quality management

Question 1

why do business go through quality control?

Answer 1

• satisfy customer needs
• ensure products work in the way they should
• ensure the product conforms to safety standards set by legislation

Question 2

what is quality control?

Answer 2

when UK organisations (quality inspectors) check the work and production taking place at the end of production

Question 3

what is quality assurance?

Answer 3

when inspection is done throughout the process of production, rather than it being done at the end - it maintains good quality throughout each step of the process

Question 4

what are quality circles?

Answer 4

small groups of workers in the same area of production who meet regularly to solve production problems

Question 5

what is total quality management?

Answer 5

a managerial approach that focuses on quality and aims to improve the effectiveness, flexibility and competitiveness of the business

the manufaturing process is investigated at every stage

Question 6

why is TQM important?

4 points

Answer 6

companies can:
- focus clearly on the needs of customers
- achieve quality in all aspects of business, not just product or service quality
- find improvements and develop measures of performance
- develop effective procedures for communication and acknowledgement of work

Question 7

3 problems with TQM

Answer 7

• training and develop costs of the new system
• only works if there is commitment from the whole business
• stress is placed on the process and not the product

Question 8

what is kaizen?

Answer 8

it means continuous improvement, and is revolved around the concept of continuously making improvements to the business

Question 9

implementing continuous improvement

Answer 9

• plan (where improvement is needed)
• do (once the plan is done it must be carried out)
• check (check whether or not there has been an improvement)
• action (if the plan is successful, it must be implemented into all parts of the business)

Question 10

competitive advantage from TQM

Answer 10

• product quality is improved, which should help increase sales
• business cuts costs if faults are identified before the product reaches the market
• if a business differentiate through high quality, they are able to charge higher prices, while also increasing market share