Search Results (46)

Assisted Reproductive Technology Units (ARTUs) constitute a rapidly growing sector in healthcare, where service quality and patient safety are closely intertwined with ethical principles, technological precision, and managerial efficiency. This study aims to explore quality management practices and certification standards—such as ISO 9001, ISO 15189, and ISO 13485—within ARTUs, with the goal of developing a model that enhances patient-centered outcomes. The analysis focuses on the roles of leadership, staff training, and internal auditing mechanisms as key factors for the successful implementation of quality management systems (QMSs). Through a structured literature review and thematic synthesis, this study identifies challenges that ARTUs face in aligning with international standards and highlights strategies that strengthen patient trust, transparency, and continuous improvement. The proposed model connects measurable quality indicators with patient perceptions and experiences, providing a comprehensive framework for sustainable quality development. This article contributes to the academic discourse on healthcare quality governance and offers practical insights for policymakers and administrators seeking to improve patient experience and organizational resilience in reproductive medicine. Full article

To ensure end-to-end Quality of Service (QoS) management in 5G-TSN converged networks, this paper proposes a dynamic weighted QoS mapping method based on Weighted Fuzzy C-Means and Three-Way Decisions (WFCM-TDwQM). The WFCM algorithm is employed to cluster Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) flows based on their QoS attributes, reducing computational complexity. A three-way decision-based method is used to assign a reasonable and approximate set of 5G QoS Identifier (5QI) values to each cluster. Finally, dynamic weights are adjusted by considering QoS similarity and the residual load rate, enabling the system to adapt to network load changes. The experimental results show that, compared with three other mapping algorithm combinations, WFCM-TDwQM not only ensures end-to-end QoS consistency but also achieves better load balancing under varying network loads. Moreover, its mapping performance is evaluated under different network scenarios. Full article

Background: While several test-automation maturity models (e.g., CMMI, TMMi, TAIM) exist, none explicitly integrate ISO 9001-based quality management systems (QMS), leaving a gap for organizations that must align E2E test automation with formal quality assurance. Objective: This study proposes a test-automation maturity model (TAMM) that bridges E2E automation capability with ISO 9001/ISO 9004 self-assessment principles, and evaluates its reliability and practical impact in industry. Methods: TAMM comprises eight maturity dimensions, 39 requirements, and 429 checklist items. Three independent assessors applied the checklist to three software teams; inter-rater reliability was ensured via consensus review (Cohen’s κ = 0.75). Short-term remediation actions based on the checklist were implemented over six months and re-assessed. Synergy with the organization’s ISO 9001 QMS was analyzed using ISO 9004 self-check scores. Results: Within 6 months of remediation, mean TAMM score rose from 2.75 → 2.85. Inter-rater reliability is filled with Cohen’s κ = 0.75. Conclusions: The proposed TAMM delivers measurable, short-term maturity gains and complements ISO 9001-based QMS without introducing conflicting processes. Practitioners can use the checklist to identify actionable gaps, prioritize remediation, and quantify progress, while researchers may extend TAMM to other domains or automate scoring via repository mining. Full article

In an increasingly competitive construction industry, quality management systems (QMSs) play a critical role in improving operational performance and customer satisfaction. Despite growing interest, limited research has examined how customer-oriented QMSs affect financial and non-financial outcomes in construction firms, particularly in emerging markets such as Kazakhstan. This study investigates the relationship between QMS implementation and company performance by analyzing data from 23 Kazakhstani construction companies. The methodology combines regression analysis, multivariate analysis, and k-means clustering to assess the impact of QMSs on sales volume, product profitability, quality management costs, and customer satisfaction. Regression analysis revealed that customer satisfaction (CSL), product profitability (PP), and economic efficiency of the QMS (EEQMS) have a statistically significant positive effect on sales volume (SV), while excessive quality costs (QMC) may negatively influence performance if not optimized. Cluster analysis further identified distinct groups of companies with varying levels of QMS effectiveness and profitability. This study offers empirical evidence on the financial value of customer-oriented QMSs in the construction sector. It contributes to the literature by highlighting performance drivers in QMS implementation and provides practical recommendations for managers and policymakers to improve quality strategies in similar regional contexts. Full article

(1) Background: This study investigates the impact of Quality Culture (QC) and Quality Management (QM) on Organizational Performance (OP) in the manufacturing sector, emphasizing their role in driving sustainability and competitiveness. (2) Methods: A theoretical model was validated to analyze direct and indirect relationships among QC, QM, and OP using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). Data were collected from 204 employees across 16 manufacturing firms in Norte de Santander, Colombia, using Likert-scale surveys and secondary financial data. Analytical methods included Exploratory Data Analysis (EDA), polychoric correlations, and SEM, with rigorous reliability and validity testing. (3) Results: QC directly impacts OP, with its effect significantly amplified through QM as a mediator. The QC–QM relationship highlights leadership, participation, and customer focus as critical for implementing effective quality systems. Key QM practices, including strategic planning and performance monitoring, enhance financial and non-financial aspects of OP. (4) Conclusions: This study demonstrates the importance of integrating QC and QM to optimize OP, offering empirical insights for policies and organizational training to promote sustainability and competitiveness. Future research should validate the model in other sectors to extend its applicability. Full article

This research explores the effectiveness of Quality Management Systems (QMSs) certified under the ISO 9001 standard by applying Hotelling’s multivariate statistical test T². This research focuses on organizations in central Mexico, evaluating whether the adoption of the ISO 9001 standard generates the promised benefits (by the International Standardization Organization itself), such as process improvement, increased customer satisfaction, higher sales, and increased revenues. Using a comprehensive framework grounded in ISO 10014 and incorporating statistical tools, such as descriptive analysis, regression, simulation, and Hotelling’s T² test, this study examined performance differences across sectors and pinpointed the critical factors impacting QMS outcomes. The results demonstrated notable advantages, including average improvements exceeding 20% in anticipated benefits. Furthermore, the analysis underscored the importance of QMS maturity, process enhancement, and customer satisfaction as pivotal drivers of QMS success. Sector-specific patterns also emerged, revealing that public organizations prioritize process efficiency and customer satisfaction, whereas private entities emphasize sales and revenue growth. By employing multivariate techniques, this research offers valuable insights into the interconnected factors affecting QMS effectiveness and provides actionable recommendations for organizations to enhance their QMS performance. Full article

In the ever-changing world of modern manufacturing, maintaining product quality is of great importance, yet extremely difficult due to complexities and the dynamic production paradigm. Currently, quality is rather reactively measured through periodic inspections and manual assessments. Traditional quality management systems (QMS), through these reactive measures, are often inefficient because of their higher operational cost and delayed defect detection and mitigation. The paper introduces a novel cognitive twin (CT) framework, which is the next evolved version of digital twin (DT). It is designed to advance the current quality management in flexible manufacturing systems (FMSs) through real-time, data-driven, and predictive optimization. This proposed framework uses four data types, namely feedstock quality (Q_f), machine degradation (Q_m), product processing quality (Q_p), and quality inspection (Q_i). By utilizing the power of machine learning algorithms, the cognitive twin constantly monitors and then analyzes real-time data. The cognitive twin optimizes the above quality components. This enables a very proactive decision making through an augmented reality (AR) interface by providing real-time visual insights and alerts to the operators. Thorough experimentation was conducted on the aforementioned FMS. Through the experiments, it was revealed that the proposed cognitive twin outperforms conventional QMSs by a great margin. The cognitive twin achieved a 2% improvement in the total quality scores. A 60% decrease in defects per unit (DPU) is observed as well as a sharp 40% decrease in scrap rate. Furthermore, the overall equipment efficiency (OEE) increased to 93–96%. The overall equipment efficiency increased by 11.8%, on average, from 82% to 93%, and the scrap rate decreased by 33.3% from 60% to 40%. The excellent results showcase the effectiveness of cognitive twin quality management via minimum wastage, continuous quality improvement, and enhancement in operational efficiency in the paradigm of smart manufacturing. This research study contributes to the field of industry 4.0 by providing a comprehensive, scalable, and adaptive quality management solution, thus leading the way for further advancements in intelligent manufacturing systems. Full article

The maintenance of plant germplasm and its genetic diversity is critical to preserving and making it available for food security, so this invaluable diversity is not permanently lost due to population growth and development, climate change, or changing needs from the growers and/or the marketplace. There are numerous genebanks worldwide that serve to preserve valuable plant germplasm for humankind’s future and to serve as a resource for research, breeding, and training. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS) and the Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) both have a network of plant germplasm collections scattered across varying geographical locations preserving genetic resources for the future. Besides the USDA and CGIAR, there are germplasm collections established in many countries across the world that also aim to preserve crop and plant collections. Due to the advancement of technology, genotyping and sequencing whole genomes of plant germplasm collections is now feasible. Data from genotyping can help define genetic diversity within a collection, identify genetic gaps, reveal genetic redundancies and verify uniqueness, enable the comparison of collections of the same crop across genebanks (rationalization), and determine errors or mix-ups in genetic identity that may have occurred in a germplasm collection. Large-scale projects, such as genotyping germplasm collections, require strategic planning and the development of best practices. This article details strategies and best practices to consider when genotyping whole collections, considerations for the identity verification of germplasm and determining genetic replicates, quality management systems (QMS)/QC genotyping, and some use cases. Full article

Global Quality Management System (G-QMS) in System of Systems (SoS) is a pioneering field of research essential for SoS G-organizations, which are characterized by their vast and complex technological systems and multi-organizational structures. Consequently, presenting significant challenges in implementing effective QMS for their operations. This manuscript completes the development of a novel conceptual model for G-QMSs in Sectors of SoS, drawing from extensive field research conducted within real SoS G-organizations employing the Grounded Theory methodology. This proposed model encompasses two foundational supra-entities, with this manuscript primarily dedicated to the second supra-entity, named “G-QMS in SoS”, which essentially represents Quality Management for SoS projects. The G-QMS in SoS model image is conceived through a description of its structural principles, entities architecture and interrelationships, alongside its complementary elements. Furthermore, the interrelationships between the two segment models that constitute G-QMS in Sectors of SoS are elucidated, offering a comprehensive view of the overarching model. Establishing a model for G-QMS in Sectors of SoS that describes the various structures of SoS projects and the G-organizations realizing them, as well as understanding the recommended G-QMS model, is vital as it directly impacts the success level of SoS projects and the effectiveness of the tailored G-QMS in these organizations. Full article

The tightening of sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) regulations, along with stringent private standards in international fresh produce trade, requires citrus producers, especially in developing regions, to adopt robust compliance mechanisms. This study examines the integration of a Risk Management System (RMS) into the existing Quality Management System (QMS) of citrus producers in the Western Cape (WC), South Africa, aimed at improving adherence to European Union (EU) market requirements. Through a comprehensive survey of citrus producers, the research identifies the primary barriers to effective risk management integration, such as financial constraints, limited human resources, and the prevalent non-compliance in the export chain, including pest infestations and exceeding Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs). The results highlight the fact that producers of varying scales face substantial challenges in resource allocation for RMS implementation. The study advocates for a strategic, top-down integration approach, which includes targeted financial support, the establishment of dedicated teams, and well-structured implementation plans. Additionally, the role of both governmental and private sector support is emphasised, particularly in providing training, technical assistance, and infrastructure investments to strengthen compliance efforts. These actions are crucial for ensuring sustained market access, enhancing the competitiveness of citrus producers, and promoting sustainable agricultural practices in the global market. Full article

Background: Socioeconomic deprivation has been associated with higher lung cancer risk and mortality in non-Veteran populations. However, the impact of socioeconomic deprivation on outcomes for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in an integrated and equal-access healthcare system, such as the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), remains unclear. Hence, we investigated the impact of area-level socioeconomic deprivation on access to care and postoperative outcomes for early-stage NSCLC in United States Veterans. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients with clinical stage I NSCLC receiving surgical treatment in the VHA between 1 October 2006 and 30 September 2016. A total of 9704 Veterans were included in the study and assigned an area deprivation index (ADI) score, a measure of socioeconomic deprivation incorporating multiple poverty, education, housing, and employment indicators. We used multivariable analyses to evaluate the relationship between ADI and postoperative outcomes as well as adherence to guideline-concordant care quality measures (QMs) for stage I NSCLC in the preoperative (positron emission tomography [PET] imaging, appropriate smoking management, pulmonary function testing [PFT], and timely surgery [≤12 weeks after diagnosis]) and postoperative periods (appropriate surveillance imaging, smoking management, and oncology referral). Results: Compared to Veterans with low socioeconomic deprivation (ADI ≤ 50), those residing in areas with high socioeconomic deprivation (ADI > 75) were less likely to have timely surgery (multivariable-adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.832, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.732–0.945) and receive PET imaging (aOR 0.592, 95% CI 0.502–0.698) and PFT (aOR 0.816, 95% CI 0.694–0.959) prior to surgery. In the postoperative period, Veterans with high socioeconomic deprivation had an increased risk of 30-day readmission (aOR 1.380, 95% CI 1.103–1.726) and decreased odds of meeting all postoperative care QMs (aOR 0.856, 95% CI 0.750–0.978) compared to those with low socioeconomic deprivation. There was no association between ADI and overall survival (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 0.984, 95% CI 0.911–1.062) or cumulative incidence of cancer recurrence (aHR 1.047, 95% CI 0.930–1.179). Conclusions: Our results suggest that Veterans with high socioeconomic deprivation have suboptimal adherence to care QMs for stage I NSCLC yet do not have inferior long-term outcomes after curative-intent resection. Collectively, these findings demonstrate the efficacy of an integrated, equal-access healthcare system in mitigating disparities in lung cancer survival that are frequently present in other populations. Future VHA policies should continue to target increasing adherence to QMs and reducing postoperative readmission for socioeconomically disadvantaged Veterans with early-stage NSCLC. Full article

Trichinellosis is a major foodborne zoonotic disease responsible for 41 human cases, according to the European Union One Health Zoonoses Report. In southern Spain, a quality management system (QMS) was applied to satellite laboratories (SLs) that conduct meat inspections of Trichinella spp. ensuring excellence practices. This study aimed to determine how eventual deviations from standard procedures may influence risk levels using Canonical Discriminant Analysis (CDA). Data were collected during slaughterhouses and game handling establishments’ official audits in 18 SLs located in the provinces of Cordoba and Seville during a 6-year period. Technical requirement deviations regarding technique and trial information, such as performing tests or calculations incorrectly or not following technical procedures, significantly increased risk level differences. Imminent risk levels were detected if the above-mentioned deviations arose. Quality assurance compromising deviations were responsible for 1150 times risk level differences, suggesting finding such may be critical for risk determination. A lack of significant influence of records and documents compromising deviations (incomplete forms or missing-erroneous or illegible data) was found. These results strengthen Trichinella spp. control strategies by pinpointing crucial aspects within QMS that require improvement, particularly in addressing deviations related to technique, trial information, and quality assurance procedures to mitigate associated risks effectively. Full article

The successful implementation of scientific research is one of the key factors for sustainable development, including the development of tertiary education. A leading or “world-class university”, today, transfers knowledge to innovation, bearing the concept of “academic excellence”, and features of “research” and “entrepreneurial” universities highly match the SDGs. This article presents an analysis for scientific quality-assessing indicators at research universities. It also studies university science models in different countries, the features of university types—engineering (technical or technological) and comprehensive (multidisciplinary)—and the arising problems with their possible solutions for university science on the whole. The authors suggested a composition of indicators for assessing the quality of the fundamental scientific research and engineering project results and the performances of universities’ specialized scientific units. The respondents of the survey weighed the significance of the indicators. The research used methods of analysis, brainstorming, Ishikawa diagram building, and a survey of specialists. The results obtained can be useful for the improvement of quality management systems (QMSs) at research universities. Some implications of this study could be extended to improve QMS and management processes of specialized scientific organizations that belong to the state, business, and non-profit sectors of science. Full article

This study inaugurates an innovative field of research for Global Quality Management System (G-QMS) in System of Systems (SoS), integrating emerging and rapidly evolving disciplines of QMS, SoS Globalization, and Systems approaches, chiefly Systems Thinking. This manuscript introduces, for the first time, a conceptual model for G-QMS in sectors of SoS, developed from an extensive field study conducted in real SoS global organizations, employing the Grounded Theory methodology. We found that this model can be described by two separate supra entities, despite their extensive interrelationships. This manuscript focuses on the first supra entity, which constitutes the foundation for understanding the second supra entity. The model pertaining to the first supra entity, named G-QMS of G-Organization in Sectors of SoS, is introduced through a detailed description of its structural principles. Additionally, a detailed description of its complementary aspects and elements is provided, which condenses these principles into a complete conceptual model picture. This field of research is highly significant for such organizations. These organizations typically maintain leading and advanced quality bodies, especially in comparison to the broader industry. Therefore, the G-QMS model developed through this research can offer substantial contributions to these organizations, but also to all other global organizations. Full article

The need to update an enterprise quality management system (QMS) seems to be more urgent each time. Without adequate updating, the system may not be capable of responding to market changes, generating delivery delays and increasing customer costs and losses instead of allowing industries to improve product quality and services, reduce costs, and increase customer satisfaction. Thus, the present research deals with a case study of a Mexican metal mechanics industry certified to ISO 9001:2015 with the need to update its operating QMS. Due to reasons for growth, the industry has added new activities to the processes and modified others, working in the integration area to improve efficiency and efficacy. Therefore, an analysis of strengths, opportunities, weaknesses, and threats (SWOT) was performed. The status of the processes was evaluated, creating a document with new activities and updating those that showed non-compliance. The results of this investigation have the purpose of contributing to the importance of QMS empirical evidence in emerging countries and increasing quality studies in Mexican industries. Full article