A group of employees working together to solve a quality problem. There are two types of Problem Elimination Teams regular Problem Elimination Teams and Quality Council sponsored Problem Elimination Teams

A formal system employees can use to identify barriers that prevent them from doing their jobs right the first time

The second tier of the Problem Elimination Procedure administered by the Problem Elimination Coordinator

The process of solving problems; the isolation and control of those conditions which generate or facilitate the creation of undesirable symptoms

Processes that are used when work affects more than one function or department of an organization

A collection of activities that together produce a usable product or service by applying resources from one or more functional areas / Or / A particular method of doing something, generally involving a number of steps or operations / Or / A series of actions that lead to a desired result; converting inputs into outputs

The central tendency of a given process characteristic across a given amount of time or at a specific point in time

1. A statistical measure indicating the inherent variation for a given event in a stable process, usually defined as the process width divided by 6 sigma. 2. Competence of the process, based on tested performance, to achieve certain results

The value of the tolerance specified for the characteristic divided by the process capability. There are several types of process capability indexes, including the widely used C_pk and C_p

A logical method of questioning that compares the process conditions when a non conforming output was produced with the process conditions when a conforming output was produced

Operations with a built in finding and adjusting step to keep a product or service in conformance with the specifications

Any of a number of various types of graphs upon which data are plotted against specific control limits

Method helps determine which processes to use to obtain desired results by evaluating the progress of events and the variety of conceivable outcomes. Implementation plans do not always progress as anticipated. When problems, technical or otherwise, arise, solutions are frequently not apparent. The PDPC method, in response to these kinds of problems, anticipates possible outcomes and prepares countermeasures that will lead to the best possible solutions

Depicts the flow of material through the process, including any rework or repair operations

Also Activity Model A graphic representation of a business process that exhibits the activities and their interdependencies that make up the business process to any desired level of detail. An activity model reveals the interactions between activities in terms of inputs and outputs while showing the controls placed on each activity and the types of resources assigned to each activity

The specific beginning and end points of any process for the purpose of analysis. The more specific the smallest element, the more meaningful the analysis of the input controls

The range of values which a given process characteristic displays; this particular term most often applies to the range but may also encompass the variance. The spread may be based on a set of data collected at a specific point in time or may reflect the variability across a given amount of time

The variables in a process that affect outcomes. Two types of process variation special cause and common cause

A part of the Product Quality Plan. It is a prevention oriented management tool that addresses product design, process design, and when applicable software design

The obligation of a company to make restitution for loss related to personal injury, property damage, or other harm caused by its product or service.

The submissions are based on small quantities of parts taken from a significant production run made with production tooling, processes, and cycle times. Parts for production part approval are checked by the supplier to all engineering requirements

A management document describing the approach taken for a project. The plan typically describes work to be done, resources required, methods to be used, the configuration management and quality assurance procedures to be followed, the schedules to be met, the project organization, etc. Project in this context is a generic term. Some projects may also need integration plans, security plans, test plans, quality assurance plans, etc. See: documentation plan, software development plan, test plan, software engineering

The use of techniques of mathematical logic to infer that a relation between program variables assumed true at program entry implies that another relation between program variables holds at program exit

Refers to ANSI/ISO/ASQ Q9000 series standards, which is the Americanized version of the 1994 edition of the ISO 9000 series standards. The United States adopted the ISO 9000 series standards as the ANSI/ISO/ASQ Q9000 series

Quality assurance

Quality Function Deployment: The process of translating customer expectations and requirements into product or service documentation to ensure expectations and requirements are being met

A quality standard, based on ISO 9000, used by the American domestic automobile manufacturers to register their suppliers

Establishing confidence that process equipment and ancillary systems are compliant with appropriate codes and approved design intentions, and that manufacturer's recommendations are suitably considered

Establishing confidence that process equipment and subsystems are capable of consistently operating within established limits and tolerances

Establishing confidence through appropriate testing that the finished product produced by a specified process meets all release requirements for functionality and safety

"Quality is conformance to specifications. "British Defence Industries Quality Assurance Panel "Quality is conformance to requirements." Philip Crosby "Quality is fitness for purpose." Dr Juran "Quality is synonymous with customer needs and expectations." R J Mortiboys "Quality is a predictable degree of uniformity and dependability, at low cost and suited to the market. "Dr Edward Deming "Quality is meeting the (stated) requirements of the customer- now and in the future." Mike Robinson "Quality is the total composite product and service characteristics of marketing, engineering, manufacturing and maintenance through which the product and service in use will meet the expectations by the customer." Armand Feigenbaum "Totality of characteristics of an entity that bear on its ability to satisfy stated and implied needs." ISO 8402 : 1994

All the planned and systematic activities implemented within the quality systems to provide adequate confidence the requirements for quality will be met

Two terms that have many interpretations because of the multiple definitions for the words ‘assurance’ and ‘control’. For example, ‘assurance’ can mean the act of giving confidence, the state of being certain, or the act of making certain; ‘control’ can mean an evaluation to indicate needed corrective responses, the act of guiding, or the state of a process in which the variability is attributable to a constant system of chance causes. (For a detailed discussion on the multiple definitions, see ANSI/ISO/ASQ A3534-2, Statistics ‘ Vocabulary and Symbols ‘ Statistical Quality Control.) One definition of quality assurance is: all the planned and systematic activities implemented within the quality system that can be demonstrated to provide confidence that a product or service will fulfill requirements for quality. One definition for quality control is: the operational techniques and activities used to fulfill requirements for quality. Often, however, ‘quality assurance’

(1) A planned and systematic pattern of all actions necessary to provide adequate confidence that an item or product conforms to established technical requirements. (2) A set of activities designed to evaluate the process by which products are developed or manufactured

A systematic and independent examination to determine quality related activities are implemented effectively and comply with the quality systems and/or quality standards

The characteristics of an output of a process that are important to the customer. Identification of quality characteristics requires knowledge of the customers needs and expectations