A Laboratory Quality Management System
A Laboratory Quality Management System
12 Elements of Laboratory
Quality Management
System (QMS)
The 12 elements of a laboratory quality management system are the
building blocks for a QMS framework in medical and clinical
laboratories.
Developed by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI),
these quality elements are integral to laboratory QMS effectiveness.
Neglecting any of these elements can compromise the success of the
LQMS. Possibly leading to potential failures in achieving accurate
and reliable laboratory results, maintaining regulatory compliance,
and meeting customer expectations.
The quality system essentials are illustrated in the diagram below.
The following are the 12 essential elements of a laboratory quality
management system, along with examples of how an eQMS, like
SimplerQMS, streamlines these processes.
Organization
The organization refers to the laboratory’s management and the
supporting organizational structure that facilitates the implementation
of quality management practices.
Assessment
Assessment evaluates the effectiveness of a laboratory’s quality
management system through internal and external audits and
performance evaluation in external quality assessment programs.
There are two types of audits: internal and external.
Internal audits are conducted by personnel within the laboratory itself.
Individuals from one department assess the operations of another
department. The main objective of these internal audits is to identify
and address any potential weaknesses or areas of improvement.
In contrast, external professionals and experts who specialize in their
respective fields conduct external audits. These audits have many
purposes, such as accreditation, certification, and licensing.
The involvement of external auditors ensures impartiality and brings
an objective perspective to assess the laboratory’s compliance with
standards and regulations.
With SimplerQMS, laboratories can streamline the audit process,
saving valuable time and effort in achieving successful audit
outcomes.
The software simplifies creating audit plans, scheduling audits,
assigning dedicated Issue Handlers, and attaching relevant evidence
to audit findings.
It provides a closed-loop workflow by directly escalating audit findings
to Corrective and Preventive Actions (CAPAs), ensuring that issues
are promptly addressed and resolved.
A list of audits and related documents in the SimplerQMS Audit
Management module.
To learn more, you can explore our article on laboratory audits which
provides an overview of this topic.
Process Improvement
Process improvement is a vital component of a quality management
system, as it establishes a structured program to drive continuous
improvement in laboratory quality over time.
The Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle is a valuable tool for achieving
continuous improvement in any process within quality improvement
efforts.
The cycle consists of four key steps:
Plan: Identify problems and potential weaknesses and gather
relevant information to develop an improvement plan.
Do: Implement the developed plan and put it into action.
Check: Monitor and assess the effectiveness of the actions taken,
utilizing review and audit processes. Revise the plan if necessary.
Act: Take any required corrective actions based on the evaluation
and recheck the results to ensure the effectiveness of the solution.
This cycle is a continuous process, initiating further planning for
ongoing improvements in the laboratory.
The ISO 15189:2022 in section 4.12 specifies a comparable set of
activities for achieving continuous improvement within the laboratory.
These are outlined as follows:
Identify potential sources of system weaknesses or errors
Develop improvement plans
Implement the plan
Review the effectiveness of actions through focused review and audit
Adjust the action plan and modify the system based on review and
audit results.
Processes like internal and external audits, external quality
assessments, and management reviews are used to identify
opportunities for improvement and can serve as the basis for
Corrective and Preventive Action (CAPA).
CAPA offers a systematic approach to tracking corrective actions and
their effectiveness. However, manually handling CAPA processes
can lead to delays and incomplete actions. Implementing an
automated CAPA system can significantly improve this process.
SimplerQMS offers a comprehensive CAPA management software
solution that simplifies and automates the corrective and preventive
action process. Laboratories can streamline CAPA activities such as
data collection, routing, notifications, approvals, and follow-up,
ensuring efficient and effective management of quality issues.
The software provides a centralized platform to track CAPAs, monitor
progress, and generate insightful reports, helping laboratories drive
continuous improvement and achieve regulatory compliance.
List of CAPAs in SimplerQMS showing the effectiveness state.
Customer Service
Customer satisfaction is a major aspect of a quality management
system. The primary objective of a medical laboratory is to provide
quality test results to its customers, making it essential to ensure their
satisfaction.
To achieve this, the laboratory should clearly understand its clients,
including patients, physicians, public health agencies, and the
community. Additionally, the laboratory should remain attentive to
customers’ needs and requirements.
The laboratory quality manager is accountable for measuring
customer satisfaction through surveys, indicators, and audits. They
are also responsible for taking proactive measures to prevent and
correct any issues identified during the assessment process.
Implementing customer feedback systems enables the collection of
real-time data on customer satisfaction levels.
Customer complaints are a common form of customer feedback.
With SimplerQMS’s complaint management solution, laboratories can
efficiently track, manage, analyze, and resolve complaints within a
single system.
It offers the convenience of storing all related documents in a cloud-
based platform, enabling seamless access from anywhere.
The software automatically sends notifications to the appropriate
personnel, ensuring prompt attention to customer feedback. It
provides valuable insights into feedback data, enabling effective
utilization for product improvement and increasing customer
satisfaction.
A notification in SimplerQMS indicates a new complaint assignment
in the Complaint Management module.
Facilities and Safety
The laboratory workspace and facilities should be designed to
accommodate the workload while ensuring the quality of work and
the safety of laboratory personnel.
Final Thoughts
Laboratory QMS software streamlines quality processes in
laboratories, helping ensure compliance with standards and
regulations.
It facilitates effective quality management in medical laboratories by
supporting the 12 essential elements of quality management
systems.
Implementing QMS software can significantly facilitate the
implementation of quality processes, especially when compared to
traditional paper-based and hybrid methods.
Working in a medical or clinical laboratory demands handling large
amounts of data and information, including various documents,
reports, and written materials. Control over these documents is
crucial to maintain work quality and comply with regulatory
requirements.
With robust security features, SimplerQMS allows users to work
efficiently with their documentation, helping ensure compliance with
Life Science requirements.
If you are interested in learning more about we encourage you
to book a personalized demo and talk to SimplerQMS Quality
Solution experts.
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