Quality Standards

Characteristics which identify if a defined level of outcome has been achieved. In the grounds care industry, there is a range of quality standards which can be utilised, including BS7370 for amenity grass surfaces and the industry quality standards of PQS for sports turf situations. The term quality can cover a range of interpretations, from low quality to high quality, although there is an inference that if something is said to be a ‘quality product’ then it is a good product. The use of measurable characteristics will enable a product to be clearly described by the parameters used and this in turn will determine the actual level of quality which is being defined for a product.

Having well defined quality standards permits customers to choose the desired end product, having confidence in the expectations of what they are purchasing. Managers can use quality standards to monitor not just the effectiveness of their activities, such as the production of a sports pitch, but arguably more importantly the efficiency of the resources used in achieving the end product as this will identify the cost effectiveness of their activities, as well as providing a measure of the sustainability of the activities especially when analysed in detail. Benchmarking between similar products and comparing efficiencies can help drive improvements in working practices and ensure that resources, whether for example financial, material, equipment or staffing resources, are utilised in an informed and professional way.

Deficiencies and defects which arise from the use of quality standards will be assessed and evaluated to determine how best to improve the prevailing situation, contributing to ensuring customer expectations are consistently met. Grounds managers who can demonstrate a commitment to applying quality standards on a continuous basis will typically develop a much better understanding of the relationships between turfculture, user management and the sustainable use of a turfgrass surface.

Quality standards play an important role in a range of management areas, including occupational health and safety (ISO 45001), environmental management (ISO 14001), management systems (ISO 9001).