A method for quality precoordination in a quality assurance information system

A new concept is introduced of an information center for planning and controlling the quality of products and processes in a factory. This center is called the Quality Assurance Information System (QAIS), and its role is to tie together through quality related functions, design, manufacturing, distribution, sales and other factory management systems to optimize overall factory performance. The quality functions of QAIS as carried out through coordination and precoordination activities are considered. A formal approach for dealing with precoordination activities is presented and a methodology is proposed for the quantitative evaluation and selection of complex systems satisfying desired product or process quality requirements from a number of the factory´s subsystems. Practical steps on how to implement precoordination are presented and the methodology is illustrated through a case example