Description:

In August 1991, CAE commissioned a pilot study on quality assurance with the aim of producing a guide for smaller manufacturing companies that wished to adopt quality assurance systems, particularly the International Standards Organisation 9000 series of standards. The first part of the project entailed a survey of Canterbury manufacturing firms in regard to their current needs in the implementation of quality assurance systems. The survey found that the main motivation behind the introduction of quality assurance systems was customer or contractual requirements for two reasons:

• the number of larger companies with quality assurance systems who require approved suppliers is increasing; and
• contractual requirements increasingly require demonstration of a supplier's ability through accreditation of their quality assurance system.

Another reason commonly cited was a desired increase in product quality.

Although companies recognised the need for the introduction of quality assurance systems, it was evident from the survey that the scope and application of the ISO 9000 series was not clear to those considering adopting a quality assurance system. They described their main concerns as lack of knowledge, cost of implementation and the commitment of time and resources to set up the system.

The second part of the project was then undertaken to produce an introductory guide to the implementation of quality assurance systems for smaller manufacturers.

The first two chapters of the guide outline the history and development of quality assurance systems. Chapters 3 and 4 outline the requirements associated with introducing a quality assurance system, ISO 9002 in particular, and briefly describe the certification of a company's quality assurance systems. The final chapter gives information on training, grants and organisations associated with the quality assurance field.