Considering the Difference Between EASA Quality QMS & Safety SMS. The focus of each and how they can work together.
Sofema Online (SOL) www.sofemaonline.com takes a deep dive into how the two business areas of Quality & Safety relate to each other.
Introduction
There are many misconceptions and misunderstandings regarding aviation Safety Management Systems (SMS) and Quality Management Systems (QMS) (Also Known as Compliance Management – CM)
The following is intended hopefully to clear up this misunderstanding regarding QMS and SMS – together they offer many common methods and techniques, but provide different outcomes and objectives:
Note 1 - Sufficient competent resources are critical to the success of both the CM system and the SMS.
Note 2 - It is also important to realise that essentially the role of both QMS and SMS is to provide a service to the management team to understand both the non-conformities and risks which they face within the business areas.
QMS Objective is Compliance Focused
EASA Quality systems are focused on demonstrating continuous compliance (quite different in fact from the goals and objectives of the ISO audit system which focuses on continuous improvement).
***Consider that the role of The Quality and Safety Managers is as Service Provider****
To provide the business area owners with
» Information concerning non-conformities which must be acted on
» Recommendations to reduce risk in a given situation (proposal for mitigation) – Which may be acted on!
What Is The Difference Between Aviation Quality And Aviation Safety?
Often during Quality and Safety conversations, it is apparent there is confusion between the specific functions of the two different undertakings, namely a quality assurance management system and that of a safety assurance management system.
So consider that:
» Quality is essentially looking at Compliance, and Safety is looking at Risk.
o In essence Quality Assurance is determining gaps based on non-compliance with either the regulatory requirements or organisational requirements.
» Safety Assurance is looking at weakness in the organisational system which raises the exposure to risk.
Safety Assurance is typically a forward-looking process and Quality Assurance is a reward looking process
Note 3 - In fact, the responsible person for the Safety System is the business area owner!
Consider That the Role Of The Quality And Safety Managers Is As A Service Provider
To provide the business area owners with:
a)Information concerning non-conformities that must be acted on (In the case of Quality Audit).
b)Recommendations to reduce risk in a given situation (proposal for mitigation) – Which may be acted on! (In the case of identified “Safety Exposure”).
SMS Objective is Aviation Safety Focused
The primary purpose of the SMS is to be able to measure and improve the organisation's safety performance, and therefore to be able to reduce the exposure to perceived risk across the business.
» SMS is forward-looking with proactive techniques and QMS is looking at “now” with prescriptive techniques.
Is there a Conflict Between SMS & QMS
There should never be a conflict between the QMS & SMS both systems should be seen as complementary and the synergy between the two recognised and embraced to drive positive outcomes.
» Please consider that just because a product meets for example compliance with ISO 9001- 2008 or even ISO 9001-2015 objectives does not automatically mean it is safe. (Just as not having an accident can be taken as meaning that we will not have an accident in the future.)
Quality System Audits
Quality systems audits consider gaps related to compliance with both external regulations and internal organisational processes and procedures.
Note 4 - The quality systems do not usually investigate incidents or accidents or consider risk assessment (This is typically the domain of the Safety Management System)
Regarding Competence in SMS & QMS
A high level of Competence is required within both the QMS and SMS in particular within the SMS and especially related to the challenging areas of
» Hazard Identification,
» Safety Risk Analysis,
» System Evaluation, and
» Mitigation Proposal.
SMS Summary
Typically an SMS is described as a business-like approach to managing safety.
» SMS applies a systematic approach to organisational safety and promotes a formal and structured approach to dealing with risk and exposure across the business.
In reality, the key aspect becomes our ability to measure risk and exposure and to act on it (Mitigate) – SMS
» The Safety Management System should identify as an essential goal, the improvement of the Safety Performance. ( In so doing the SMS aims to deliver an improvement in the risk exposure.)
Final Note
SMS provides for a mechanism that connects the different elements of the business with a shared focus on both identifying exposure and focussing on safety by delivering the most effective process and procedures.
Next Steps
Please see www.sofemaonline.com or email team@sassofia.com
To view course details check here - https://sassofia.com/course/easa-compliant-aviation-quality-assurance-senior-and-lead-auditor-course-5-days/
