Internal Quality Assurance

This involves checking that processes and procedures are routinely followed to ensure that defined standards (such as pitch performance standards) are met in accordance with requirements. It is frequently abbreviated to IQA.

A nominated person, or persons, will often be responsible for IQA within an organisation with aims being to not just achieve defined standards, but also to achieve the following:

• Identify areas for continuous improvement.

• Improve the cost-effectiveness of maintenance activities and work processes.

• Reduce waste and subsequent cost-savings.

• Detect problems or issues at an early stage thus enabling them to be more readily addressed before any serious situation arises. For example, by regular monitoring of pitch performance standards a well-defined trend of sward degradation can be determined, helping to manage pitch usage to ensure sward coverage is not degrading at a higher rate than planned over the season.

• To ensure regulatory requirements are met. For example, this may be to confirm conditions to Governing Bodies of Sport (for example the Football Association), or compliance with external Awarding bodies for qualifications, such as City & Guilds.

• To encourage and facilitate employee, or volunteering staff, development of skills and knowledge.