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Adequacy	Used in QS-9000. Indicates the intent of the standard has been bet, given the scope of the supplier's operation.
Assignable Cause	The cause(s) of variation in a process which have a source that is identified, and can be eventually eliminated. [Same as Special Cause]
Attribute(s) Data	1. Product, process , or component data that is qualitative, rather than quantitative in nature. 2. Product, process , or component data that is measured strictly by either conforming or not.
Baldrige Award	Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Award: An annual award given to a United States company that excels in quality management and quality achievement. [Same as MBNA.]
Cause and Effect Diagram	A problem-solving tool that uses a graphic description of the various process elements to analyze potential sources of variation, or problems. [Same as Fishbone Diagram, or Ishikawa Diagram]
Common Cause	Variation that affects all the individual values of a process .
Conformance	The ability of a product or service to meet stated requirement.
Continuous Improvement	Action taken to find ways in improve processes, decrease variation , decrease costs, and improve effectiveness of the organization.
Control Charts	Statistical charts used in process measurement. Used to differentiate process variation caused by common cause versus special cause or assignable cause.
Control Limit	A line on a control chart used for judging the stability of a process .
Control Plans	Written descriptions of the systems for controlling parts and processes.
Corrective Action	Action(s) designed to identify and eliminate root causes of non-conformances and non-conformities.
Cost of Quality	The total labor, materials, and overhead costs attributed to: 1) preventing nonconforming products products or services, 2) appraising products or service to ensure conformance, or 3) correcting or scrapping nonconforming products products or service.
Deming	W. Edwards Deming was instrumental in reviving Japanese industry in the 1950s by using statistics and attention to quality.
DFMEA	Design Failure Mode Effects Analysis: An analytical technique used to assure that potential design failure modes and associated causes have been considered and addressed. [See FMEA, PFMEA]
Fishbone Diagram	A problem-solving tool that uses a graphic description of the various process elements to analyze potential sources of variation , or problems. [Same as Cause and Effect Diagram, or Ishikawa Diagram]
FMEA	Failure Mode Effects Analysis: An analytical technique used to assure that potential failure modes and associated causes have been considered and addressed. [See DFMEA, PFMEA]
Force Field Analysis	A problem-solving tool that helps people evaluate the driving and restraining forces in a change situation.
Histogram	A problem solving/statistical tool used to measure central tendencies and dispersion.
Ishikawa Diagram	A problem-solving tool that uses a graphic description of the various process elements to analyze potential sources of variation , or problems. [Same as Cause and Effect Diagram,,, or Fishbone Diagram]
ISO	A group of global standards maintained by the International Organization for Standardization.
ISO 10011	A family of ISO standards that apply to quality audits and auditors.
ISO 8402	ISO standard that standardizes quality management and quality assurance vocabulary.
ISO 9000	A family of ISO standards that apply to quality management and quality assurance . Specifically, quality systems.
JIT	Just-In-Time: An inventory control system where components/products and services are delivered to the customer only when needed.
Juran	Dr. Joseph M Juran was instrumental in adding the human dimension to quality, merging quality and management. His work resulted in what we call TQM.
MBNA	Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Award: An annual award given to a United States company that excels in quality management and quality achievement. [Same as Baldrige Award.]
MTBF	Mean Time Between Failures: The average time between consecutive failures of a given product, component, or process .
Non-Conformance	Product or material which does not conform to the customer specifications and/or requirements. Sometimes used interchangeably with non-conformity.
Non-Conforming Product	Product which does not conform to the customer specifications and/or requirements. Same as Non-Conformance.
Non-Conformity	Nonfulfilment of a specified requirement. Sometimes used interchangeably with non-conformance.
Objective Evidence	Used in quality audits, objective evidence is information which can be proven true, based on facts obtained through observation, measurement, test or other means.
Pareto Charts	A problem solving/statistical tool that ranks problem areas, or sources of variation , according to their contribution to cost or to total variation .
PFMEA	Process Failure Mode Effects Analysis: An analytical technique used to assure that potential process failure modes and associated causes have been considered and addressed. [See FMEA DFMEA,]
Predictive Maintenance	Maintenance performed on equipment just prior to the predicted breakdown of that equipment.
Preventive Action	Action(s) designed to prevent the occurrence of non-conformances, or non-conformities.
Preventive Maintenance	Maintenance performed on equipment, with the intent on prolonging equipment life and/or preventing breakdown and malfunction.
Process	Combination of people, equipment, materials, methods, and environment that produce output.
QFD	Quality Function Deployment: The process of translating customer expectations and requirements into product or service documentation to ensure expectations and requirements are being met.
QS-9000	A quality standard, based on ISO 9000, used by the American domestic automobile manufacturers to register their suppliers.
Quality	The ability of a product, or service, to meet customer requirements, both stated and unstated.
Quality Assurance	All the planned and systematic activities implemented within the quality systems to provide adequate confidence the requirements for quality will be met.
Quality Audit	A systematic and independent examination to determine quality related activities are implemented effectively and comply with the quality systems and/or quality standards.
Quality Circle	A group of individuals who share job responsibilities, that work together to solve quality problems.
Quality Control	The process by which actual product or service performance is measured and compared with a standard, and action is taken to eliminate any non-conformances
Quality Management	The planned actions taken to ensure the effective implementation of an organization's quality systems.
Quality Manual	A document stating the quality policy and describing the quality systems of an organization.
Quality System	Organizational structure, procedures, processes and resources required to implement quality management .
Random Sampling	The process of selecting units for a sample of size, so that all units have an equal chance of being selected as the sample.
Regrade	Action taken on non-conforming product that changes the classification, or category of the product for use in alternative applications. Cannot be done without customer approval/direction. [Also see Repair/Rework]
Repair	Action taken on non-conforming product so that the product will fulfill the intended usage, although the product may not conform to the original requirements. [Also see Regrade/Rework]
Rework	Action taken on non-conforming product so that it will meet the specified requirements. [Also see Regrade/Repair]
Root Cause	The lowest level cause of a failure, or variation in a product, component, or process .
Root Cause Analysis	Using one or more various tools to determine the root cause of a specific failure.
Run	1) SPC: A consecutive number of points consistently increasing or decreasing. 2) Production: The production of a specified number of sequential units.
Run Chart	A simple graphic representation of a characteristic of a process .
Run-at-rate	The rate set for normal production of a product, unit or component.
SPC	Statistical Process Control: The use of statistical techniques such as control charts to analyze a process , enabling appropriate actions to achieve a stable process...
Special Cause	The cause(s) of variation in a process which have a source that is identified, and can be eventually eliminated. [Same as assignable cause]
SQC	Statistical Quality Control: The application of statistical techniques to measure variation in materials, parts, components, and products. The process of maintaining acceptable levels of product quality by using statistical techniques.
Stable Process	A process from which all special causes of variation have been eliminated and only common causes remain.
Surveillance Audit	A post-registration quality audits to ensure the quality systems is still effectively implemented and continuous improvement is evident.
TQM	Total Quality Management: A management approach of an organization centered on quality.
Traceability	The ability to trace a product back through the process , and identify all sub-processes, components, and equipment that were involved in its manufacture.
Validation	Establishing proof that a design, product, or process will perform to specifications.
Value Added	Any action, activity, or process that adds direct value to the output of the action, activity, or process .
Variables Data	Quantitative data, where measurements are used for analysis.
Variation	The differences among individual outputs of a process .
Verification	Establishing proof that a design, product, or process is within specifications.