key principles of quality management

Derived from the ISO 9001:2000 standard, these eight principles are (1) Customer focus: Management should understand (and anticipate) the customers' needs and requirements, and strive to exceed customer expectations in meeting them; (2) Leadership: Management should establish unity of purpose and direction, and create and maintain an environment in which everyone can participate in achieving the organization's objectives; (3) Involvement of people: Management should involve all people at all levels so that they willingly contribute their abilities in achieving the organization's goals; (4) Process approach: Management should recognize that an objective is achieved more efficiently when activities and associated resources are managed together as a process; (5) Systems approach: Management should recognize that identifying and understanding interrelated processes, and managing them as a system, is more efficient and effective in achieving the organization's objectives; (6) Continual improvement: Management should aim at steady, incremental improvement in the organization's overall performance as a permanent objective; (7) Factual approach to decision making: Management should base its decisions solely on the analysis of data and information; (8) Mutually beneficial supplier relationships: Management should enhance the interdependent relationship with its suppliers for mutual benefit and in creation of value.