Measuring the effectiveness of QMS

According to ISO 9000:2015 effectiveness is about measuring the extent to which planned results are met. What are the most important results expected from a QMS? One can argue that quality objectives aligned with the quality policy and strategic orientation are the most important outcomes expected from a QMS. So, one can measure the effectiveness of a QMS by evaluating the extent to which the quality objectives are achieved.

The following material will provide you more information about effectiveness:

- Article – How to implement the Check phase (performance evaluation) in the QMS according to ISO 9001:2015 - https://advisera.com/9001academy/blog/2015/11/17/how-to-implement-the-check-phase-performance-evaluation-in-the-qms-according-to-iso-90012015/
- Article - Practical tips for measuring your QMS according to ISO 9001:2015 clause 9.1 - https://advisera.com/9001academy/blog/2017/08/29/practical-tips-for-measuring-your-qms-according-to-iso-90012015-clause-9-1/
- Enroll for free course - ISO 9001:2015 Foundations Course - https://advisera.com/training/iso-9001-foundations-course/
- Book - Discover ISO 9001:2015 Through Practical Examples - https://advisera.com/books/discover-iso-9001-2015-through-practical-examples/
 

Waht is the difference between measuring effectiveness of QMS and measuring effectiveness of a process? QMS can be effective without all processes being effective?

What is the difference between measuring effectiveness of QMS and measuring effectiveness of a process?

Answer:

We wrote “one can measure the effectiveness of a QMS by evaluating the extent to which the quality objectives are achieved.” 

The same approach can be used to measure process effectiveness. Each process has one or more indicators that allow measuring its performance against its purpose. So, one can measure the effectiveness of a process by evaluating the extent to which the process indicators’ targets are achieved.

QMS can be effective without all processes being effective?

Answer:

A QMS is the result of the sum of its processes. When we go from the individual (process) into the global (system) there is one thing that we call emergence, because a system is more than just summing its individual parts. So, we have to be careful about emergence and thinking about linear relationships between the sum of the individuals and the whole. Having said that I can agree that a QMS can be effective even if some of its processes are not effective. Please consider that not all processes have the same impact on QMS objectives. In my consulting work it is normal to find processes that must exist but don’t contribute to strategy execution, for example.