Quality infrastructure

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Quality infrastructure is a national system for quality assurance and consumer protection . It describes the interaction of all components of standardization, norms and metrology, testing services, accreditation and certification of quality management.

Conformity assessment and functionality

tasks

The main task is to check goods and services for compliance with their standardized product requirements. In this way, safety, environmental, health and consumer protection are guaranteed. On the one hand, internationally accepted requirements of the individual states, on the other hand, requirements between companies are taken into account.

Standardization and standardization

The standards used to standardize certain objects and processes. This u. a. the requirements for products are specified, which contribute to their compatibility and disseminate the latest knowledge, which in turn leads to new innovations and increases competitiveness.

Metrology

Dimensions are not given by nature, which means that they must be established and disseminated. The most common system of units is the International System of Units . In order to be able to make statements about conformity and quality, goods must be checked using precise measurements and their underlying regulations. On the one hand, there is legal metrology, which checks measurements in the area of ​​legal calibration for compliance with the regulations. This includes, for example, measurements to check protective functions, such as compliance with health or environmental protection. On the other hand, there is the non-regulated area, which includes the comparison of measurement results with international standards and the calibration of the measurement processes. So-called calibration laboratories pass the measurements on to the users. Measurable product properties and process lines allow statements to be made about the objective quality of a product. The subjective quality is determined by the assessment and assessment of customers and consumers. Consumer surveys, for example, are used for this purpose.

Accreditation and certification

In order to be allowed to carry out conformity assessments, the respective conformity assessment bodies must also prove their own competence. This is done through the so-called accreditation procedure . Conformity assessment bodies are regularly checked by independent and non-profit-making third parties using internationally recognized criteria and standards. In this way, the quality can be ensured and verified in the form of issued certificates if the requirements are met. This leads to a constant improvement in quality.

Contributions to economic and social development

Importance for international trade

It is a basic requirement for the exchange of goods in international trade. Only with a uniform and internationally recognized quality infrastructure is it possible to trace products, to guarantee the protection of the environment and health, to protect the European market from products of inferior quality and to ensure the compatibility of products and services. No or inadequate quality infrastructure in a partner country leads to missing and insufficient evidence of the monitoring of the production chain. This can lead to a technical barrier to trade . As new standards and guidelines are constantly being added and the rules of the sales markets are constantly evolving, there are increasing technical barriers to trade. At the same time, however, trade barriers are being dismantled with the help of international agreements. This will protect both consumers and suppliers and reinforce their trust in the quality of goods and services.

Importance for national trade

Due to the increasing expectations and sensitivity of consumers and retailers, the demands on the quality of products and services are also increasing. A uniform quality infrastructure with defined standards and norms improves product quality and thus encourages investment activities. In the course of this, new jobs can be created. In addition, it has a positive impact on the health of the population due to the review of hygiene and health regulations. The quality infrastructure is therefore of great importance for national trade and a modern economy .

literature

  • Holger Brüggemann, Peik Bremer: Basics of quality management. From tools to methods to TQM . Springer Vieweg, Wiesbaden, 2nd edition 2015, ISBN 978-3-658-09221-4 (eBook).

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ The national and international importance of a quality infrastructure ( Memento of the original from March 10, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Monthly report of the BMWi from 12-2012. Retrieved May 31, 2016. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.bmwi.de
  2. ↑ The national and international importance of a quality infrastructure ( Memento of the original from March 10, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Monthly report of the BMWi from 12-2012. Retrieved May 31, 2016. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.bmwi.de
  3. ↑ The national and international importance of a quality infrastructure ( Memento of the original from March 10, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Monthly report of the BMWi from 12-2012. Retrieved May 31, 2016. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.bmwi.de
  4. ↑ Quality infrastructure, conformity assessment - measurement, standards, testing (MNPQ) Download archive of the BMZ. Retrieved May 22, 2016.
  5. ↑ The national and international importance of a quality infrastructure ( Memento of the original from March 10, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Monthly report of the BMWi from 12-2012. Retrieved May 31, 2016. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.bmwi.de
  6. ^ Schneider, Gabriel; Geiger, Ingrid K .; Scheuring, Johannes: Process and Quality Management: Basics of process design and quality improvement with numerous examples, repetition questions and answers. 1st edition. Compendio Bildungsmedien AG, Zurich 2008, ISBN 978-3-7155-9345-6 , p. 192-196 .
  7. ↑ The national and international importance of a quality infrastructure ( Memento of the original from March 10, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Monthly report of the BMWi from 12-2012. Retrieved May 31, 2016. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.bmwi.de
  8. ↑ Quality infrastructure, conformity assessment - measurement, standards, testing (MNPQ) Download archive of the BMZ. Retrieved May 22, 2016.
  9. ↑ Quality infrastructure, conformity assessment - measurement, standards, testing (MNPQ) Download archive of the BMZ. Retrieved May 22, 2016.
  10. ↑ Quality infrastructure and consumer protection website of the German Society for International Cooperation. Retrieved May 22, 2016.