Modification relation in ISO 9000

Question

ISO 9000 is an International Standard issued by ISO (http://www.iso.org/iso/home.html) and defines words quality control as part of quality management focused on fulfilling quality requirements.

I don't understand which word(s) focused on fulfilling quality requirements modifies.
Which word(s) does focused on fulfilling quality requirements modify, quality management or part?
Why?

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

northwindI don't understand which word(s) focused on fulfilling quality requirements modifies.

Grammatically, 'part':

...quality control as part [of quality management] [that is] focused on fulfilling quality requirements.

If it were to modify 'quality management', it would be written thus:

...quality control as part of quality management , [which is] focused on fulfilling quality requirements.

Northwind · Answer

I’m sorry my original question is not so clear.

The word to be defined is “quality control”.
The definition of “quality control” is “part of quality management focused on fulfilling quality requirements”.

And my question is “Which word(s) does ‘focused on fulfilling quality requirements’ modify, ‘quality management’ or ‘part’? Why?”

Mister Micawber · Answer

northwindI’m sorry my original question is not so clear.

It was quite clear and I answered it.

Northwind · Answer

Thank you very much, Mister Micawber.
I understand.
But I have some questions.

(1)
Do you mean “part of quality management focused on fulfilling quality requirements” is quite the same as “part [of quality management] [that is] focused on fulfilling quality requirements”?

(2)
What does the first set of brackets mean?

(3)
What does the second set of brackets mean? Do they mean [that is] is necessary, [that is] is unnecessary, or [that is] is optional?

(4)
Do you mean if the definition is “part [of quality management] [that is] focused on fulfilling quality requirements”, “focused on fulfilling quality requirements” modifies “part” with no ambiguity?

(5)
Do you mean if the definition is “part of quality management, [which is] focused on fulfilling quality requirements”, “focused on fulfilling quality requirements” modifies “quality management” with no ambiguity?.

(6)
Which do you mean, [which is] is necessary, [which is] is unnecessary, or [which is] is optional?

(7)
Is “part of quality management, [which is] focused on fulfilling quality requirements” the best words or ways to show that“focused on fulfilling quality requirements” modifies “part” with no ambiguity?

I would be very grateful if you answer each question separately without compiling them and without giving only one answer.

Thank you.

Mister Micawber · Answer

(1) Yes.

(2) The first brackets set off the modifier of the subject 'part'

(3) The second brackets indicate the grammar structure not used but hopefully illustrative that it is a restrictive clause.

(4) No, it is not ambiguous in the original; I have just tried to make the sentence structure clear for you (see #3)

(5) Again, I have just indicated the structure (a comma) that would make 'quality management' the modified noun.

(6) [which is] is optional

(7) I think so, yes.

Northwind · Answer

ISO 9000 defines words “quality control” as follows:
“part of quality management focused on fulfilling quality requirements”

I’m still wandering which word(s) “focused on fulfilling quality requirements” modifies, “quality management” or “part” or how strongly “focused on fulfilling quality requirements” modifies “part”.

I’d like to classify the following sentences, a to l, which are the ones I thought possible, according to their modifying “part” level.

Modifying “part” level
level 1: 100%. Surely or inevitably modifies “part” without any ambiguity, with no exception, perfectly.
level 2: 80% to less than 100%.
level 3: 50% to 80%.
level 4: 20% to 50%.
level 5: more than 0% to 20%.
level 6: 0%, Never modifies part” without any ambiguity, with no exception, perfectly.

Modifying “part” level is degree of the strength or probability for “focused on fulfilling quality requirements” to modify “part”, not “quality management”. For example, level 3 means that “focused on fulfilling quality requirements” modifies “part” with probability of 50% to 80%, which means that “focused on fulfilling quality requirements” modifies “quality management” with probability of 20% to 50%.

Language is not mathematics and can’t be measured by percentage, so please think that the percentage above is only a guide or a rough indication.
But please think that level 1 and 6 are strict and severe and do not allow any exceptions.

Would you tell me which level are the following sentences on?
And if they are uncommon or grammatically incorrect, please tell me so.

a. part of quality management focused on fulfilling quality requirements
b. part of quality management that is focused on fulfilling quality requirements
c. part of quality management which is focused on fulfilling quality requirements
d. part of quality management, which is focused on fulfilling quality requirements
e. a part of quality management focused on fulfilling quality requirements
f. a part of quality management that is focused on fulfilling quality requirements
g. a part of quality management which is focused on fulfilling quality requirements
h. a part of quality management, which is focused on fulfilling quality requirements
i. the part of quality management focused on fulfilling quality requirements
j. the part of quality management that is focused on fulfilling quality requirements
k. the part of quality management which is focused on fulfilling quality requirements
l. the part of quality management, which is focused on fulfilling quality requirements

P/S
To Mister Micawber.
Thank you very much for your nice replies.
But I would be very grateful if you answer the questions above again.

Mister Micawber · Answer

northwindI’m still wondering which word(s) “focused on fulfilling quality requirements” modifies, “quality management” or “part” or how strongly “focused on fulfilling quality requirements” modifies “part”.

I give up.

Northwind · Answer

I’m so sorry to ask the same question many times.
I think I posted the following question yesterday but I can’t find it today, so I post it again below today because I would like to know the answer.
Mr. Admin, however, if you dislike such a repetition of the same question and erased it yesterday, I’m so sorry for posting it again and please erase the following question.
Thank you.

***********************
ISO 9000 (http://www.iso.org/iso/home/standards/management-standards/iso_9000.htm) defines words “quality control” as follows:
“part of quality management focused on fulfilling quality requirements”

I’m still wandering which word(s) “focused on fulfilling quality requirements” modifies, “part” or “quality management”, or how strongly “focused on fulfilling quality requirements” modifies “part”.

I’d like to classify the following sentences, a to l, which are the ones I thought possible, into five levels, L1 to L5, according to their modifying “part” level.

Modifying “part” level
L1: Modifies “part” 100%. Surely or inevitably modifies “part” without any ambiguity, with no exception, perfectly.
L2: Probably modifies “part”.
L3: Fifty-fifty. Seems to modify both “part” or “quality management”.
L4: Probably does not modify “part”. Probably modifies “quality management”.
L5: Modifies “part” 0%. Never modifies “part”. Surely or inevitably modifies “quality management” without any ambiguity, with no exception, perfectly.

Would you tell me which modifying “part” level are the following sentences on?

a. part of quality management focused on fulfilling quality requirements
b. part of quality management that is focused on fulfilling quality requirements
c. part of quality management which is focused on fulfilling quality requirements
d. part of quality management, which is focused on fulfilling quality requirements
e. a part of quality management focused on fulfilling quality requirements
f. a part of quality management that is focused on fulfilling quality requirements
g. a part of quality management which is focused on fulfilling quality requirements
h. a part of quality management, which is focused on fulfilling quality requirements
i. the part of quality management focused on fulfilling quality requirements
j. the part of quality management that is focused on fulfilling quality requirements
k. the part of quality management which is focused on fulfilling quality requirements
l. the part of quality management, which is focused on fulfilling quality requirements

Northwind · Answer

Hello, Mr. Admin

I said “a repetition of the same question” in the last post but actually it isn’t “a repetition of the same question” because I changed Modifying “part” level from percentage to words, which I thought will lessen difficulty for teachers in answering.

Thank you.

Modification relation in ISO 9000

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