Training needs to understand quality assurance

Abstract

Quality assurance is defined as part of quality management focused on providing confidence that quality requirements will be fulfilled, other parts being quality planning, quality control and quality improvement. These terms are of importance to all activities of economic interest with regard to products, services and procedures including conformity assessment activities. Quality assurance is important not only for a particular activity but also for other activities linked with it; this may include supplies, manufacture, marketing, conformity assessment, accreditation, competent authorities and customers. This article is focused on some of the training needs referring to specific aspects of interest to the main parties involved in each case. Based on the experience gained within the Cyprus Accreditation Body, the article gives examples illustrating the importance of training and awareness for the understanding of various aspects of quality assurance by all parties, to the extent necessary so that they know what they are looking for, how compliance with requirements is documented and how an assessment of compliance is confirmed. The article gives emphasis to laboratories and interrelated activities with reference to the requirements of accreditation and certification standards applicable in each case. Common understanding of basic aspects of quality assurance and their use as tools in a common technical language require training and awareness at all levels so that quality assurance helps the expectations and the overall quality and economic goals of the society to be realized. This is how a quality culture is created and enhanced.