Analysis of the functions and place of quality management systems in the context of an organization’s development – a survey of the Polish Quality Award contest

In the work the proposals of quality management systems in organizations are determined, according to the opinion of quality management representatives. The analysis of these systems’ functions is presented among the organizations that took part in the Polish Quality Award contest. The remarks concerning the process of system creation, maintenance and development were subject to analysis. Special attention was paid to the problems occurring at particular stages. Considerations were made on the basis of a survey conducted on a group of representatives from the enterprises submitted to the Polish Quality Award contest. The results were supplemented with the authors’ ideas and experiences.