Perspectives on quality

This article aims to examine one of the basic concepts in a quality system-that of the customer-supplier relationship-together with its associated communication networks, and to apply a selection of paradigms. Two types of paradigm will be applied: those of an essentially ‘structuralist’ nature (whereby the existence of components in the process must be in place for a quality operation); and those of an ‘interpretivist’ nature (which examine the effectiveness of the operation of the process). It will suggest that these paradigms, useful in systemic analysis, will assist the difficult and complex task of a quality auditor. Throughout this article, references will be made to BS 5750 parts 0 and 5, and ISO 9004 basic concepts as examples of quality standards requirements.