ABSTRACT
This chapter charts the path for making improvements to the quality management system (QMS). It starts with the question about whether the QMS for the company is functioning in a way that is satisfactory for all parties. If not, the next question is whether the leadership of the company will support its improvement. If the leadership will support the improvements, the next steps are outlined: appoint a steering committee and move on to some key decisions. The decisions are related to the level of control and to the structure of the modified QMS. The next step is to create a quality plan and its implementation, starting with documentation and ending with maintenance for the long run. A QMS is a system of processes—processes that are best mapped with flowcharts. The improvement of our QMS is also best managed as a process, for which we can chart the path with a flowchart. Figure 2.1 provides a flowchart-like representation of the steps to follow. In this chapter we discuss this process in general terms. Later chapters address in more detail specific items on the figure.
