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This paper describes a generic model of the new product design and development (NPDD) process. The model has been derived from best practice observed in fieldwork carried out in a range of situations. The model helps to identify and put the company’s NPDD activities into the context of the overall NPDD process. It has been found to be a useful means of organising data on firms’ NPDD activities without imposing an overly‐prescriptive “how to” model of NPDD. The framework which underpins the model will help to promote a discussion of the approaches undertaken within a company’s NPDD process, thereby promoting understanding and improvement of the process.

The validity of an approach based on a quality system specification developed from BS5750 is considered, with reference to patient care activity in an out‐patient clinic at a general hospital. The quality systems specification is presented and the application of this system to the clinic and service departments is demonstrated.

Examines the relevance of the ISO 9000 standard within the health care, local government and education and training services sectors, as well as looking at the benefits of its implementation. Explains that organizations should be clear about what they expect from ISO 9000 beforehand and presents a list of dos and don′ts when implementing ISO 9000. Concludes that by concentrating on the feedback loop part of the standard and using a common sense approach to quality, most of ISO 9000 will fall into place.

Scientific research provides a reliable means for developing and accumulating knowledge bases to guide policy and practice. However, evidence from meta-research and large-scale replication projects suggests that the published research base likely reflects bias, which threatens the validity and credibility of research-based recommendations. Moreover, there is limited accessibility to research reports, which limits the impact and application of scientific research. In this chapter, we propose that open-science reforms, which aim to make the research process as open and transparent as possible, can be applied to help address these issues. We describe and discuss four open-science practices – preregistration and Registered Reports, open data and materials, open peer review, and open access and preprints – and propose that they may become one of the next big things in special education research.

User involvement and co-production are imperative to the design, delivery and evaluation of service provision. This chapter provides a brief introduction to these concepts as they relate to mental health, addiction and dual diagnosis. This occurs through an exploration of models of user involvement, particularly, Arnstein’s ladder of participation and MHERs engagement continuum. This is followed by exploring the benefits of user involvement at both a micro and macro level. Co-production – as the highest form of participation is also introduced followed by how these concepts are noted within policy. These concepts are imperative to the creation of a recovery-orientated service that meets the needs of the whole person and their supporters.

The purpose of this study, with its central thesis placed on excelling at business measures, is to underscore the need for business entities to understand the significant implication of hidden failure costs and its impact on their business processes. The study also stresses the need for organizations to systematically break the many norms.

This study looked at capturing the often‐overlooked component of poor quality cost via a simple function of measurement which requires an effortless yet painstaking way of collecting data pertaining to intangible wastages in the form of time, service charges and material.

A simple formula is introduced, using three types of indicators that could be used to monitor the level of poor quality costs (PQC), to quantify the total failure costs by accumulating the values of both hidden and visual failure costs.

The study breaks the boundaries of existing methods of understanding and calculating the all‐embracing cost of doing business, hence paving the way to make inroads in business processes improvement, enhanced job‐scope comprehension, agility and performance, further intensification of internal and external customer satisfaction.

The progress towards introducing quality management in line with British Standard 5750 is outlined. The advantages of BS5750 are in controlling quality initiatives, making savings in operational costs, achieving accreditation and increasing job satisfaction. Interpretation and adaptation of British Standards, for use in the National Health Service, has resulted in progress towards accreditation in the Chiropody Service.

This paper aims to propose the use of net present value methods to derive the quality costs of quality improvement projects. The proposed methodology is then demonstrated in a case study of a quality improvement to an inspection process in an automobile assembly plant.

The approach takes the form of application of accounting net present value methods to the cost of quality methods.

Quality improvements in the manufacture of durable goods do not usually have instantaneous results in warranty cost reductions, customer satisfaction or revenue expansion. The net present value method proposed gives a more accurate accounting of the expected results of quality improvement projects by considering the temporal effects of the change and the time value of money.

The case study presented contains fictitious data to protect the confidentiality of the source. While it is useful in demonstrating the application of the net present value method, it should not be used as an indication of actual costs of plant operations.

The paper provides a unique approach to cost of quality analysis that is particularly useful in the assessment of quality improvement projects for durable goods. While much research is focused on cost of quality methods and philosophies, only a little provides the level of detail in the actual application of the methods found in the case study.