Audit

A systematic, independent and documented process for obtaining audit evidence and evaluating it objectively to determine the extent to which audit criteria are fulfilled.

Capability

The ability of an organization, system or process to realize/produce a product that will fulfill its requirements.

Characteristic

A distinguishing feature.

Competence

A demonstrated ability to apply knowledge and skills.

Continual Improvement

A recurring activity to increase the ability to fulfill requirements.

Corrective Action

An action to eliminate the cause of a detected nonconformity or other undesirable situation.

Customer Satisfaction

Customer’s perception of the degree to which his/her expectations have been met.

Grade

A category or rank given to different quality requirements for products, processes or systems having the same functional use.

Infrastructure

System of facilities, equipment and services needed for the operation of an organization.

Interested Party

A person or group having an interest in the performance or success of an organization.

Management System

A set of interactive elements (system) to establish a policy and objectives and to achieve them.

Preventive Action

An action to eliminate the cause of a potential nonconformity or other undesirable potential situation.

Procedure

A specified way to carry out an activity or a process.

Process

A set of interrelated or interacting activities, which transforms inputs into outputs.

Product

The result of a process.

Qualification

Demonstrating the ability to fulfill specified requirements.

Quality

The degree to which a set of inherent characteristics meets requirements.

Quality Assurance

The part of management that is focused on providing confidence that quality requirements will be fulfilled.

Quality Control

Part of management that is focused on fulfilling the quality requirements.

Quality Manual

A document specifying the quality management system of an organization.

Quality Objective

Something sought or aimed for, related to quality.

Quality Plan

A document specifying which procedures and associated resources shall be applied by whom and when to a specific project, process, product or contract.

Quality Policy

The overall intentions and direction of an organization related to quality and is expressed by top management.

Record

A document stating results achieved or providing evidence of activities performed.

Requirement

A need or expectation that is stated, implied or obligatory.

Review

An activity undertaken to determine the suitability, adequacy and effectiveness of the subject matter to achieve established objectives.

Specification

A document stating requirements.

Traceability

The ability to trace the history, application or location of the item/process under consideration.

Validation

Confirmation, through the provision of objective evidence that the requirements for a specific intended use or application have been fulfilled.

Verification

Confirmed, through the provision of objective evidence that specified requirements have been fulfilled.

Work Environment

A set of conditions under which work is performed.