Significant changes are taking place to how both Quality and Safety will be viewed in the future, SMS has been coming for so long that it is almost like the anecdotal “boiling frog”, however the next generation of Aviation employees – both in the air and on the ground, will see significant changes in culture and behaviour, driven in a large part by what is happening now.
This is an interesting topic which first should to consider the different roles of Quality Assurance and Safety Assurance.
Aviation Quality Assurance in its most basic form is designed to ensure compliance and to identify and non conformities, with both the regulatory requirements which are placed on the organization and with the ability of the organization to comply with its own requirements and obligations.
Safety Assurance uses evidences, observations understandings and “other data” to assess & measure risk or exposure which the organization faces across the business.
From the above it may be observed that Safety Assurance is forward looking where as Aviation Quality Assurance is either look at the present or the past (seldom “if ever” the future).
If an organization is able to identify and deal with Risk & Exposure in a practical way then the likelihood of an incident is reduced.
With the introduction of EASA Part OPS the role of the Aviation Quality Manager has essentially been re branded and he will in future be known as the Compliance Manager.
This is intended to identify the primary function of the role of Quality Manager as Compliance, as lower in the chain of importance when viewed against the Safety Management System (SMS) (Not to understate the importance of Compliance – It is mandatory and must not be ignored).
Under the EASA Part OPS system the role of Safety Management (Though not necessary the Safety Manager) as significantly higher.
In addition two other factors need to be considered, the first is that in a proactive Safety Management System, the responsibility for the delivery of an effective process, sits not with the Safety Manager directly, but with the business area owner or “Post Holder”
The second is to recognize that both Competence and Training are fundamental tenants of an effective Safety Management System.
The ability to identify Risk & Exposure and to take the necessary steps does not come without significant training and the effective management of the key personnel involved.
We should recognize that the skills & experience necessary to deliver an effective Safety Management System audit are somewhat different to the needs of a Compliance Quality System. In the SMS audit far more emphasis is placed on performance related elements, which requires an elevated understanding on the part of the auditor.
Sofema Aviation Services delivers regulatory compliant SMS and Quality Audit Training the next courses are taking place in Singapore in January www.sassofia.com
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Aviation Quality Assurance, Aviation Quality Manager, Compliance, EASA Part Ops, Post Holder, Aviation Quality, Risk & Exposure, Safety, Safety Assurance, Safety Management System, Safety Manager, Aviation Safety, SMS and Quality Audit Training, Sofema Aviation Services
