Operations

Quality

Quality is a way of a businesses ensuring that their customers receive the highest standard products If a product isn't of good quality then.... It can lead to customers returning the product leading to a loss in sales Extremely low products will receive bad PR and create a bad reputation High quality products can result in a good reputation Customers will pay higher prices for the goods, therefore increasing profits High quality will attract high quality staff

There are 8 methods to ensure quality

Quality Control Quality Assurance Quality Improvement Quality Circles Quality standards and symbols Benchmarking Quality Management Mystery Shoppers

Quality Control

Quality Control is the method of inspecting the quality of raw materials at the end of the production stage.

Quality Assurance

Is the method of prevention. The quality of the product is checked at every stage in production rather than at the end.Advantages Less wastage, therefore decreasing costs It is easy to identify where there is a fault in the production line Disadvantages It is a timely process as each stage needs to be inspected adding time to production Increases the production cost as managers need to be paid wages.

Quality Improvement

Is the process of continuing to improve the quality even if the objectives have been met. Everyone needs to be committed to continually improving.Advantages Stay ahead of competitors React quickly to changing external factors Disadvantages Staff feel under pressure to be continually improving High staff development costs

Quality Circles

Is a group of employees who meet with a line manager to discuss the problems with the production line and how these problems can be solved. Feedback is returned to senior management and may be implemented.Advantages Employees are motivated as they feel as if they are involved in decision making Senior managers get good quality feedback as the employees spend a lot of time and will know it well. Disadvantages Happens during paid company time, therefore production time is lost. Employees encouraged to join from training, costing the business even more money 

Quality Standards and Symbols

A method of proving that a product meets an agreed industry standard.Advantages Customers can feel confident in their purchase Used a promotional tool to give a competitive edge Higher prices can be charged as product is of high quality