Glossary / Lexicon

Noise

Deutsch: Geräusch / Español: Ruido / Português: RuaDdo / Français: Bruit -/ Italiano: Rumore
Noise means any unwanted sound. Noise is not necessarily random. Sounds, particularly loud ones, that disturb people or make it difficult to hear wanted sounds, are noise. For example, conversations of other people may be called noise by people not involved in any of them; any unwanted sound such as domesticated dogs barking, neighbours playing loud music, portable mechanical saws, road traffic sounds, or a distant aircraft in quiet countryside, is called noise.

In the context of quality management, "noise" refers to any factor or variability that affects the quality of a process, product, or service. This can include anything that interferes with the ability to consistently produce a desired result.

Examples of noise in a quality management context include:

  1. Machine noise - machinery vibration, electrical interference, and other factors that can negatively affect the quality of the product being produced.

  2. Human noise - factors such as lack of training, lack of attention to detail, and stress can lead to variability in the quality of the product.

  3. Environmental noise - temperature changes, humidity levels, and other environmental factors that can impact the quality of the product or process.

  4. Supplier noise - variability in the quality of raw materials, components, or parts can have a direct impact on the quality of the finished product.

  5. Customer noise - changes in customer requirements, preferences, and expectations can have an indirect impact on the quality of the product.

  6. Process noise - variability in the manufacturing process can lead to variations in product quality.

  7. Testing noise - issues with testing methods, procedures, and equipment can result in incorrect test results and impact product quality.

These are just a few examples of noise in a quality management context. It is important to identify and minimize noise in order to achieve consistent, high-quality results in manufacturing, service delivery, and other processes.