Adequacy, suitability, effectiveness and efficiency of quality management systems: How to perceive and assess them?

Abstract

Purpose: The paper brings set of original information related to the ISO 9001: 2015 standard's requirements focused on assessment and review of quality management systems adequacy, suitability and effectiveness.

Methodology/Approach: Brainstorming, field research, seminars, comparative literature analysis, interviews and design review were used.

Findings: According to the ISO 9001: 2015 the quality management systems adequacy, suitability and effectiveness must be assessed and reviewed, in spite of the terms adequacy and suitability are not defined at the ISO 9000: 2015 standard at all. Also literature review has discovered serious absentation in this area of interest. Additionally: the most of organizations managers (including quality professionals) do not understand these features of the modern quality management systems.

Research Limitation/implication: Special research activities focused on perception and practical using the quality management systems adequacy, suitability and effectiveness assessment and review was performed on sample of 172 Czech organizations (with 30 % response rate). A hypotheses described by Fig. 1 below cannot be confirmed as relevant data are unobtainable from Czech organizations at present.

Originality/Value of paper: The paper brings original set of information, regarding to definitions of terms as well as development of the quality management systems adequacy, suitability and effectiveness assessment and review at different types of organizations.