Use Of Quality Systems Research Articles

Lessons for psychology laboratories from industrial laboratories

In the past decade there has been a lot of attention to the quality of the evidence in experimental psychology and in other social and medical sciences. Some have described the current climate as a ‘crisis of confidence’. We focus on a specific question: how can we increase the quality of the data in psychology and cognitive neuroscience laboratories. Again, the challenges of the field are related to many different issues, but we believe that increasing the quality of the data collection process and the quality of the data per se will be a significant step in the right direction. We suggest that the adoption of quality control systems which parallel the methods used in industrial laboratories might be a way to improve the quality of data. We recommend that administrators incentivize the use of quality systems in academic laboratories.

Sistemas de calidad y desempeño empresarial: estudio de caso en empresas cárnicas en una región del noroeste de México

In this article an exploratory analysis of the measurement of use of quality systems and their implications in business performance is done, taking as reference a case study in four meat producing companies of a Northern Mexican County. The main contribution of this work is based on a mixed methodology analyzed by means of the Preferential Weighting of Criteria. The results thread coincidences with other investigations, that conclude that quality systems increase enterprise performance in the productions and sales amounts.

Profille mapping DNA laboratories overlooking the forensic field and use of quality systems

The correct technical and scientific understanding as well as the quality control protocols for the DNA analysis has been important in legal decisions in the light of technological development in the last 20 years. This study aimed to map the quality in DNA laboratories to meet the standards used by these laboratories. A survey was conducted to identify laboratories that work in forensics and quality requirements used. The results on the responses of 34.7% of laboratories (N=72) point distribution of 44% of laboratories in the axis Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. The paternity testing and forensic analysis represent 72% of the purposes of the analysis of DNA in the country. For the assurance of the measurement results, the survey showed that 76% use internal control and reference materials. Regarding the participation in proficiency testing, relevant factor for the external control, 72% use such mechanism. As for the implementation of quality management systems, research shows that 20% have implanted system and 16% by implantation, with the standard ISO/IEC 17025 the reference to the forensic field. This survey concluded that DNA laboratories aimed at implementation of quality management systems to guarantee reliable and comparable measurement results nationally and internationally. In the search for these improvements and considering international guidelines, it is clear that the use of quality requirements are extremely important in order to harmonize procedures and allow to obtain reliable and comparable measurement results.

Quality systems to improve care in older patients with urinary incontinence receiving home care: do they work?

To gain insight into the use of quality systems to improve urinary incontinence (UI) care in older adults receiving home care and to assess the associations between these quality systems and UI-related process and patient outcomes. Cross-sectional survey. 19 home care agencies in the Netherlands comprising 155 home care teams. 3480 adults aged 65 years and older, screened for UI. Percentage of patients with UI, percentage of patients with a diagnosis regarding type of UI, mean amount of urine loss and mean frequency of urine loss. The quality systems most commonly used included appointing a continence nurse (at the home care agency level) and documenting UI-related actions in the patient's record (home care teams). Mixed model analyses revealed no associations between the quality systems and the UI process or patient outcomes. Most home care agencies and home care teams claim that they adopt quality systems to improve UI care for older adults. However, no associations were found between these quality systems and the UI process or patient outcomes. More research with a precise monitoring of implemented systems is therefore needed to gain insight into the effectiveness of quality systems and their applicability in the home care setting.

Knowledge and quality management: An R&D perspective

The nature of knowledge management in a research and development (R&D) environment and the implications for the use of quality systems are examined. We suggest knowledge inquiry in an R&D context is localised, provisional, mediated and pragmatic. Using case study analysis of seven technology-based UK R&D organisations we investigate their experiences and how use of quality systems promotes and/or discourages the exploration and exploitation of R&D knowledge. We argue that the knowledge-intensive nature of R&D activity, coupled to the endlessly re-constructed nature of the knowledge, precludes the use of generic frameworks or best-practice guidelines. We conclude that the use of quality systems in R&D environments are most effective when they provide an organisational background or frame within which individuals are encouraged to undertake inquiries that are integrated with the firm's strategic concerns without these concerns being at all fixed. Such systems are least effective when they externally impose procedures as unmoveable and immutable “blueprints”.

A systems approach to creating reliable batteries for implantable medical applications

Lithium batteries have been used to power implantable medical devices for over 25 years. During this period a system to ensure the reliability of battery performance has evolved, and continues to evolve, that embodies the use of quality systems, statistical sampling and testing of product, life testing and performance modeling. The development of a new lithium/carbon monofluoride battery product line will be used as an example of how these elements work together.

6.5.2 AN ISO 9000 QUALITY SYSTEMS ENHANCES SYSTEMS ENGINEERING

AbstractNo matter what industry you are in, the question “Are you ISO certified?” is becoming more important. As you read the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9000 set of standards, however, you will realize they offer much opportunity for interpretation. The primary thrust of ISO 9000 is quality processes in product development and use of quality systems. The issue often boils down to understanding the system requirements of your industry and company for quality, determining what you do, documenting what you do and doing what you have documented. For systems engineering in the National Council on Systems Engineering (NCOSE), the question is particularly relevant due to this focus of ISO 9000 on quality systems and of NCOSE on the quality systems engineering needed to achieve world class status. The key expertise of systems engineering is technical process understanding for product development. Thus there is a clear relationship between systems engineering and ISO 9000 requirements.This article summarizes some key facets of the ISO 9000 quality system approach and how this affects systems engineering. Then it describes systems engineering, as it is evolving in the NCOSE Systems Engineering Process Working Group (SEPWG), and how it is impacted by ISO 9000. Finally, it draws some conclusions about their relationship and future.

Development of an international chemical measurement system—Plenary lecture

Systems are required to ensure that analyses carried out in different laboratories are comparable, and as the requirements become more stringent the task becomes more difficult. We already have many of the components of an international system, there are, however, gaps and there is no adequate overall framework to facilitate collaboration. This paper reviews some of the driving forces that will shape future requirements and proposes an outline system covering both conceptual issues and the organizational infrastructure. The following underpinning concepts and requirements are discussed: clearly defined targets in the form of requirement specifications; knowledge of trueness or measurement uncertainty; provision of traceability through an unbroken chain of calibration to primary standards; and the use of quality systems to provide transparency. Some of the key organizations operating at the UK, European and international levels are considered in terms of their contribution to learned and professional activities, metrology, the provision of a quality focus, accreditation and the production of standards. The main new requirements are: an international organization to act as a focus for analytical quality and more strategic planning of collaborative work programmes.