AI governance glossary
Quality management system (QMS)
Definition
The documented policies, procedures and instructions a provider of a high-risk AI system keeps to ensure compliance across the system's life: design, testing, data management, risk management, post-market monitoring, incident reporting and accountability. Required of providers by the EU AI Act.
Source: EU AI Act (Regulation (EU) 2024/1689). A plain-language explanation for orientation, not the legal text; follow the source for the binding wording.
Quality management duties →Quality management system control →
Laws and policies on record that use it
- EU AI ActEuropean Union · Partially applicable
Duties that mention it
- Operate a quality management systemEU AI Act · European Union
- Providers must meet the full set of provider duties for high-risk AIEU AI Act · European Union
- Providers must keep high-risk AI documentation for ten yearsEU AI Act · European Union
Related terms
- AI systemA machine-based system that operates with some autonomy, may adapt after it is deployed, and infers from the i...
- High-risk AI systemIn the EU AI Act, an AI system that is a safety component of (or is itself) a product covered by the EU produc...
- Post-market monitoringThe activities a provider carries out to collect and review data on how its AI systems perform once in use, so...
- Red teaming (AI)Structured adversarial testing in which testers try to make an AI system fail: produce harmful output, leak da...
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Frequently asked questions
What does "Quality management system" mean?
The documented policies, procedures and instructions a provider of a high-risk AI system keeps to ensure compliance across the system's life: design, testing, data management, risk management, post-market monitoring, incident reporting and accountability. Required of providers by the EU AI Act.
Where does the term Quality management system come from?
This explanation follows EU AI Act (Regulation (EU) 2024/1689). It is a plain-language paraphrase for orientation; the source has the binding wording.
Which laws and policies use the term Quality management system?
Among the records on this site: EU AI Act (EU).