I am by no means a Trekkie. I don’t go to conventions, nor do I have all the episodes memorized and cataloged. I don’t even try and weigh in on Picard vs. Kirk (although I do have some valid points in that debate—another time). What I do know is I tend to see things in terms of quality management systems (QMS), and while watching an episode of Star Trek the other day, I started wondering about what type of QMS the starship USS Enterprise had during its prodigious trek through the stars.

Taking the physics out of it, there are plenty of tricky considerations for running an operation in the deep reaches of space. Logistics, weaponry, medical, and engineering—on the Enterprise—all are state of the art. But what about its QMS? Was there a chief quality officer aboard? He didn’t get much screen time, if so:
Ensign Quality: “Captain, the corrective action is engaged.”
Kirk: “I need more analysis, ensign.”
Ensign Quality: “I can’t give you any more; I’m giving her all she’s got!”

Maybe there’s a reason the QMS was not prominently featured, but it’s fun to pretend. So what components of a QMS would be most critical to Kirk and the crew?

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