About the Quality Forum SA
Quality: the standard of something when it is compared to other things like it
The totality of features and characteristics of a product or service that bear on its ability to satisfy stated or implied needs (ISO)
The standard of something as measured against other things of a similar kind; the degree of excellence of something
Quality is a collaborative endeavour – Dr Demana, the dtic
Perceptions or definitions of quality may differ. It could be further complicated when dealing with entire markets, industries and countries. Take airbags for example, a product that, no matter where in the world they are manufactured, all airbags must conform to a specific quality standard which ensures consistency of production.
Fortunately there are organisations and bodies who define, assist and regulate the relevant industry factors in order to set standards to operate within, making quality a more defined and measurable concept.
Quality has a significant role to play in the sustainability of environmental, social and governance factors in bringing world class products and services to highly competitive global markets. In addition, many factors must be considered such as accreditation, certification, inspection, legal aspects, standardisation and testing & measurement.
The purpose of the Quality Forum South Africa (QFSA) website is to guide interested parties through the process which can sometimes be daunting if one is uncertain where to start. The QFSA website promotes the sustainability of quality output in South Africa by facilitating effective communication between all quality stakeholders and the ‘man on the street’ or interested parties.
The QFSA website endeavours to simplify the entire quality standard process for those offering a globally competitive product; by directing interested parties to the relevant stakeholder contact and ensuring that all enquiries are handled efficiently.
Quality Forum South Africa Stakeholders
There are various organisations in South Africa who actively work on advancing quality sustainability in the economy and each has an important role to play. The QFSA website is a collaboration of all the relevant stakeholders at a central point who have the supporting infrastructure and resources to ensure sustainability of quality goods and services.