What is Quality?

“Quality” means ensuring that products and services meet the requirements of the customers.


Another way of understanding this approach to quality is that products and services should be fit for the purpose for which they are intended. For example, expensive leather shoes can be regarded as luxury products, but failing to meet the quality requirements of a farmer who really needs a pair of much less expensive rubber boots fit for his purpose of working in muddy fields.

This understanding of quality as being fit for purpose and meeting customer requirements allows a QIS to be used for producing effective results in meeting a broad range of challenges, in addition to product or service quality. Examples of particular interest to developing countries are food safety, health, the environment, tackling climate change, social responsibility and gender issues.