Frequently Asked Questions

This is a list of frequently asked questions about using and contributing to QIF Standards. If your question is not answered on this page contact us.:

  1. What can QIF do for my company?
  2. What is the Quality Information Framework (QIF)?
  3. Why is QIF called a “framework”?
  4. How does QIF address interoperability?
  5. How much does it cost, and what are the restrictions, to implement DMSC standards in my software products?
  6. How much does it cost to come to standards meetings?
  7. How much does it cost to join the DMSC?
  8. What is the DMSC volunteer agreement?
  9. How do I implement the QIF suite of standards in my software?
  10. How do I go about implementing compliant products in my facilities?
  11.  How do I join in the standards development effort?

 

What can QIF do for my company?

    • “(For end users) Widely-implemented and high-quality data standards will enable agility and save you time and money.  Cost to you: involvement in standards development and commitment to mandate standards in your organization”
    • “(For vendors) Widely-implemented and high-quality data standards will open up markets to you and lower development costs.  Cost to you: involvement in standards development and implementing standards in your products”

 

What is the Quality Information Framework (QIF)?

QIF is an integrated suite of XML-based information standards to facilitate accurate and cost-effective data flow throughout the entire quality measurement process.

 

Why is QIF called a “framework”?

Because each individual standard within QIF is part of an integrated “framework,” where all individual standards share information in common.

 

How does QIF address interoperability?

Since QIF is a “standard” (open development and free implementation), if widely implemented, QIF will enable a level of agility and interchangeability not enjoyed when information exchange is strictly proprietary.

 

How much does it cost, and what are the restrictions, to implement DMSC standards in my software products?

The QIF schemas, which are the basis for the QIF family of standards (QMResults, QMPlans, etc.), are and will be freely available and free to implement.  This web site will be the source for the latest schema versions, which you can download for free and use in your software, with standard intellectual property constraints.

 

How much does it cost to come to standards meetings?

Because the DMSC is an ANSI-accredited SDO and an A-liaison to ISO, participation in our committees must be without charge, though you assent to our volunteer agreement (see below).

 

How much does it cost to join the DMSC?

$5k/year.  Membership has privileges, such as board membership and committee leadership is open only to DMSC members.   

 

What is the DMSC volunteer agreement?

The DMSC volunteer agreement, which you must agree to before participating in the development or use of DMSC standards is: You hereby agree, by your participation in any activity of this standards committee (including committee meeting attendance, email exchanges, phone conversations, or document generation), that you will not disclose any corporate confidential information or corporate trade secrets either verbally or in writing.   Furthermore, any information disclosed to you in any activity of this standards committee, or disclosed to you in documents produced by this committee, will be provided to you for the sole purpose of establishing an industry-wide standard pursuant to the procedures prescribed by ANSI and ISO.  You therefore agree not to use this information, or to collaborate in its use, in any manner that might suggest you have any proprietary rights to such information, such as rights to a patent, trademark, or copyright.

 

How do I implement the QIF suite of standards in my software?

Download the latest version of the QIF schema files [link to QIF V0.91 zip file] and follow the instructions in the Design and User’s Guide to QIF. [coming soon]

 

How do I go about implementing compliant products in my facilities?

Join with the DMSC to develop QIF; encourage your solution vendors to join the DMSC to help define QIF; encourage your solution vendors to define QIF in their products, i.e., modify product offerings to include the ability to import and export data in the QIF format; tell them you won't buy it without this capability.
   [QIF, QMResults, QMPlans, QMExecution, QMRules, QMResources, QMDirectives]

 

How do I join in the standards development effort?

Contact the DMSC Executive Director, (817) 461-1092, bsquier@dmisstandard.org. Active working groups are the QMS WG (chair: Ray Admire, ray.admire@lmco.com, (972) 603-2074), the QIF WG (chair: Bill Rippey, william.rippey@nist.gov, (301) 975-3417), the QMResults WG (chair: Bill Rippey), the QMPlans WG (chair: Curtis Brown, cbrown@kcp.com, (816) 997-3548; QMStatistics Chair: Robert Brown robert.brown@mitutoyo.com