3F Quality strategies Flashcards
(17 cards)
Quality control
involves inspecting
a product at various
stages of the production
process, to ensure it meets
designated standards, and
discarding those that are
unsatisfactory.
steps involved in quality control
- Standards of quality are established.
- Inspections are regularly conducted.
- A good or service is compared against set standards.
- A good or service is removed if it does not meet the set standards.
- The cause of the error is fixed to prevent further errors.
quality control Efficiency
Identifying and fixing the cause of an error prevents the error from reoccurring, which
results in less waste being created during production. Reducing waste allows a business to optimise its use of resources.
quality control effectiveness
Removing defective products prevents customers from receiving faulty goods or services. This can allow a business to meet the objectives of increasing sales and
market share.
quality control advantage
- Reducing the number of faulty
goods or services that are sold to
customers can minimise the number
of refunds the business is required
to complete. - Providing customers with
consistently high-quality products,
and minimising the number of faulty
goods or services they receive, can
improve a business’s reputation.
quality control disadvantage
- It can be boring and monotonous
work for employees to check the
production line for defects. - It can be time consuming to identify
and address the causes of errors
in production.
Quality assurance
involves a business
achieving a certified
standard of quality in
its production after an
independent body assesses
its operations system.
Quality assurance efficiency
Preventing errors before they occur reduces the number of faulty products produced, reducing a business’s waste. This can allow
a business to optimise its use of resources.
Quality assurance effectiveness
Customers are more inclined to purchase from a business with certified quality standards. This can allow a business to increase its sales and meet the objectives of increasing profit and market share.
Quality assurance advantage
- A reduced number of errors enables
production to flow smoothly. - Gaining external certification
can be harnessed as a marketing
tool by the business, allowing it to
increase sales.
Quality assurance disadvantage
- Employees may have to be trained
to comply with new procedures. - It can be expensive to organise
an external body to assess the
operations system of a business
Total Quality
Management (TQM)
is a holistic approach
whereby all employees are
committed to continuously
improving the business’s
operations system to
enhance quality
for customers.
Total Quality
Management (TQM) key features
- Customer focus involves identifying and fulfilling the customers’ exact needs and wants
through a business’s goods or services. - Continuous improvement involves engaging in the process of constantly evaluating
business processes and identifying methods to achieve a higher standard. - Employee empowerment involves fostering teamwork and employee participation within the
business environment to ensure employees are involved in developing solutions to improve
quality. This can be achieved using quality circles where employees initiate and share ideas
to improve quality.
Total Quality
Management (TQM) Efficiency
Continuously improving the quality of
the production system can prevent errors from occurring and reduce the number of discarded products. This can allow a business to optimise its use of resources.
Total Quality
Management (TQM) effectiveness
By determining the needs and wants of a customer, TQM can improve levels of customer satisfaction and allow a business to meet the objectives of increasing sales
and profit.
Total Quality
Management (TQM) advantages
- Employees may feel increasingly
valued if they are involved in the
process of improving quality. - A business can adapt TQM to suit
its specific business requirements.
Total Quality
Management (TQM) disadvantages
- It may take time for a business to
enjoy the benefits of TQM as it
requires a shift in culture. - Employees may feel confused about
their role in improving quality if
managers fail to communicate the
TQM strategy clearly.
