Qualität

Qualität, or quality, is the degree to which a product, service, process, or experience meets the needs and expectations of its users. It encompasses fitness for purpose, absence of defects, and conformance to stated requirements, while also including subjective aspects such as aesthetics and perceived value. Quality is often judged by a combination of objective measures and stakeholder perceptions, and it is context-dependent.

Common dimensions used to assess quality include performance, features, reliability, conformance, durability, serviceability, aesthetics, and safety. In software and services, usability, maintainability, security, and accessibility are frequently emphasized. Because quality is relative to intended use, assessments rely on agreed criteria, specifications, and customer expectations, as well as data collected during the product life cycle.

Quality management refers to the planned and systematic activities to direct an organization toward quality. It typically includes quality planning, assurance, control, and improvement. International standards such as ISO 9001 describe requirements for a quality management system, guiding organizations in creating consistent processes. Other approaches, such as Total Quality Management (TQM), Six Sigma, and Lean, focus on process optimization, defect reduction, and continuous improvement.

In practice, quality appears differently across domains. In manufacturing, quality control checks outputs; quality assurance aims to prevent defects through process design. In services, quality emphasizes consistency and customer experience. In software, quality attributes guide development and testing. The concept remains culturally and market-influenced, evolving with technology and changing expectations.