Octaankwaliteit

Octaankwaliteit is a term used in Dutch-language discussions on quality management to describe an eight‑dimensional approach to assessing quality. The word combines octa-, meaning eight, with kwaliteit, meaning quality. It is not tied to a single formal standard; rather, it appears in articles, training materials, and consultancy contexts as a framework for a broader evaluation than traditional single-criterion metrics.

A typical octaankwaliteit framework identifies eight quality dimensions that may include product quality, process quality, service quality, reliability, durability, usability, safety or regulatory compliance, and sustainability or ethics. Organizations tailor the exact dimensions to their context. Each dimension is assessed with indicators, data sources (such as testing results, customer feedback, audits, and compliance records), and scoring rules. The eight scores are often combined through a weighting scheme to produce an overall quality profile or dashboard that supports decision-making and continuous improvement.

Usage and benefits: octaankwaliteit can promote cross-functional thinking, balance multiple quality aspects, and improve communication with employees and customers by presenting a more holistic view of quality than single-mcriterion metrics.

Criticisms: the lack of a universally accepted standard can lead to inconsistent definitions and implementations; the framework may become overly complex or invite subjective weighting or gaming of the system.

See also: quality management, ISO 9001, balanced scorecard.