Editing Quality management system (section)

== Software ==
Quality management [[software]] offers the techniques, processes, structure, and resources needed to simplify manufacturing and ERP activities while handling quality concerns efficiently and cost-effectively.

Helps manufacturers to monitor, control, and document quality processes electronically to guarantee that goods are made within tolerance, meet all necessary requirements, and are defect-free. Quality management software is often used in the [[manufacturing]] industry to identify potential issues before they occur.<ref name=":1" />

Some benefits of quality management software include:

* real-time data [[Monitoring and evaluation|monitoring]]
* issue prevention
* risk management
* increased efficiency and productivity
* process consistency
* increased employee participation

Quality management software can be integrated with manufacturing execution systems (MES). A [[Manufacturing execution system|MES]] is a complete, dynamic [[software]] system for monitoring, tracking, documenting, and controlling the manufacturing process from raw materials to final products.<ref>{{cite web |title=What Is an MES (Manufacturing Execution System)? |url=https://insights.sap.com/what-is-mes-manufacturing-execution-system/ |access-date=23 March 2022 |website=SAP.com}}</ref> When combined with QMS, these systems:

* ensure compliance
* enable quality programs
* eliminate [[waste]]
* less product recalls
* lower per-product cost
* higher product quality
* product tracking
* real-time information for increase in quality control
* realistic production schedules
* up-to-date [[inventory]]
Quality management software focuses on 4 main elements:<ref name=":0" />

# [[Document management system|Document management]]: Quality management software enables companies to manage all product and quality records and documents, including product specifications, work instructions, [[standard operating procedure]]s (SOPs), quality policies, and training records, among other things, to fulfill highly regulated requirements. Quality management software [[Centralized database|centralizes]] the storage of these documents. 
# [[Regulatory compliance]]: To decrease compliance risks, quality management software is used within companies to make sure they comply with [[ISO 9000|ISO]], OSHA, FDA, and other industry norms and requirements. The software makes closed-loop corrective and preventive action procedures (CAPA) possible, which result in faster issue resolution and issue prevention.
# [[Feedback]] loops: Quality management software permits staff to submit feedback or recommendations through [[Centralisation|centralized]] software. In turn, this way, managers gather insights from the shop floor creating a feedback loop.
# Training and [[skill]] management: To maintain product quality, quality management software can provide a fixed system through which employees and staff can be trained. This fixed system provides more clarity in the different tracking processes of the company and simplifies the tracking of different skill levels of employees.

Most quality management software are cloud-based and offer [[software as a service]].