QUALIFICATION

The Process by which Products are obtained from manufacturers or distributors, examined and tested, and then identified as Qualified Products.

QUALIFICATION TEST

1) Any test performed to demonstrate that the Design of the item under test is inherently capable of meeting established requirements. 2) A test which simulates defined Operational environmental conditions, with a predetermined Safety factor, the results of which indicate whether a given design can perform its function within the simulated operational environment of a system.

QUALIFIED PRODUCT(S)

1) Any item which has passed a Qualification Test. 2) A list of Products pretested in advance of actual Procurement to determine which suppliers can comply properly with Specification requirements.

QUALITATIVE REQUIREMENT(S)

Quality of Design requirements stated in the Contract, which are defined in narrative form, but which are not yet suitable for definition in terms of specific numerical values.

QUALITY

1) A Characteristic or attribute. 2) A degree of excellence. 3) The Composite of material attributes, including performance features and characteristics, of a product or service required to satisfy a customer's given need.

QUALITY ASSURANCE

1) A planned and systematic pattern of all actions necessary to provide confidence that adequate technical requirements are established, that products and services conform to established technical requirements, and that satisfactory performance is achieved. 2) The function of management which assures that newly procured material conforms to the stated Quality, performance, Safety, and Reliability standards of the Technical Data Package and contract performance Specifications. 3) That function of management relative to all planning procedures, inspections, Examinations, and tests required during procurement, production, receipt, storage, and issue that are necessary to provide the user with an item of the required quality. 4) In current usage, quality assurance often includes Quality Control functions.

QUALITY AUDIT

A systematic Examination of the acts and decisions of individuals or groups, with respects to Quality, in order to independently verify or evaluate the Operational requirements of the quality program, or the Specification or Contract requirements for a product or service.

QUALITY CONTROL

1) The system or procedure used to check product Quality throughout the Acquisition process. 2) The inspection and record keeping efforts necessary to assure that items are being fabricated, assembled, and tested in accordance with Engineering drawings and Specifications. 3) A management function where the inspection and Control of raw or produced material is performed for the purpose of preventing the production of Defective material.

QUALITY OF CONFORMANCE

The Effectiveness of the Design and manufacturing functions in executing the product manufacturing requirements and process specifications while meeting tolerances, process control limits, and target yields for a given product group.

QUALITY OF DESIGN

The Effectiveness of the Design process in capturing Operational requirements and translating them into detailed Design requirements that can be manufactured (or produced) in a consistent manner.

QUALITY PROGRAM

A program which is developed, planned, and managed to carry out, cost-effectively, all of the efforts necessary to effect the Quality of Material and Services from concept through Validation, Development, Production, Deployment, and Disposal.

QUANTITATIVE REQUIREMENT(S)

Those contract Requirements which may be defined or expressed in terms of specific numerical values.

QUANTITATIVE TESTING

Tests that monitor or measure the specific quantity, level, or amplitude of a Characteristic to evaluate the operation of an item. The findings of such tests are presented as finite or quantitative values of the associated characteristics, and determine whether an item has met its stated Quantitative Requirements.

QUANTITY

1) A number or amount of anything, either specified or indefinite. 2) That property of outputs which can be determined by measurement.

QUANTITY CHANGE

A change in the Quantity of End Items to be procured or produced. See Scope Change.

QUOTATION

An expression of Price and contractual terms under which a supplier would be willing to supply items or services.