The application of modern simulation modelling in development, implementation and improvement of Quality Management Systems (QMS)

The objective of the reported research is to investigate the contribution which can be made to Quality Management System design and implementation through the application of discrete event simulation methods. Today's highly competitive world has forced manufacturing and service organisations to find ways to reduce costs while maintaining customer satisfaction and making continuous improvement to both products and/or services as well as processes. In approaching these demands the establishment of quality systems standards, such as ISO 9000, has been considered as one of the possible solutions. From another point of view, businesses have been making increasing use of simulation modelling as a powerful technique to reduce the risk in the process of decision-making by evaluating and analysing alternative strategies and solution in system design and improvement. Having considered the importance of quality management systems and standards as well as the capabilities of computer systems a generic simulation model for Quality Management Systems, as defined by the relevant standards, is defined and its use in a case study is demonstrated and evaluated in detail. The overall result of the research illustrates the feasibility of using computer simulation in the area of quality management and great benefits achieved by this application.