ABSTRACT
A good quality management system (QMS) is a prerequisite for an effective Lean management system (LMS) and is therefore a mandatory provision of LMS:2012. The LMS must be able to take it as given that controlled procedures and work instructions exist; materials and test results are traceable; gages are calibrated; parts receive all necessary operations, tests, and inspections; and so on. In the absence of such a QMS, the system will probably be overrun with so much muda (waste) that any LMS will be ineffective. The choice of QMS is left to the user, although LMS:2012 assumes use of ISO 9001:2008 or the similar ISO/TS 16949 standard. Actual registration to ISO 9001:2008 or ISO/TS 16949 is optional, but the QMS does have to exist.
