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Value-Added Attributes of the QA Requirements
- Senior Management Ownership
Senior management must take full ownership
of the quality assurance program. These managers
should establish policies and objectives focused
on achieving the organization's mission while
improving the quality of the organization's
products and services. They must create an
environment that promotes quality and the
improvement of quality throughout the entire
organization.
- Line Organization Responsibility
People who perform the work have the greatest
affect on item and process quality. They should
be empowered. They determine the extent to
which management's objectives are met. Individual
employees should seek ways to improve the
quality of their work by suggesting product
and process improvements.
- Effective Assessment
The self-assessment process consists of three
types of assessments: worker, management,
and independent. Worker assessment deals with
the individual taking responsibility for their
work as part of their work ethic. As work
is performed, workers should critically assess
their efforts and determine if they have accomplished
what they set out to do, that is, meet management's
objectives.
Management assessment identifies, corrects
and prevents management problems that hinder
the achievement of the management's objectives.
The assessments focus on broad categories
of management issues to determine the effectiveness
of the integrated management system.
Independent assessment expands traditional
audit techniques to include a myriad of tools
that allow independent assessment personnel
to better focus on real issues that affect
the organization's performance. In their role
of assessing item quality and process effectiveness,
independent assessment personnel act on behalf
of and as an advisor to, senior management.
Personnel performing assessments should be
technically qualified and performance-oriented.
- Quality Results
A measure or the success of an organization
is the quality of the services and products
it provides. Product and service quality,
rather than rigorous programs, procedures,
and documentation, is the organization's primary
measure of success.
- Cost and Schedule
To achieve quality products and services,
managers must take into account resource considerations,
such as cost and schedule. These considerations
must be an integral part of management's decision-making
process.
- Training and Qualification
Every individual must be capable of doing
his/her job. The Order requires that all personnel,
including managers, receive the appropriate
training to ensure they are capable of performing
their assignments.
- Quality Improvement
Problem prevention is more desirable than
problem correction. The Order emphasizes that
DOE and DOE contractor management is responsible
for continuously pursuing enhancements to
their products and services--not just complying
with the minimum set of requirements. Everyone
must strive to find new and innovative ways
to ensure that the quality of products and
services are continually improved. Process
and product problems must be identified, documented,
and corrected with the goal of promoting higher
levels of quality.
- Graded Approach
Not all items, processes and services have
the same effect on safety and reliability.
The rigor with which the QAP should be applied
must be determined using a graded approach.
Specific information should be considered,
such as the relative importance of safety,
safeguards, and security; the management of
any hazard; life cycle stage; programmatic
mission; characteristics of the facility;
consequences of failure; complexity or uniqueness
of design or fabrication; special controls;
ability to demonstrate functional compliance;
quality history; degree of standardization;
impact on the environment; and impact on cost
or schedule or both.
This page was last updated on December 03, 2008
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