Eight quality management principles: an overview of the earlier framework

This archived article describes the earlier eight-principle framework. ISO now presents seven quality management principles. ISO: seven quality management principles

Principle 1: Customer focus

Organisations depend on their customers. They should therefore understand current and future customer needs, meet customer requirements and strive to exceed customer expectations.

Principle 2: Leadership

Leaders establish unity of purpose and direction. They should create and maintain an internal environment in which people can become fully involved in achieving the organisation's objectives.

Principle 3: Involvement of people

People at all levels are the essence of an organisation. Their full involvement enables their abilities to be used for the organisation's benefit.

Principle 4: Process approach

A desired result is achieved more efficiently when related activities and resources are managed as a process.

Principle 5: System approach to management

Identifying, understanding and managing interrelated processes as a system contributes to the organisation's effectiveness and efficiency in achieving its objectives.

Principle 6: Continual improvement

Continual improvement of overall performance should be a permanent objective of the organisation.

Principle 7: Factual approach to decision making

Effective decisions are based on the analysis of data and information.

Principle 8: Mutually beneficial supplier relationships

An organisation and its suppliers are interdependent. A mutually beneficial relationship enhances the ability of both parties to create value.

Understanding and consistently applying these eight principles, from the initial establishment of a quality management system through its maintenance and continual improvement, is an important factor in the system's success. Failure to apply one or more of the principles can contribute to ineffective quality management.