avviksmål

Avviksmål is a term used in quality management and performance measurement in Norwegian and Swedish contexts. It refers to a predefined threshold related to deviations from a reference value or standard. The avviksmål can function as either a tolerance limit—the maximum permissible deviation from the nominal value—or as a target level for deviation to be achieved or reduced in improvement efforts. The exact interpretation depends on the organizational practice and the specific process.

In practice, avviksmål are set by process owners, often aligned with customer requirements, regulatory standards, and risk assessments. Measurements are taken for a given process or product, and the deviation is calculated as the difference between the observed value and the reference value. This deviation is then compared with the avviksmål to determine whether action is required.

If the deviation remains within the avviksmål, operations typically continue as planned. If the deviation exceeds the avviksmål, a trigger for corrective or preventive actions is activated. This can involve containment, root-cause analysis, non-conformity reporting, and corrective or preventive actions to bring the process back within the acceptable range.

Avviksmål are used alongside related concepts such as avvik (the deviation itself) and toleranse eller grenseverdi (tolerance or limit value). They are context-specific and can vary between industries, organizations, and quality frameworks. Clear documentation of avviksmål supports consistent measurement, accountability, and continuous improvement.