Abstract:

The increase in demand for products from various product groups raises questions about their quality. Quality is understood as the degree, to which a set of inherent properties meets the requirements of the customer (ISO 9000 2015). Research shows that the product quality problem is perceived as a threat to safety and business. Meeting the quality requirements of products determines the level of safety of the military and civil market, in the global dimension. Customers on the global market are looking for products having the quality that comply with their requirements, while manufacturers, perceiving a quality problem, are looking for methods and tools to provide customers these quality requirements for products at a appropriate level. Can we find universal tools to support manufacturers in their pursuit to provide quality of products? The objective of the paper is to analyze and indicate one of such systemic tools supporting the quality and safety of products/services. It is configuration management, which plays a very important role in ensuring quality requirements for products/services, in providing full information about the compliance of the product/service with its requirements and about the achieved functional and physical properties of the product throughout its life cycle. Empirical research was carried out in 2016-2017 on a group of 120 Polish enterprises holding the ISO 9001 and AQAP 2110 certificates of quality management systems. The methods used have been adapted to the conducted research consisting of: analysis of normative documents, system documentation of the assessed enterprises, audit assessment by means of direct and indirect interviews with authorised specialists and experts, observation of processes and activities, conclusions and generalisations based on the collected data. The solutions contained in this paper may have a practical dimension for enterprises. Configuration management implemented in the design and production processes can help to ensure the quality requirements of products in relation to, among others: stages of realisation, formulation of requirements, methods of their confirmation and use of documents.