FREE online courses on Quality Management System - Quality Planning - 1  Setting the quality goals

 

Quality goals are aimed-at targets, typically expressed in quantitative terms and time scales. Goal setting is basically translation of stated and implied (subjective and objective) needs of customers in digital or objective terms that can be measured, controlled and achieved. Quality goals originate from customer needs. Satisfaction of the customer needs becomes the ultimate quality goal.

 

Quality goals can be broadly classified into the following four categories:

 

Product related quality goals

 

These goals are related to performance of the product, which respond to customer needs.  These include product performance, safety, reliability, and response. These features influence the customer satisfaction.

 

Market related quality goals 

 

These goals affect the saleability of the product in competitive market place. These goals are related to packaging, cost competitiveness, distribution channel, availability, pre and post sales service, etc.

 

Process related quality goals

 

These goals are related to the produceability of the product.  These are based on technology and process capability. Production related quality goals are expressed in specifications and procedures at various stages of manufacturing and non-manufacturing processes.

 

Business performance related quality goals

 

The strategic quality goals are the goals related to the overall business performance and vision of the company.

 

Basis for setting the quality goals

 

Quality goals can be set on the basis of the following factors:

 

• Technology: Product quality goals are generally set on the basis of technology used for the production of the desired products. Product standards and specifications are available as published documents through suppliers and standardization bodies.

 

• Historical performance: Based on the historical performance of the products and processes, an incremental goal can be set up.

 

• Benchmarking:  Benchmarking is the latest quality improvement tool, which is used to find out what has been achieved by other competitors.  Based on the industry's best practices, an ambitious but practically achievable goal can be set.

 

Quality goals are moving targets, therefore, they must be periodically reviewed and accordingly revised.