Quality Assurance & Quilt Making

I am a Quality Assurance (QA) specialist in quality management systems (QMS) such as ISO 9001: 2015. I enjoy sewing, particularly making quilts (mainly because it is so relaxing). I love drawing parallels different aspects of my life, and so here’s a parallel about my role in quality assurance and the art of quilt making.

A QA Quilt Maker – Does That Really Exist?

Yes. There’s a striking resemblance between QA and the art of quilt-making. Much like the creation of a masterpiece quilt, QA is an intricate and meticulous process that yields remarkable results. It is the attention to detail and pursuit of excellence that both QA specialists and quilters share. Imagine a quilt, not just any quilt, but My Chili Quilt. I enjoyed the creative process of crafting the quilt. And for both QA and quilt making I’m going to <start cringe> weave the threads of comparison and unravel a tapestry of insights <end cringe> into the precision and dedication applicable to both endeavours.

1. Cutting and Preparing – Establishing a Pattern: Just as a quilter carefully cuts selected fabrics to create a visually captivating pattern, as a QA specialists I will meticulously outline the processes involved in the QMS. And just like QMS systems such as ISO 9001 has guiding templates, quilters need to ensure that every cut, every step, aligns harmoniously to form a coherent whole, the quilt. The QMS parallels between the precision in fabric-cutting and process-outlining resulting in a well-defined foundation.
2. Assembling the Pieces – Ensuring Consistency: A quilter will fit together the fabric pieces like a putting together a puzzle, as a QA professionals I will work diligently to ensure consistency in the different processes. Similar to sewing the pieces of fabric, implementation of ISO standards serves as the glue that binds the processes and operations for the organisation. The aim of both is to have a unified and reliable outcome.
3. Templates and Guidelines – Stitching it All Together: : For both quilt-making and QA, templates and guidelines are important. A quilter will use templates to maintain precision, while I will use ISO standards and guidelines to stitch processes together seamlessly.
4. Batting and Filling – Ensuring Quality Core: Batting will give a quilt its substance and warmth, while my aim as a QA specialist is to ensure the core quality of the operational processes such as maintaining continuous improvement. Just as batting provides comfort, a solid foundation within a QMS ensures stability and growth.
5. Piecing and Piercing – Precision Matters: As a quilter, I will painstakingly piece together fabrics. I have a good eye for precision. This mirroring my approach as a QA specialist to guidelines, policies, and procedures. In particular, when auditing I ensure that processes are aligned, error-free, and meticulously crafted. The attention paid to the smallest of details in both practices guarantees an exceptional outcome.

Quilting Quality: Ensuring Every Stitch Count