Application of Rasch Measurement Model in Examining the Implementation of ISO 9000 Organizational Performance in Malaysia

Quality Management System (QMS), especially the ISO 9000 QMS, is not a concept new to the world. Since its establishment, the ISO 9000 QMS has undergone several revisions in coping with the changes in an increasingly competitive market environment. Consequently, many studies have been conducted in view of the above. However, the consensus among the scholars regarding the effect of ISO 9000 implementation and organisational performance is still inconclusive. Issues like the level of comprehensiveness in ISO 9000 implementation, inconsistent variables, and differing methodologies might be of some major variances. In general, this study attempts to revisit these issues and analyse them using the Rasch Measurement Model. The data were collected through series of survey on randomly selected automotive-based companies determined beforehand. The survey questions were developed based on previous literature in which the Likert scale (1 – low to 5 – high) was used to measure the perception of the respondents. Working on the 28% response rate, the data was processed and analysed using Winstep 3.6 software. The results revealed that there is a positive and significant relationship between ISO 9000 implementation and organisational performance. They also revealed that the higher the capability of the organisation in implementing ISO 9000 standard requirements and guidelines, the higher the probability of success in optimising organisational performance. Fundamentally, this study seeks to contribute in view of applying a new paradigm of measurement theory in the area of quality management. Consequently, the output is expected to be of a valuable assistance for organisations in determining their capability and planning for continuous improvement in the area of quality management

Supplier Evaluation and Selection in Automobile Industry

In automobile industry, to operate effectively the supply chain management, the purchasing function is very important to perform effectively. It is the responsibility of purchasing department to choose the correct suppliers to purchase the required products for their company. Thus, supplier evaluation technique is essential for purchase manager’s point of view to choose the best supplier among available suppliers. The literature addresses quality, delivery, technology, value and service as the five most common criteria used for supplier quality evaluation. In this chapter, approach of evaluation and selection of supplier has been presented as per the ISO 9000/TS16949 standards. Considering the most important criteria for evaluating the quality of suppliers based on a review of the literature and observation in practice. Finally, these organizations continuously review and implement effective quality systems following the rigorous ISO 9000/TS16949 series of standards and most automobile companies have developed in-house procedures and software for the supplier selection process

Validating the ISO 9000 Construct of Measurement Instrument Through Application of RASCH Model

There are numerous researches conducted on the issues related to ISO 9001 quality management system. Among the issue is the impact of the ISO 9001 quality management system implementation on the performance of the organization. However the findings from the research appeared as inconclusive. Few literature suggest that the inconclusive result may due to the level of ISO 9000 implementation therefore further research is required. Generally the data collected for these types of researches are through mailed questionnaires and analyzed it using SPSS and SEM. In line with that this study also developed questionnaires correspond to a 5 point Likert to assess the implementation of ISO 9000 in the organization. As a result 231 items are identified within five dimensions. The five dimensions are derived from ISO 9001 and ISO 9004 quality management standards requirement and guidelines. Among the dimensions are management responsibility, resource management, product realization, measurement improvement and innovation and organizational performance. The questionnaires are sent to 78 automotive based companies located in the Northern region of Peninsular Malaysia. 19 questionnaires were returned and used as pilot test to validate and calibrate the instrument. The responds from the organization are tabulated and run in WinSteps software for the purpose of validating and calibrating the instrument by implementing the Rasch ‘quality control' and reduction of items. Not all the outfit items are removed from the instruments, Rasch Model did provide room for the researcher to make decision either to remove or not those outfit items. In this study those outfit items need to be corrected in order to ensure that the instrument is reliable and fit to measure the performance of the organization. As a result 68 items are removed from the questionnaires

Software support for quality management in civil engineering

Cílem této bakalářské práce je zmapovat softwarovou podporu pro řízení jakosti (management kvality) ve stavebnictví. Systém managementu kvality je definován a stanoven v základní kriteriální normě řady 9001, na mezinárodní úrovni označené EN ISO 9001, v České republice označené ČSN EN ISO 9001. Ostatní normy kvality ISO např. řady 9000, 9004, nebo související normy řady 19011 nejsou předmětem zájmu této bakalářské práce. Norma ISO 9001 (dále také norma) specifikuje požadavky na systém managementu kvality s cílem orientace na zákazníka - prokázat, že poskytuje produkty dle jeho požadavků, že je schopná reagovat na požadavky zákazníka i v průběhu výrobního procesu za předpokladu splnění všech podmínek vyplývajících ze zákonů, vyhlášek, předpisů, norem, pracovních a technologických postupů apod. Cílem celého procesu je spokojenost zákazníka respektive zvyšování spokojenosti zákazníka. V práci je popsána kvalita, norma jako základní předpis kvality, softwarová podpora pro management kvality, je zmapováno užití CAQ v praxi.Focus of this bachelor’s thesis is mapping software support for quality management in civil engineering. System of quality management is defined and established in basic criterion norm of series 9001, on international level labeled EN ISO 9001, in Czech Republic labeled ČSN EN ISO 9001. Other ISO quality norms, for example 9000, 9004 or related norm of series 19011 are not subject of this bachelor’s thesis. Norm ISO 9001 (further norm) specifies requirements of customer oriented system of quality management – to prove, that it provides products according to customer’s demands and that it’s capable of reacting to customer’s demands during process of production, assuming that all conditions dictated by law, regulations, norms, operating and technological procedures and so on, have been met. Objective of the whole procedure is assuring and increasing customer’s satisfaction. In this thesis quality, norm as a basic prescription of quality and software support of quality management are described, also usage of CAQ in practice is mapped.

Articulation between information systems and quality management systems: literature review

Technological advancement has influenced all aspects of daily life. Since the adoption of Information Technology (IT) / Information Systems (IS), that represents the key issue for the success of most organizations, management of the quality of its products, services and business processes with established quality certification under ISO 9000, also represents a critical aspect in organizations. Organizations are forced to use advanced technologies and become more efficient in internal organization in order to be more competitive and closer to their customers and partners. In the face of increasingly demanding markets, interventions for organizational improvement through the adoption of quality management are becoming very common. The organizations are concerned with the development and implementation of information systems tailored to their specific needs, rather than buying in the market software applications. By the other hand, organizations acquire software certificates on the market to meet some specific requirements of the Quality Management Systems (QMS), such as auditing and document management. Synergies between the IS and QMS according to ISO 9001 standard, allows the association between these two systems, so that the IS can support and influence the processes related to the QMS, not only limited to the collection and documentation management. The joint development of these systems allows organizations to use only a methodology and a team intervention. The potential benefits of active participation of the organizational processes associated with the IS / QMS raises the need to develop a method that articulate/integrate interventions for improvement motivated by IT / IS with the improvement interventions motivated by the QMS.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT

Development of software to facilitate the implementation of total productive maintenance in an ISO 9000, total quality management frame work

The objective of this thesis is to develop a methodology to implement the total quality management (TQM) and total productive maintenance (TPM) under an ISO 9000 and ISO 14000 fram work. To facilitate such implementation, an integrated computer software is developed to manage the different activities in the electromechanical maintenance facilities in any type of industry. In the first part of this thesis we start by introducing and clarifying every element that form the base to the understanding of the total Quality Management and total Productive Maintenance philosophies with the customer satisfaction as a major target. A systematic approach will be followed so that each element of the TQM and TPM can be brought under attention and bonded smoothly with the other elements of these two philosophies. This is done to ensure the success of the implantation of TQM and TPM in the difficult and sometimes demanding environment of the maintenance facilities. To help clarify, understand and support the customer needs, globally applicable standards will play a key role. Such standards, whether developed by the International Standardization Organisation (ISO 9000 for Quality Management and ISO 14000 for Environment Management) or other organisations will become the primary instrument to guide us in the process. These standards strive to perfect, at all times, the application of teamwork consensus, direct communication, and transparency principles in management. In this way ISO and other standards promote the values of rationality, utility, safety, waste reduction, environmental protection and ultimately, the customer satisfaction. In the second part of the thesis, a computer software is developed to manage the activities of the maintenance facility within ISO 9000 and 14000 framework. The software will give the organisation the capability to adapt and to respond rapidly to the ever-changing needs of the customers it serves. Such fast and cost efficient service requires a planned completion date and a supporting timetable for actions that must be established for each job. To achieve these objectives, each team member should follow written procedures and must be informed when deviations from the planned schedule occur or is expected so that possible assistance or remedial actions may be considered. The software is developed such that real-time evaluation and current needs for standing activities are available to all levels of management. Many Technical Management Reports are also introduced to rapidly assign or re-assign jobs to the working teams. The tool will also be useful in providing on line and real time information on the equipment and components' status. Such instantaneous, precise, properly classified and readily available data are expected to help the implantation of the TQM and TPM in order to manage and optimize the maintenance facilities

Análisis Comparativo de Estándares de Calidad Iso 9126Y 9000-3, Aplicado al Sistema Informático del Programa Creciendo con Nuestros Wuawuas del GADPCH.

El análisis comparativo de estándares de calidad ISO 9126 y 9000-3, aplicado al desarrollo del sistema informático del programa Creciendo con Nuestros Wuawuas del Gobierno Autónomo Descentralizado de la Provincia de Chimborazo (GADPCH), se lo realiza con el objetivo de determinar cuál de los dos se acondiciona de mejor manera a los requerimientos establecidos para el desarrollo de la herramienta informática en el Gobierno Autónomo Descentralizado de la Provincia de Chimborazo. Se utilizó la metodología SCRUM para el control y gestión del proceso de desarrollo del sistema, la encuesta directa como mecanismo de recolección de datos para determinar el estándar ganador, también 2 computadores portátiles, el software NetBeans 7.3 para generación y desarrollo de código, y el software PostgreSQL 9.3 como motor de base de datos. El Modelo Sistemático de Calidad (MOSCA), nos sirvió para determinar a través de sus categorías, características y métricas, el estándar más apegado a las necesidades de los involucrados en el desarrollo del Sistema Informático de Nutrición y Salud de Chimborazo (SINSCH). El resultado obtenido dio como ganador al estándar ISO 9126 sobre el estándar ISO 9000-3, con 77% de aceptabilidad, dando paso al desarrollo del sistema informático SINSCH requerido por el GADPCH. El sistema realizado fue una aplicación web, mediante a la cual se puede acceder por conexión a internet desde un computador en cualquier parte de la provincia. Al final se concluye que desarrollar aplicaciones mediante estándares ISO 9126 es importante para asegurar la integridad de los datos, brinda una experiencia personalizada de desarrollo y garantiza calidad en el proceso de desarrollo de software. Se recomienda el uso de estándares de calidad en las demás aplicaciones realizadas en el GADPCH y en todas las entidades públicas y privadas.The comparative analysis of quality standards ISO 9126 and 9000-3, applied to the development of the computer system of the program “Creciendo con Nuestros Wuawuas”, Gobierno Autónomo Descentralizado, Chimborazo province (GADPCH), it performs in order to determine which of the two better conditioned to the requirements established for the development of the informatics tool in Gobierno Autónomo Descentralizado, Chimborazo province. The SCRUM methodology for the control and process management of development system, the direct survey as a mechanism of data collection to determine the winner standard, also 2 laptops, the NetBeans 7.3 for code generation and software development was used, and software PostgreSQL 9.3 as database engine. Systematic Quality Model (MOSCA), helped us to determine through their categories, characteristics and metrics, the most attached standard to the needs of those involved in the development of the Information System of Nutrition and Health Chimborazo (SINSCH). The result gave the winner the ISO 9126 standard on the standard ISO 9000-3, with 77% of acceptability, leading to the development of the computer system SINSCH required by the GADPCH. The system was made a web application, which can be accessed by internet from a computer anywhere in the province. At the end it was concluded that develop applications through ISO 9126 standards is important to ensure data integrity. It provides a personalized experience of quality development and ensures the software development process. It is recommended the use of quality standards in other applications made in the GADPCH and in all public and private entities

Australian software developers embrace quality Assurance Certification

[Abstract]: This paper details a research project undertaken to assess the extent of adoption of quality assurance (QA) certification by Australian software developers. A brief history of government QA policy, the catalyst in the sudden interest in certification, is included. Primary data for the study were gathered from a survey of 1,000 Australian software developers, and were used to determine the extent of adoption of QA certification by Australian developers, their organisational characteristics, capability maturity and perceptions regarding the value of QA certification. Secondary data from the JAS-ANZ register of certified organisations enabled validation of survey responses and extrapolation of QA certification adoption. Major findings of the study revealed that 11 percent of respondents are certified to ISO 9001 or AS 3563, seven percent are in progress and 21 percent plan to adopt QA certification. It also revealed that specialist developers are adopting QA certification at twice the rate of in-house developers. Other factors found to be associated with adoption of QA certification are large development groups, developers with government or overseas clients, organisations with whole- or part-foreign ownership, and organisations undertaking corporate TQM initiatives. From the findings, detailed implications are drawn for managers and policy analysts

Higher CMM levels attained by QA certified software developers

[Abstract]: This paper addresses the question: is higher capability maturity associated with adoption of Quality Assurance (QA) certification? To assess the extent of adoption of third-party QA certification by Australian software developers, a survey of 1,000 software developers was recently conducted. The questionnaire also included an assessment of their capability maturity based on the capability maturity model (CMM). Cynics who criticise the value of QA certification may be surprised by the strong association found between adoption of QA certification and capability maturity