1So9000:2000E Results are reviewed, as necessary, to determine further opportunities for improvement. In this way, improvement is a continual activity. Feedback from customers and other interested parties, audits and review of the quality management system can also be used to identify opportunities for improvement 2.10 Role of statistical techniques The use of statistical techniques can help in understanding variability, and thereby can help organizations to solve problems and improve effectiveness and efficiency. These techniques also facilitate better use of available data to assist in decision making Variability can be observed I the behaviour and outcome of many activities, even under conditions of apparent stability. Such variability can be observed in measurable characteristics of products ad processes and may be seen to exist at various stages over the life cycle of products from market research to customer service ad final disposal Statistical techniques can help to measure, describe, analyse, interpret and model such variability, even with a relatively limited amount of data. Statistical analysis of such data can help to provide a better understanding of the nature, extent and causes of variability, thus helping to solve ad even prevent probl that may result from such variability, and to promote continual improvement Guidance on statistical techniques in a quality management system is given in ISO/TR 10017 2.11 Quality management systems and other management system focuses The quality management system is that part of the organization's management system that focuses on the achievement of results, in relation to the quality objectives, to satisfy the needs, expectations and requirements of interested parties, as appropriate. The quality objectives complement other objectives of the organization such as those related to growth, funding, profitability, the environment and occupational health and safety. The various parts of an organization's management system might be integrated, together with the quality management system, into a single management system using common elements. This can facilitate planning, allocation of resources, definition of complementary objectives and evaluation of the overall effectiveness of the organization. The organizations management system can be assessed against the organizations management system requirements. The management system can also be audited against the requirements of International Standards such as ISo9001 and ISO 14001: 1996. These management system audits can be carried out separately or in combination 2.12 Relationship between quality management systems and excellence models organizational excellence models are based on common principles. Both approach y of standards and in The approaches of quality management systems given in the iso9000 family a)enable an organization to identify its strengths and weaknesses, b)contain provision for evaluation against generic models, c) provide a basis for continual improvement, and d)contain provision for external recognition The difference between the approaches of the quality management systems in the iso9000 family and the excellence models lies in their scope of application. The iso 9000 family of standards provides requirements for quality management systems and guidance for performance improvement; evaluation of quality management systems determines fulfillment of those requirements. The excellence models contain criteria that enable comparative evaluation of organizational performance and this is applicable to all activities and all interested parties of an organization Assessment criteria in excellence models provide a basis for an organization to compare its performance with the performance of other organizationsISO9000:2000(E) 6 Results are reviewed, as necessary, to determine further opportunities for improvement. In this way, improvement is a continual activity. Feedback from customers and other interested parties, audits and review of the quality management system can also be used to identify opportunities for improvement. 2.10 Role of statistical techniques The use of statistical techniques can help in understanding variability, and thereby can help organizations to solve problems and improve effectiveness and efficiency. These techniques also facilitate better use of available data to assist in decision making. Variability can be observed I the behaviour and outcome of many activities, even under conditions of apparent stability. Such variability can be observed in measurable characteristics of products ad processes, and may be seen to exist at various stages over the life cycle of products from market research to customer service ad final disposal. Statistical techniques can help to measure, describe, analyse, interpret and model such variability, even with a relatively limited amount of data. Statistical analysis of such data can help to provide a better understanding of the nature, extent and causes of variability, thus helping to solve ad even prevent problems that may result from such variability, and to promote continual improvement. Guidance on statistical techniques in a quality management system is given in ISO/TR 10017. 2.11 Quality management systems and other management system focuses The quality management system is that part of the organization’s management system that focuses on the achievement of results, in relation to the quality objectives, to satisfy the needs, expectations and requirements of interested parties, as appropriate. The quality objectives complement other objectives of the organization such as those related to growth, funding, profitability, the environment and occupational health and safety. The various parts of an organization’s management system might be integrated, together with the quality management system, into a single management system using common elements. This can facilitate planning, allocation of resources, definition of complementary objectives and evaluation of the overall effectiveness of the organization. The organization’s management system can be assessed against the organization’s management system requirements. The management system can also be audited against the requirements of International Standards such as ISO9001 and ISO 14001:1996. These management system audits can be carried out separately or in combination. 2.12 Relationship between quality management systems and excellence models The approaches of quality management systems given in the ISO9000 family of standards and in organizational excellence models are based on common principles. Both approaches a) enable an organization to identify its strengths and weaknesses, b) contain provision for evaluation against generic models, c) provide a basis for continual improvement, and d) contain provision for external recognition. The difference between the approaches of the quality management systems in the ISO9000 family and the excellence models lies in their scope of application. The ISO 9000 family of standards provides requirements for quality management systems and guidance for performance improvement; evaluation of quality management systems determines fulfillment of those requirements. The excellence models contain criteria that enable comparative evaluation of organizational performance and this is applicable to all activities and all interested parties of an organization. Assessment criteria in excellence models provide a basis for an organization to compare its performance with the performance of other organizations