Glossary / Lexicon

Deutsch: Anpassung / Español: Ajuste / Português: Ajustamento / Français: Ajustement / Italiano: Regolazione

Adjustment in the quality management context refers to the process of making changes or modifications to processes, products, services, or quality management systems (QMS) to correct deviations from specified requirements or to improve overall performance and quality. Adjustments are often made in response to findings from quality audits, customer feedback, process performance monitoring, and other quality evaluation mechanisms. The goal of making adjustments is to ensure that the organization's outputs meet quality standards consistently, satisfy customer expectations, and comply with regulatory requirements.

General

Adjustments are integral to the continuous improvement cycle of quality management, embodying the "Act" phase in the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle. They are essential for addressing non-conformities, enhancing efficiency, and fostering innovation in products and services.

Description

In quality management, adjustments can involve:

• Process Adjustments: Modifying production or service delivery processes to improve efficiency, reduce waste, or enhance quality.
• Product Adjustments: Making changes to product designs or specifications to meet quality standards or customer needs.
• System Adjustments: Updating or refining elements of the quality management system, including policies, procedures, and documentation, to better align with organizational goals or quality standards like ISO 9001.

Application Areas

• Manufacturing: Adjusting machine settings, materials, or workflows to improve product quality or reduce defects.
• Service Industry: Modifying service delivery processes to enhance customer satisfaction or address service quality issues.
• Software Development: Updating software development practices or code to improve functionality, security, or user experience.

Examples

• After a quality audit reveals recurring defects in a product line, a manufacturing company might adjust its production process parameters or conduct additional training for its staff to address the issue.
• A software company implements adjustments in its development process after customer feedback indicates a need for enhanced features or improved usability in its application.

Risks

While adjustments are necessary for improvement, making changes without thorough analysis or adequate planning can introduce new problems, disrupt operations, or lead to unintended consequences. Therefore, adjustments should be carefully managed, based on solid data and analysis, and implemented with consideration for their potential impacts across the organization.

Weblinks

• top500.de: 'Adjustment' in the glossary of the top500.de
• maritime-glossary.com: 'Adjustment' in the maritime-glossary.com
• psychology-lexicon.com: 'Adjustment' in the psychology-lexicon.com

Articles with 'Adjustment' in the title

• Process Adjustments: Process Adjustments in the quality management context refer to the modifications or changes made to existing processes to improve efficiency, effectiveness, quality outcomes, and compliance with established standards and regulations
• Product Adjustments: Product Adjustments in the quality management context refer to the changes or modifications made to a product’s design, specifications, or features to improve its quality, performance, compliance with standards, or to meet customer . . .
• System Adjustments: System Adjustments in the quality management context refer to the modifications or improvements made to a quality management system (QMS) to enhance its effectiveness, efficiency, and ability to meet quality objectives

Summary

Adjustment in the quality management context is a critical activity that allows organizations to respond to quality issues, customer requirements, and operational challenges. It plays a pivotal role in the continuous improvement process, ensuring that products, services, and quality management practices meet or exceed quality standards and contribute to organizational success. Properly managed adjustments are a hallmark of a responsive and effective quality management system.

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