A conceptual framework for quality information systems

According to product life cycle, e.g., product planning, product design, process design, manufacturing, and sales & services, many kinds of information systems which relate to quality of products are developed, and quality information systems are configured. Indeed, some systems have quality data base, process the quality information, and support total quality management. But the concepts of quality information systems are not clear and how to develop quality information systems is also vague. In order to clarify the concepts of quality information systems, we first characterize the properties of quality information. And then we configure the quality information systems, and classify the types of quality information systems. Quality information is also important in the following area: evaluation of products, organization of the other information such as cost or technological information, and organization or re-design of management activities