Quality and performance : equipping ourselves to do better and better

ISO 9001 is the global standard that describes the steps to be taken to implement, manage, and operate a quality management system (QMS). It aims to ensure the consistent delivery of products and services that meet customer expectations and regulatory requirements. This international standard is based on several key principles: customer focus, committed leadership, a process approach, evidence-based decision-making, and now the consideration of climate change. The text has undergone several revisions, the first in 1987 and the next scheduled for the end of 2026.

Quality management is the set of resources, tools, and organizational methods implemented by an organization to achieve five key objectives for its sustainability: 

• to consistently meet the expectations of its customers and users,
• improve the organization of its business, or in other words: optimize operational efficiency,
• reduce non-compliance and associated costs (known as non-quality costs)
• promote employee engagement
• continuously adapt to changes in its ecosystem.
   

In 2023, a revision of the ISO 9001 standard was launched, the latest version of which dated back to 2015. The new version is expected to be published in 2026. The fundamentals of the standard are not expected to change: the objective, title, and scope of the standard will remain the same, as will the principles of continuous improvement of the PDCA approach. Discussions among professionals who use the standard cover a wide range of topics, including:

• climate change: integrating and taking into account climate change risks among the organization's challenges
• Quality culture: driving and promoting a culture of quality within the organization
• Ethics and integrity: responsible, ethical, and honest behavior and decision-making in all parts of the organization.
   

As an international standard for quality management, ISO 9001 is universal and works for all sectors of activity. ISO 9001 serves as a solid foundation for many sector-specific standards. For example, the automotive industry relies on IATF 16949, which adds specific requirements to ISO 9001. This combination enables manufacturers to meet the specific challenges of their sector throughout their supply chain. In the medical field, ISO 13485 complements ISO 9001 by incorporating regulatory aspects that are crucial for the safety of medical devices. Aerospace companies use EN 9100, strengthening traceability and risk management controls specific to their industry.

Quality culture is a unifying foundation of values, behaviors, and skills shared by every member of the organization. Integrating quality culture is essential for optimizing daily performance in the service of customers or stakeholders, and for ensuring the organization's long-term viability.

The PDCA (Plan, Do, Check, Act) approach, also known as the "Deming wheel," structures problem solving into four iterative phases. It is a powerful tool for promoting continuous improvement, as it encourages systematic and iterative reflection on processes, allowing for adjustments and improvements based on concrete data. It is used in various fields, including project management and innovation.

The Lean approach consists of improving production processes and reducing, or even eliminating, all unprofitable activities within a company. When applied correctly, it increases productivity and improves quality by eliminating sources of inefficiency and shortening production cycles. Deployed according to the fundamental principle of continuous improvement, the Lean approach makes it possible to deliver high-quality work with a minimum of resources, costs, and time.

FMEA (Failure Mode, Effects, and Criticality Analysis) is a systematic risk analysis method used to identify and evaluate potential failure modes in a product or process. It allows the consequences of these failures on overall operation to be analyzed and their criticality to be assessed in order to prioritize corrective actions. FMEA is widely used in various sectors, including manufacturing, aerospace, automotive, and healthcare, to improve the reliability and safety of products and processes.

The Kaizen philosophy (which means "continuous improvement" in Japanese) advocates gradual but constant improvements. Kaizen is based on the idea that even small improvements, when applied consistently, can have a significant impact on an organization's overall performance. Its application requires the active participation of all employees, from the operational level to management.