Title: Quality management systems and expert system approach for designing and implementing a mechanised self-assessment system

Authors: Kamran Rezaie, Salman Nazari-Shirkouhi, Sina Miri-Nargesi

Addresses: Department of Industrial Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, P.O. Box 11155-4563, Tehran, Iran. ' Department of Industrial Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, P.O. Box 11155-4563, Tehran, Iran. ' Faculty of Industrial and Mechanical Engineering, Islamic Azad University, Qazvin Branch, Qazvin, Iran

Abstract: Self-assessment (SA) process provides the evidence-based guidelines for organisations to find suitable opportunities for investments and improvement. SA systems are generally required for establishment and maintenance of quality management and assurance systems. Thus, the aim of this paper is to design and implement a mechanised SA system based on fundamental principles and requirements of ISO 9004:2000 and provide a tool for assessment of the organisational maturity and recognising the improvement points. To design this mechanised system, the expert system has been used in providing the assessment and scoring questions the experts| knowledge, chief auditors of quality management system, and this knowledge has been saved in the Microsoft Access software database. Also, Visual Basic software has been applied for creating user interface and deduction. In addition, the steps of development of this system conform to the steps of development of expert systems. Different organisations or users can assess themselves, determine their quality management maturity level and identify their performance improvement points, based on ISO 9004:2000, by connecting to this system.

Keywords: self-assessment; QMS; expert systems; ISO 9004; quality management systems; performance improvements; quality standards; International Organization for Standardization; mechanised systems; evidence-based guidelines; organisational investments; quality assurance; QA; organisational maturity; improvement points; scoring; expert knowledge; Microsoft Access; computer software; databases; Visual Basic; user interfaces; user deduction; system development; maturity levels; productivity.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPQM.2011.041846

International Journal of Productivity and Quality Management, 2011 Vol.8 No.2, pp.205 - 224

Published online: 08 Aug 2011 *

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