Sofema Aviation Services (SMS) www.sassofia.com takes a deep dive into the QMS & SMS Relationship.
In aviation, there are numerous misconceptions and misunderstandings about Safety Management Systems (SMS) and Quality Management Systems (QMS). This section aims to clarify these misunderstandings and the relationship and differences between these two crucial systems.
Common Ground but Different Goals
Both QMS and SMS utilize similar methods and techniques but aim for different outcomes and objectives. It’s essential to recognize that both systems serve the management team by identifying non-conformities and risks within the business.
The Role of Competent Resources
Having sufficient and competent resources is critical to the success of both QMS and SMS. The main role of these systems is to provide valuable information and recommendations to business area owners. For QMS, this involves identifying non-conformities that need to be addressed. SMS involves proposing risk mitigation strategies to reduce potential hazards.
Objectives and Focus
QMS: Compliance-Focused
The primary objective of a QMS, particularly within EASA standards, is to demonstrate continuous compliance. This is different from ISO audit systems, which focus on continuous improvement. The goal of QMS is to ensure that all processes meet regulatory and organizational requirements consistently.
SMS: Safety-Focused
On the other hand, SMS’s primary goal is to measure and improve an organization’s safety performance. SMS aims to reduce exposure to perceived risks across the business through proactive techniques and forward-looking processes. It focuses on identifying and mitigating potential hazards before they result in incidents.
Understanding the Distinction
It’s essential to understand the fundamental difference between aviation quality and aviation safety:
- Quality Assurance looks at compliance, determining gaps based on non-compliance with regulatory or organizational requirements.
- Safety Assurance looks at risk, identifying weaknesses in the system that increase risk exposure.
While Quality Assurance is a retrospective process, looking at past compliance, Safety Assurance is forward-looking, aiming to anticipate and mitigate future risks.
The Role of Quality and Safety Managers
Quality and Safety Managers serve as service providers to the business area owners. Their responsibilities include:
- Providing information on non-conformities that must be acted upon.
- Making recommendations to reduce risk in specific situations.
Complementary Systems
QMS and SMS should never be in conflict; rather, they should be seen as complementary systems. Recognizing and embracing the synergy between them can drive positive outcomes. For instance, a product that meets ISO 9001 compliance standards is not automatically safe. Similarly, not having had an accident in the past does not guarantee future safety.
High Competence Required
Both QMS and SMS require a high level of competence. This is especially true for SMS, which deals with challenging areas like hazard identification, safety risk analysis, system evaluation, and mitigation proposals. SMS takes a systematic and structured approach to managing safety and dealing with risks across the business.
Data Analysis and Safety Improvement
A significant part of SMS involves analyzing data from various business areas to improve safety performance and reduce risk exposure. By connecting different elements of the business, SMS ensures a shared focus on safety, using the most effective processes and procedures.
Conclusion
In summary, while QMS and SMS share common techniques, their goals and focuses are distinct. QMS ensures compliance and continuous adherence to regulations, while SMS aims to improve safety and reduce risks proactively. Both systems are essential, and their complementary nature can significantly enhance overall safety and quality within the aviation industry.
Next Steps
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