Creating a Winning Cleaning Quality Assurance Program Series

Part 1: If You Want Quality Assurance, You Must Commit to Continuous Improvement

So you've decided your company needs a quality assurance program, some way to measure your progress and keep things moving forward. It may seem like common sense, but the first and most necessary step is one that many people forget: a self-assessment. And it can't be just any self-assessment. It needs to be critical and brutally honest. Begin by using a quality process model, such as the Deming model or the Six Sigma model (which was inspired by Deming's model).

For instance, Deming created a cycle: the 'plan-do-check-act' cycle. The Six Sigma model is similar: Define the process, measure key process indicators, analyze data for root cause, plan and implement improvements, and confirm control results.

As you can see, both models operate by organizing certain analytical processes into practical, easy-to-follow steps. Use them--they're the building blocks of every quality assurance program!

Once you've done an honest evaluation, ask yourself: Is your organizational culture conducive to a continuous improvement program? Are there corporate resources available to help implement a continuous improvement model?

And, of course, don't be shy when it comes to the internet. As just about everyone has begun to realize, the web is a powerful tool with many resources that can be leveraged to your company's benefit. Web-based data collection tools are especially useful when integrated with your quality assurance program.