conclusion. In education, assessing students (and thus measuring a courses' quality) at the end of the three year period of course duration, gives far less chance to improve quality, than if such is done at regular intervals during the period of three years. Once a quality problem has been discovered than great emphasis is put on solving of the problems creating it.

10. QA vs TQM.

A comparison can be made between quality assurance and total quality management. Obviously one cannot be seen without the other, but each have distinct characteristics and pro's and con's.

QA

• basically a management system

• has a mission statement

• set of work procedures

• auditing system to check compliance to procedures

• corrective action system to correct non compliance

• management review system to monitor and develop qa system.

pro's

• sound management system

• clear guidelines

• strengthens management knowledge and control

• tight control of suppliers

• easy to understand

• sets a standard.

con's

• bureaucratic

• rigid procedures inhibit initiatives

• paper heavy

• slow to respond to new needs

• can focus on wrong things

• ignores cost

• concentrates on interfaces

TQM

• quality standards to be improved all the time

• once established a standard is there to be bettered

• all staff have the obligation to identify problems and find solutions

• every employee involved in continuous improvement efforts

• quality continuously measured

• small groups can act immediately on identified problems

• work methods are adjusted daily if so required.

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