Self-assessment/continuous improvement: Opportunity or burden?
Quality assurance is defined in US Department of Energy (DOE) Order 5700.6C as ``actions that provide confidence that quality is achieved.`` Confidence is the key word in this definition. Because of a lackof confidence, Congress has mandated improved performance by DOE and its contractors. DOE Headquarters has responded, in part, by requiring increased oversight of all affected organizations. Self-assessment/continuous improvement (SA/CI) is presented in this paper as a ten-step process to help restore confidence. The SA/CI process begins when you identify your customers. SA/CI then leads to determining customer requirements and establishing performance objectives and criteria against which current processes and performance are evaluated. SA/CI should be performed by managers and supervisors at all levels and should includedirect observation of work in progress in addition to analysis of performance data. Traditional independent assessment processes such as audits and surveillances can be used to provide valuable information for performing the evaluation. SA/CI is an aggressive ``no-fault`` self-assessment process coupled with a continuous improvement process that yields truly cost-effective corrective action and a high level of confidence that process and product quality objectives have been met. This approach should provide customers the evidence needed to increase their confidence in the organization`s activities. The end result should bean improvement in the quality of work life for the organization`s employees and a significant reduction in external oversight (i.e., audits).
- Research Organization:
- Pacific Northwest Lab., Richland, WA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC06-76RL01830
- OSTI ID:
- 10141217
- Report Number(s):
- PNL-SA-21417; CONF-930278-1; ON: DE93009133
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 1993 American Society for Quality Control (ASQC) audit conference,Charlotte, NC (United States),25-26 Feb 1993; Other Information: PBD: Feb 1993
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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