179 - Quality is NOT Everyone’s Job—Why That’s a GOOD Thing

In this episode of Let's Combinate, host Subhi Saadeh, a seasoned quality professional, delves into the concept of 'everyone owns quality' and explains why this notion is flawed. Subhi recalls his eye-opening experience with Joanna Gallant's article on quality ownership and discusses the importance of clear accountability within organizations. The episode emphasizes that while all employees play a role in quality, true ownership lies with top management. Subhi also highlights regulatory frameworks like ISO 13485 and 21 CFR 820, noting how they mandate management's responsibility for quality systems. The discussion extends to real-world examples, including the Ranbaxy scandal, to illustrate the dire consequences of poor quality management. The episode concludes with a call to shift the mindset from 'everyone owns quality' to 'leadership owns quality.' 00:00 Introduction to Quality Ownership04:10 Regulatory Frameworks and Quality Management05:14 The Flaws in 'Everyone Owns Quality'06:45 Case Study: Ranbaxy Laboratories08:49 The Importance of a Strong Quality CulturePrevious Episodes:Joanna Gallant: https://www.letscombinate.com/076-gmp-training-competence-human-error-and-mentorship-with-joanna-gallant/Katherine Eban: https://www.letscombinate.com/115-bottle-of-lies-generic-drugs-quality-ranbaxy-audits-and-inspiring-quality-pros-with-nyt-be/Links: ICH Q10: https://database.ich.org/sites/default/files/Q10%20Guideline.pdfISO13485: https://www.iso.org/standard/59752.html21CFR820: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/chapter-I/subchapter-H/part-820/subpart-B/section-820.20BBC Article: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-22520953Bottle of Lies: https://www.amazon.com/Bottle-Lies-Inside-Story-Generic/dp/0062338781Subhi Saadeh is a Quality Professional and host of Let's Combinate. With a background in Quality, Manufacturing Operations and R&D he's worked in Large Medical Device/Pharma organizations to support the development and launch of Hardware Devices, Disposable Devices, and Combination Products for Vaccines, Generics, and Biologics. Subhi serves currently as the International Committee Chair for the Combination Products Coalition(CPC) and as a member of ASTM Committee E55 and also served as a committee member on AAMI's Combination Products Committee.