and provide support, guidance, and reinforcement for QA as an integral part of the organization. Leadership: leaders who work directly and openly to improve quality by setting priorities, modelling core values, promoting a learning atmosphere, acting on recommendations, advocating for supportive policies, and allocating resources for QA.

Core values: organizational values are articulated, promoted, and practiced. These values emphasize quality of care, ongoing learning, and continuous improvement of services. Resources: sufficient allocation of human and material resources for conducting, supporting, and maintaining QA activities.

A STRUCTURE TO SUPPORT QA IMPLEMENTATIONOversight

Coordination

 Roles and responsibilities

Accountability

ESSENTIAL SUPPORT FUNCTIONS

Capacity Building, (expertise, monitoring, supervision).

Communication of QA Efforts, Recording , Sharing (spreading), Using the results (decision making). Rewarding Quality Work fosters a commitment to quality and motivation to strive for excellence.

TOWARDS QUALITY ASSURANCE (WHAT ARE THE STEPS?)

Self study Strategic planning (vision, mission, objectives and initiatives) Monitoring & documentation Re-evaluation

OVERVIEW OF QA STANDARDS
Some Of The Quality Assurance Standards Include:1. ISO 9001 2. ISO 22000

3. ISO17025

ISO 9001
This is the most widely used standard. Any manufacturing or service industry can adopt this quality guarantee standard. It is based on eight principles, which determine that the quality systems developed and implemented by the organization help in satisfying customer needs properly. Organizations have to undergo audit process by an authorized body in order to get certified for ISO 9001. The organizations that are ISO 9001 certified are required to properly document, implement, and review their quality management systems periodically.

ISO 22000

ISO 22000 is used in food industry to maintain food safety and quality. Food industry has to maintain very stringent quality and safety parameters as bad quality of food can affect the health of the consumers. ISO 22000 quality assurance standards help these industries to develop quality management systems in such a way that the quality of food is maintained at all stages like farming, food processing, food packaging etc. This standard is generally combined with ISO 9001 and HACCP to obtain the optimum results.

ISO 17025 ISO 17025 is used for testing and calibration laboratories. Laboratories that
conduct testing and calibration as well as organizations that have internal laboratories for similar tasks can follow this standard. To get ISO 17025 certification, the laboratories and organizations have to fulfill some technical and management requirements as mentioned in this standard. One of the benefits of getting ISO 17025 certification is that the test results of such laboratories are internationally accepted