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113 Quality Control Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

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Quality control is a critical aspect of any business or organization that aims to deliver high-quality products or services to its customers. It involves monitoring and evaluating the quality of products or services to ensure they meet certain standards and specifications. Quality control is essential to prevent defects, errors, and inconsistencies that can negatively impact a company's reputation and bottom line.

If you're tasked with writing an essay on quality control, you may be struggling to come up with a topic that will engage your readers and demonstrate your understanding of the subject. To help you get started, here are 113 quality control essay topic ideas and examples:

• The importance of quality control in manufacturing
• How quality control can improve customer satisfaction
• The role of quality control in ensuring product safety
• The impact of quality control on a company's reputation
• Best practices for implementing a quality control program
• The benefits of using technology in quality control
• How quality control can help reduce waste and improve efficiency
• The relationship between quality control and quality assurance
• The challenges of implementing quality control in a small business
• The role of statistical analysis in quality control
• Quality control in the food industry: ensuring product safety and freshness
• The impact of globalization on quality control practices
• Quality control in the healthcare industry: ensuring patient safety
• The importance of quality control in the pharmaceutical industry
• How quality control can help prevent product recalls
• Quality control in the automotive industry: ensuring vehicle safety
• The role of quality control in the construction industry
• The impact of quality control on supply chain management
• Quality control in the hospitality industry: ensuring customer satisfaction
• The challenges of implementing quality control in a service-based business
• The role of quality control in ensuring data accuracy and integrity
• Quality control in the retail industry: ensuring product quality and consistency
• The impact of quality control on brand loyalty
• The role of quality control in meeting regulatory requirements
• The benefits of implementing a Total Quality Management (TQM) program
• Quality control in the aerospace industry: ensuring the safety of aircraft
• The impact of quality control on employee morale and motivation
• The challenges of implementing quality control in a fast-paced environment
• Quality control in the technology industry: ensuring software reliability
• The role of quality control in disaster preparedness and response
• The impact of quality control on the environment and sustainability
• Quality control in the education industry: ensuring academic standards
• The benefits of implementing a Six Sigma quality control program
• Quality control in the energy industry: ensuring the safety of power plants
• The role of quality control in the entertainment industry
• The impact of quality control on social responsibility and ethical practices
• Quality control in the fashion industry: ensuring product quality and design
• The challenges of implementing quality control in a global supply chain
• The role of quality control in the financial industry: ensuring data accuracy
• Quality control in the telecommunications industry: ensuring network reliability
• The benefits of implementing a Lean Six Sigma quality control program
• Quality control in the transportation industry: ensuring vehicle safety and maintenance
• The impact of quality control on customer retention and loyalty
• The role of quality control in the healthcare industry: ensuring patient outcomes
• Quality control in the pharmaceutical industry: ensuring drug safety and efficacy
• The challenges of implementing quality control in a regulated industry
• The role of quality control in ensuring product consistency and reliability
• Quality control in the automotive industry: ensuring vehicle performance and safety
• The impact of quality control on employee satisfaction and retention
• The benefits of implementing a Quality Management System (QMS) for quality control
• Quality control in the aerospace industry: ensuring the safety of space missions
• The role of quality control in the construction industry: ensuring building safety
• Quality control in the food industry: ensuring food safety and quality
• The challenges of implementing quality control in a fast-changing market
• The role of quality control in the hospitality industry: ensuring customer satisfaction
• The impact of quality control on brand reputation and customer trust
• The benefits of implementing a quality control program for small businesses
• Quality control in the technology industry: ensuring software reliability and security
• The role of quality control in the energy industry: ensuring the safety of power plants
• Quality control in the education industry: ensuring academic standards and curriculum
• The role of quality control in the entertainment industry: ensuring product quality
• Quality control in the financial industry: ensuring data accuracy and integrity
• Quality control in the telecommunications industry: ensuring network reliability and performance
• The role of quality control in the transportation industry: ensuring vehicle safety
• Quality control in the healthcare industry: ensuring patient safety and outcomes
• The challenges of implementing quality control in a regulated environment
• The role of quality control in the pharmaceutical industry: ensuring drug safety
• Quality control in the food industry: ensuring product safety and quality

In conclusion, quality control is a critical aspect of any business or organization that aims to deliver high-quality products or services to its customers. By selecting a relevant and engaging topic from the list above, you can demonstrate your understanding of quality control and its importance in various industries. Good luck with your essay!

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What Is Quality Control (QC)?

• Understanding QC
• Difference With Quality Assurance

The Bottom Line

• Business Essentials

Quality Control: What It Is, How It Works, and QC Careers

Adam Hayes, Ph.D., CFA, is a financial writer with 15+ years Wall Street experience as a derivatives trader. Besides his extensive derivative trading expertise, Adam is an expert in economics and behavioral finance. Adam received his master's in economics from The New School for Social Research and his Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in sociology. He is a CFA charterholder as well as holding FINRA Series 7, 55 & 63 licenses. He currently researches and teaches economic sociology and the social studies of finance at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.

Yarilet Perez is an experienced multimedia journalist and fact-checker with a Master of Science in Journalism. She has worked in multiple cities covering breaking news, politics, education, and more. Her expertise is in personal finance and investing, and real estate.

Quality control (QC) is a process through which a business seeks to ensure that product quality is maintained or improved. Quality control requires the company to create an environment where management and employees strive for perfection. This is done by training personnel, creating benchmarks for product quality, and testing products to check for statistically significant variations.

A significant aspect of quality control is the establishment of well-defined controls . These controls help standardize both production and reactions to quality issues. Limiting room for error by specifying which production activities are to be completed by which personnel reduces the chance that employees will be involved in tasks for which they do not have adequate training.

Key Takeaways

• Quality control (QC) is a process through which a business seeks to ensure that product quality is maintained or improved.
• Quality control involves testing units and determining if they are within the specifications for the final product.
• The quality control used in a business is highly dependent on the product or industry, and several techniques exist for measuring quality.
• The food industry uses quality control methods to ensure customers do not get sick from their products.
• Quality control creates safe measures that can be implemented to make sure deficient or damaged products do not end up with customers.

Ryan Oakley / Investopedia

Understanding Quality Control (QC)

Quality control involves testing units and determining if they are within the specifications for the final product. The purpose of the testing is to determine any need for corrective actions in the manufacturing process. Good quality control helps companies meet consumer demands for better products.

Why Is QC Needed?

Creating a product is costly, time-consuming, and can be unsafe without controls in place. Additionally, if a company sends defective products out for purchase, it could be held liable for injuries or issues that arise from using its products. Quality control inspectors ensure that defective or unsafe products are identified , and the causes are corrected.

How Is It Done?

Quality testing is generally completed in each step of a manufacturing or business process. Employees often begin by testing raw materials , pulling samples from the manufacturing line, and testing the finished product. Testing at the various stages of manufacturing helps identify where a production problem is occurring and the remedial steps it requires to prevent it in the future.

In a non-manufacturing business, quality testing can involve customer service evaluations, questionnaires, surveys, inspections, or audits. A business can use any process or method to verify that its end product or service meets the customer's needs and is safe and legal.

QC Is Different by Industry

The quality control used in a business is highly dependent on the product or industry. For example, in food and drug manufacturing, quality control includes ensuring the product does not make a consumer sick, so the company performs chemical and microbiological testing of samples from the production line.

In aircraft manufacturing, quality control and assurance is of the utmost importance. Manufacturers are required to document, track, inspect, and reinspect all items and phases of a build to build evidence that everything is completed to very strict standards.

In automobile manufacturing, quality control focuses on parts meeting specifications and tolerances. QC ensures engines, drive trains, and other mechanical parts operate smoothly, efficiently, safely, and as designed.

In electronics, quality testing might involve using meters that measure the flow of electricity and stress testing.

Quality Control vs. Quality Assurance

Quality control and quality assurance are terms often used to define the same thing, but there are distinct differences. Quality control focuses on quality requirements, such as ensuring a part meets specifications. Quality assurance refers to the sum of all actions and processes needed to demonstrate that quality requirements are fulfilled.

What this difference means for quality professionals is that as you move through a quality control career, you might transition from quality control to quality assurance. Quality control is part of quality assurance, which consists of programs and departments that assure upper-level management, customers, and government inspectors that products meet all quality requirements and safety standards .

Quality Control Methods

There are several methods quality control uses to communicate and track inspections and issues. For instance, a quality control chart is a graphic that depicts whether sampled products or processes are meeting their intended specifications—and, if not, the degree by which they vary from those specifications.

When one chart analyzes a specific product attribute, it is called a univariate chart. A chart that measures variances in several product attributes is called a multivariate chart. Tracking variances allows businesses to see how many defects per production unit they produce and what types of defects are occurring. Here are a few examples of some methods used.

X-Bar Chart

Randomly selected products are tested for the given attributes the chart is tracking. A common form of a quality control chart is the X-bar chart, where the y-axis on the graph tracks the degree to which the variance of the tested attribute is acceptable. The x-axis tracks the samples tested. Analyzing the variance pattern on this chart helps you determine if defects are occurring randomly or systematically.

Taguchi Method

The Taguchi Method of quality control is another approach that emphasizes the roles of research and development, product design, and product development in reducing the occurrence of defects and failures in products. The Taguchi Method considers design more important than the manufacturing process in quality control and tries to eliminate variances in production before they can occur.

100% Inspection Method

This 100% inspection method is a quality control process involving looking at and assessing all product parts. This type of quality control is done to rule out flaws in products. This method is often used to evaluate valuable metals. The 100% inspection method calls for data about the manufacturing process and software to analyze inventory.

The challenge of using this method is that looking at every single item used to build a product is expensive and could destabilize or render the product unusable. For example, if you use this method to examine organic strawberries, you risk damaging the berries, rendering them unsellable.

Quality control methods help standardize production and reactions to quality issues in various industries, from food production to automobile manufacturing.

Quality Control Careers

Quality control can be a rewarding career if you enjoy working with people, communicating, presenting results, and working to make products better and safer. To become a quality control inspector, you'll need (depending on the industry):

• A high school diploma for entry-level positions
• A bachelor's degree, depending on the industry
• Experience in an industry
• Licenses and certifications for some industries and businesses

Other qualities that are necessary for quality control professionals are:

• Attention to detail
• Mechanical and math skills
• Physical abilities and strength
• Technical skills
• Performance under pressure

Career Path

The route to a career in quality control and assurance varies by industry, so there may be differences. However, you'll generally need several years of experience in your industry. Typically, you begin by being hired as a quality assurance or control associate after meeting educational and work experience requirements.

Once you gain work experience as a quality specialist or associate, you may move into a senior specialist position and begin managing teams of quality control specialists. You may attend professional development courses sponsored by your employer or be required to gain certifications such as Six Sigma. You might also need to earn a professional designation such as Certified Quality Inspector.

Moving up the career path, you have more options. You may be able to choose from or be selected to be a:

• QA Systems Manager
• QA Operations Manager
• QA Compliance Manager

These positions can lead up to upper-level management or executive levels within quality control:

• Director of Quality
• Head of Compliance
• Vice President of Quality

Quality Control Salaries

The average pay for quality control professionals differs by industry, experience, and position. Pay increases as you gain more experience and move into management positions. As of May 2023, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports average salaries as:

• Professional, scientific and technical services: $48,680
• Manufacturing: $46,390
• Wholesale trade: $43,880
• Administrative and support services: $35,940

What Does Quality Control Mean?

Quality control means how a company measures product quality and improves it if need be. Quality control can be done in many ways, from testing products, reviewing manufacturing processes, and creating benchmarks. This is all done to monitor significant variations in a product.

What Are the 4 Types of Quality Control?

There are several methods of quality control. These include an x-bar chart, Six Sigma, 100% inspection mode, and the Taguchi Method.

Why Is Quality Control Important?

Quality control ensures that defective goods do not go out to the public. Companies that have quality control methods in place often have employees who pay close attention to their work.

In food and drug manufacturing, quality control prevents products that make customers sick, and in manufacturing, quality control can ensure that accidents don't happen when people use a product.

What Are 3 Examples of Quality Control?

Three examples of quality control could be in the food industry; overseeing the ingredient specifications, reviewing supplier lists, and ensuring the facility where the food product is made is sanitary.

Having quality control in place within a business helps ensure product quality and the overall success of a business. The quality control environment influences employees' attitudes about the workplace and creates a sense of ownership of the products and company.

Quality control can be done in various ways, from training personnel to creating data-driven tools to test products and set standards. Quality control methods help create a safe work environment and products that are safe to use and meet customers' needs. Additionally, it is a rewarding career for someone who enjoys investigating issues and improving outcomes.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. " How to Become a Quality Control Inspector ."

The Council for Six Sigma Certification (S.S.C.). " Six Sigma Certifications ."

American Society for Quality. " Quality Inspector Certification CQI ."

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. " Quality Control Inspectors | Pay ."

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Essay on quality control (with diagram)| products.

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Read this article to learn about Quality Control. After reading this article you will learn about:- 1. Definition of Quality Control 2. Objectives of Quality Control 3. Principles 4. Functions 5. Phases 6. Advantages.

• Essay on the Advantages of Quality Control

Essay # 1. Definition of Quality Control :

According to Alford and Beatly quality control is that “Industrial management technique or group of techniques by means of which products of uniform acceptable quality are manufactured.”

So quality control determines what, when and how much to inspect and what steps should be taken so that defectives are not produced i.e. it is concerned with making things right rather than discovering and rejecting those made wrong. Thus it is preventive and not a corrective action.

Quality control may be defined as “the systematic control of those variables encountered in a manufacturing process which affect the excellence of the product.” Such variables may result from the application of 5 Ms i.e. Men, Machines, Materials, Manufacturing techniques and Money required for acquiring these four inputs.

According to Norman Gaither contrary to popular perception, quality control does not start after the items/goods/products are produced. Rather, it begins much before the goods and services are delivered to consumers. As shown in Fig. 9.1 at the initiation of production system, raw materials, components parts and other inputs must be of acceptable quality before they are allowed to be utilized.

Materials must possess the requisite specifications such as weight, strength surface finish, chemical contents and other characteristics.

Further as the inputs of the production system advance through production processes, the quality of these partly finished items is monitored to identify whether the system is operating on the expected lines. Thus monitoring is essential for operating managers to take corrective action before poor quality products and services are produced.

Hence finished products and services are inspected to determine their acceptability.

In other words it may be defined as that function or collection of various duties which must be performed throughout the organization in order that products are made to measure upto specifications determined from consumers demands or achieve its quality objective or other way round quality is every body’s business and not only of inspection personnel.

Essay # 2. Objectives of Quality Control :

The fundamental purpose of quality control is to maintain the quality standard of the manufactured items/products at optimum cost.

However, some important quality control objectives are as follows:

(1) To decide about the standards of quality that are readily acceptable to the customer/consumer and economical to achieve and maintain.

(2) To carefully observe and analyse the extent of quality deviation in product/part/component from the predetermined standards of quality of the product during manufacture and to determine the causes of such deviation, when it cannot be attributed to chance causes.

(3) To apply corrective measures to achieve the real goal of quality control.

(4) To avoid as far as possible items reaching the customer which are of lower quality standard than considered acceptable.

(5) To take different measures to improve the product quality or checking the quality from dropping below the designed level during manufacture.

Essay # 3. Principles of Quality Control:

The principles of quality control which govern the manufacturing system are as follows:

(1) Under the present competitive manufacturing conditions quality of the goods being manufactured is a variable having upward trend.

(2) The quality control increases the sales volume and decreases the cost of production, distribution and hence makes mass production economical.

(3) The conformance of finished products to the pre-decided standards and specifications should be accomplished by using preventive measures instead of following corrective ones.

Essay # 4. Functions of Quality Control Department :

The quality control department in the organization is represented by its head may be quality controller or quality control engineer. He has to perform following functions:

(1) Advises the organization/management about inspection and quality control policy formulation/or modification.

(2) Decides inspection standards in the light of design tolerances.

(3) Drafts the departmental budget and controls the operating expenses.

(4) Supervises the departmental activities.

(5) Participates as advisor in the top management meetings concerning the production distribution and marketing of the product.

(6) Selects inspection points required for achieving the desired quality levels.

(7) Selects inspection gauges, tools and equipment’s, also ensures that these are maintained in good working conditions.

(8) Collaborates with sampling regarding the choice of statistical quality control techniques/charts to be adopted.

(9) Decides whether sampling inspection or 100% inspection to be adopted for achieving decided quality levels.

(10) Collaborates with statisticians on designing the efficient sampling plans for quality control purposes.

Essay # 5. Phases of Quality Control :

In the words of A.Y. Fegorbaum, “Quality control is an effective system for integrating the quality development, quantity maintenance and quality improvement efforts of the various groups in an organization, so as to enable production of goods and services at the most economical levels which allow full customer satisfaction.”

Thus quality control system consists of the following phases:

Policy of the Organization towards Quality Control of Their Products:

Such policy is generally formulated by the top management of the company as it is dependent upon inter-related factors. The characteristics of the product like price, durability, dependability, appearance and size are the determining factors of quality standards. So the main consideration is the attitude of the product market for the different levels of the quality of product.

Quality and Product Design :

The quality standards provide guidance to designers while suggesting or prescribing the nature of raw materials, manufacturing techniques and other service requirements in order to produce the items/goods of desired standards. Thus standards provide basis for quality control.

In process Quality Control or Quality Control during Manufacturing Cycle:

The following are important stages where quality control techniques can be applied during the course of manufacturing process.

(i) Input materials inspection stage i.e., in coming raw materials/semi-finished/finished parts or components are inspected.

(ii) Product inspection during manufacturing and control/rectification of the process, if needed.

(iii) Inspection and control of the final product.

Thus the quality control techniques try to screen out those products which do not conform to quality standards and suggest corrective action required. Sometimes quality control studies suggest necessity of revision of quality standards or design changes in the product.

Control in Distribution, Installation During and After Sales Use:

The real user of the product is the customer and he should feel satisfied with the performance of the product. So quality control function should be active even after distribution, installation and post-sales use of the product in order to generate the confidence of the consumer in the product.

Essay # 6. Advantages of Quality Control:

The advantages of quality control are listed below:

(1) Quality control may lead to quality improvement of the product which in turn increases sales volume.

(2) It reduces the inspection cost.

(3) Quality control reduces scrap, rejections and rework, thus reducing wastage. So the cost of manufacturing is reduced.

(4) Good quality of the product improves reputation of the enterprise.

(5) Leads to manufacturer and consumer relations improvement.

(6) Results in improvement of technical knowledge and collection of engineering data for process development and manufacturing design thus leading to cost reduction and product standardization.

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Essay on Quality Control | Products | Production Management

Here is an essay on the ‘Quality Control and Inspection of Products’ for class 11 and 12. Find paragraphs, long and short essays on the ‘Quality Control and Inspection of Products’ especially written for school and management students. 

Essay # 1. Quality Control of Products:

Quality is some prescribed or desired characteristics present in raw material, semi-finished or finished items. It is a relative term and is generally used with reference to the end use of the product viz. fitness for purpose, degree of preference, degree of excellence, fulfilment of the promises made to the customer, quality of design, etc.

In every manufacturing organisation there are always some standard specifications laid down either by the producer or the consumer and it is important that the finished product meet established specifications.

A good quality item is one which conform to the specifications. Quality characteristics can be divided in two main categories, namely Quantitative and Qualitative. Quantitative characteristics are those where direct quantitative measurement is possible e.g. weight, height, diameter etc. These characteristics can be measured by some specific instruments.

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In the case of Qualitative characteristics direct quantitative measurement is not possible, e.g. cracks, breakage, colour etc. These can be determined by inspection only and be classified as defective or non-defective.

Producers and consumers are two main components of a business activity. Producer is responsible for the production and marketing of his product. His fundamental objective is to manufacture the product of desired quality in the most economical manner with minimum risk of being rejected by the consumer.

Products superior or inferior than the specifications are not acceptable to the producer. Because the superior products will need more expenditure and the inferior ones will not be acceptable to the consumer. In both situations there will be a loss to the producer.

Similarly consumer always wants to purchase the goods of desired quality. When consumer knows that he is getting goods of desired specifications, he buys the product with confidence and the market for the product expands.

But every manufacturing process is a repetitive process depending both on controllable and uncontrollable factors. Due to this there is bound to be some deviations in the quality of the product, i.e. variation in the quality of a product is inherent in every production process. This deviation in the quality of the product can be due to internal as well as external factors of the system viz. machines, material, etc.

Thus there is always a necessity that the deviations in the quality of the product should be discovered and corrected. Now Control is the process of verification or correction in the quality of the product when the deviations in the quality are found to be more than expected.

Thus Quality control is of great value both to the producer and consumer. It helps in solving many manufacturing problems, which could be solved otherwise.

Objects of Quality Control:

The fundamental purpose of Quality Control is to maintain the quality standard of the manufactured product at an optimum cost.

However some of the characteristics of qualify control objectives can be listed as:

(i) Assessment of quality standards at different stages of the production process i.e. at the stages of raw materials, in process products and final product.

(ii) To recommend for the remedial or corrective action when the process goes out of control.

(iii) To suggest suitable improvements in the quality of the product, if any, without affecting the cost of production. This may lead to increase in the demand of the product as the product become more acceptable to consumer.

(iv) Quality control operations introduce quality consciousness in the organisation and generates confidence, goodwill and reputation for the manufacturer.

(v) Reliability regarding the quality of the product is improved and there is reduction in cost through reduction of the losses due to defects.

Phases of Quality Control:

According to A. Y. Feigorbaum, “ Quality control is an effective system for integrating the quality development, quantity maintenance and quality improvement efforts of the various groups in an organisation, so as to enable production of goods and services at the most economical levels which allow full customer satisfaction “.

Quality Control system consists of the following four phases:

(i) Policy of the Organisation towards Quality Control of their Product:

The policy depends on many interrelated aspects and is generally formulated by top management. The main consideration is the attitude of the market of the product at different levels of the quality of product. The choice determines the characteristic of the product viz. price, dependability durability, size etc. for the determination of quality standards.

The objectives of the organisation become the basis for determining the quality levels.

(ii) Quality and Product Design:

The approach of the enterprise towards the quality standards guides the product designer to prescribe the nature of raw material, production process and other service requirement to produce the product of desired standards. The standards become the basis for quality control.

(iii) Quality Control during the Production Process:

There are three main stages where the quality control operations can be applied during the course of manufacturing process.

(a) Raw material stage

(b) Product’ inspection and control of the process and

(c) Inspection and control of final product.

Here a quality control technique tries to screen out those items which do not conform to quality standards and recommends corrective action, if any, because scrapping becomes necessary. Sometimes on the basis of quality control study during the processing of manufacturing operations one may suggest necessity of revising the quality standards and design of the product.

(iv) Quality Control in Distribution, Installation and Use:

Actual user of the product is consumer and he should be satisfied with the performance of the product. Any item produced according to desired standards may not be acceptable to the consumer due to damage during distribution process or for poor installation. A post sales evaluation also helps in generating the confidence of the consumer in the product.

Steps in Quality Control Programme :

The following are the steps in the operation of Quality Control activities in any organisation:

(i) Formulation of Quality Control policy.

(ii) Determination of producer’s requirements and the specifications on the basis of customer’s preference, cost of production and profits.

(iii) Selection of appropriate inspection plan for checking the quality of items produced.

(iv) Detect deviations, if any, from the set standards or specifications.

(v) Suggest some corrective action necessary for improvement in level of quality achieved.

Specification of Quality :

A specification is some concept related to some phenomenon in the mind of the consumer or producer and expressed through some description, drawings etc.

The quality specification takes on the characteristics of Industrial laws to specify what is wrong and right. In production systems these specifications may include inputs/finished goods specifications; process specifications; specifications regarding the end use of the product; criteria for acceptance and rejection of items etc.

Alternately specifications generally contain:

(i) Description of conditions under which the product is intended to be used

(ii) Procedure for installations, precautions to be taken while using the product

(iii) Operating procedure or

(iv) Maintenance procedure.

Essay # 2. Inspection of Products:

Inspection is the process of examining an object for identification or checking it for verification of quality and quantity in any of its characteristics.

It is an important tool for ascertaining and controlling the quality of a product:

In the words of Alford and Beatty, “Inspection is the art of applying tests, preferably by the aid of measuring appliances to observe whether a given item or product is within the specified limits of variability or not”. According to Sprigel and Lansburg “Inspection is the process of measuring the qualities of a product or services in terms of established standards.” The standards can be in terms of strength, hardness, shape, etc.

The purpose of inspection is to see that items are produced within the specified limits of variability. Inspection in its broadest sense is the art of comparing materials, product, or performances with established standards. By means of inspection one can take a decision to accept or reject certain item. The items are accepted if these conform with the given specifications otherwise rejected.

Functions of Inspection :

The following are some of the important functions of inspection:

(i) Maintenance of specified standards of the quality of products.

(ii) Devising means for conducting inspection at lower cost.

(iii) Segregating spoilt work, which may be salvaged by re­operation.

(iv) Maintaining inspection equipment in good condition.

(v) Detection of defects at source to reduce scraps and defective work.

(vi) Furnishing advice to operators when production difficulties arise.

(vii) Reporting source of manufacturing troubles to management.

Objectives of Inspection:

Fundamental objectives of Inspection are:

(i) To safeguard the quality of the finished products by comparing raw- materials, workmanship and final product with some set standards. It prevents further work being done on semi-finished product already detected as spoiled.

(ii) The defective items are located and the factors responsible for this discrepancy in the quality of the product are then identified to take corrective measures. This results in enhancing the prestige and confidence of the organisation in the eyes of the consumer.

(iii) The reduction in the risk and possibility of items not accepted by consumer saves the producer as well as the consumer from losses if any and also reduces the cost of production.

(iv) To detect sources of weakness and trouble in the finished product and thus check the work of designers.

Essential Steps for Inspection :

There are five main steps in inspection:

(i) Characteristics about which the quality of the items is to be inspected should be carefully established.

(ii) A decision regarding when and where the inspection should take place is to be taken.

(iii) To find that how many items are to be inspected i.e. 100% or sampling inspection. Here the level of accuracy desired and the nature of the production process are taken into consideration.

(iv) The sampling scheme for the selection of items from the lots should be selected

(v) Specification limits for the acceptance and rejection of items should be formulated. 

Areas to Inspect :

Inspection may take place right in the processing area or at a separate inspection station. The choice of location depends on the process flows and on the problems of scheduling the inspection function which must be treated as yet another operation in the total process.

The first line of defence is the worker who can avoid making defects. Then come in inspectors who are usually trained separately from the workers to obtain benefits of specialisation.

They are taught to use gauges, test instruments, micro-meters and procedures at which they become increasingly proficient. Sometimes inspection tools cannot be placed in the production line. Then the work may have to leave the normal flow to go to an inspection station.

During a production process there are many stages where inspection can be done. The choice depends mainly on the convenience of the organisation as well as its approach towards the maintenance of the products quality.

In general, inspection can be carried out at following locations:

(i) Items can be inspected either at the vendor’s place or at the purchaser’s premises.

(ii) Semi-finished items are inspected during the production process.

(iii) Inspection of finished products.

(iv) Post-sales quality evaluation.

Purchaser or Vendor Place Inspection:

Here the inspection is carried out mainly to ascertain the quality of raw material. The quality of the finished goods in general depends on the quality of raw material and proper precaution at this stage will minimise the chances of rejection at later stages. Here 100% inspection is done to ensure that raw material supplied is in accordance with the specifications laid down in purchase order.

It is always said that prevention is better than cure. Verification of quality standards in the beginning ensures uninterrupted production schedule because in the case of observing some sub-standard material at a later stage may result a delay in the supply of fresh material and thus a breakdown or stoppage in production process may happen.

The outcome is idle machines and labour. This type of inspection strategy also provides a sound basis for negotiating regarding quality of the raw material with the supplier.

Depending on the nature of the material and the policy of the purchasing organisation, this kind of inspection can be done either at the vendor’s place or at the purchaser’s place. In the case of heavy and large size items, it is always convenient to inspect the items at the vendor’s place by the inspectors of the purchaser.

They can check the process and operating conditions according to some previously laid conditions. Here the costs associated with material handling and transportation of goods is considerably reduced. The defective parts if any are also replaced immediately. Sometimes this type of inspection reduces the volume of inspection at purchaser’s place.

In-Process Inspection :

In this era of automation, in- process inspection has become an important and inevitable activity of the production strategy. Producing the items upto mark is the first objective of every organisation. To accomplish this goal the defective items, if any, should be located as quickly as possible, so that the remedial steps are taken to avoid scrapping of future products.

The in-process inspection can be classified as:

(i) Trial run inspection.

(ii) First-off inspection.

(iii) Inspection by self-control.

(iv) Decentralized/floor/patrolling inspection.

(v) Centralised or crib inspection.

(i) Trial Run Inspection:

Here the tool/machine is checked against its drawing and specification before commencement of operation. A trial run is made with a single piece. If piece conforms with specifications then the production is allowed to be carried on otherwise remedial measures are taken.

(ii) First-Off Inspection:

The items produced in the first production run are inspected and examined with respect to specifications thoroughly and carefully. The method is concerned with checking the setup of the machine. Here the reasons for discrepancy in actual and specified standards are located and corrected. This inspection reduces the chances of scrap at later stages when the production is in full swing.

(iii) Inspection by Self-Control:

This kind of inspection is done mainly by the operators, controlling the operations at different levels of the production process. The operators are conversant with the desired quality specifications and they are vested with the responsibility to check the process against the laid standards from time to time during the course of their work.

This approach is based on the well-known concept that catching a defect after it has occurred is poor second best. Here the remedial step can be taken at once and thus reduces the chances of scrap. Secondly operator’s time is utilised more efficiently.

The only drawback of the method is that as the same person being responsible for operation as well as inspection, the chances of human bias are likely to be more. To avoid this q provision of inspection by some independent person should also be made.

(iv) Decentralized/Floor Inspection:

Here the semi-finished goods are inspected either on the machines or in the production line. The possibility of handling the items is considerably reduced and the discrepancy or defects if any are located immediately.

Floor inspection ranges from mere patrolling. Supervision in keeping an eye on work at machine to careful testing by intricate measurement of products by means of measuring appliances.

The following are the advantages and disadvantages of floor inspection:

(a) Production delays, scrap and defective work may be reduced.

(b) Handling costs, traveling times in moving products to a central inspection room and back to the department may be saved.

(c) Promptness in inspection may result in increased rate of production, decrease in process inventories and ensure better utilisation of the production capacity.

(d) More appropriate for product layout.

(e) Suitable for large and heavy jobs like big machines; ships, etc.

Disadvantages:

(a) Less freedom of movement to the operator.

(b) Sufficient space is not available for inspection work.

(c) Flow of work from machine to machine is disturbed on account of accumulation of work on the floor.

(d) Work in process is scattered resulting in inspection difficulties.

(e) Inspection of high accuracy requiring precision instruments cannot be performed on shop floor.

(f) Dust, vibration, noise and other floor conditions are not suitable for close inspection.

(v) Centralised or Crib Inspection:

Under this scheme there can be single inspection unit for the whole plant or each section can have an inspection unit to inspect the items produced by its unit. The items are shifted to the inspection units for necessary inspection. The inspection staff in such situation is likely to be more experienced and skilled in their work.

Also the department can use more sophisticated and reliable instruments and techniques to measure the quality of the items. Thus centralised inspection is likely to be more reliable and accurate. But in this case there are more chances of material handling and there may be some situations e.g. large size or heavy items where shifting of items may not be simple and lead to other complications.

The basic idea in centralised inspection is separation of inspection from manufacturing. Generally the inspection cribs are placed parallel with the flow of work through machines in the shop.

Advantages of Centralised Inspection are:

(a) There is accurate counting of good and bad items.

(b) No chance of collusion between production men and inspectors.

(c) Machine sites are free from work awaiting inspection giving operators more freedom for movement.

(d) Priorities of inspection may be planned according to loads on the production department.

(e) More sophisticated instruments for inspection can be used.

(a) Errors are not revealed quickly.

(b) Requires more materials handling.

(c) May result in bottlenecks due to delay in inspection of items.

(d) There may be larger work in process inventory.

(e) Defects of a job are not known before it is completed. Thus remedial steps cannot be timely taken on the spot.

Thus the choice of centralised or decentralised inspection strategy depends on the nature of the product, volume of the work, quality consciousness of the enterprise, and the production process. The main purpose of inspection is to locate the defect as soon as it occurs and to see that it is not repeated in future operations.

Moreover the quality control operations are to be performed and planned economically. In some cases a combination of centralised and decentralise inspection policy is also pursued.

Final Inspection :

The finished products are inspected and tested to verify the quality standards. The items found to be defective are not marketed. Thus only items of desired specification goes into the hands of consumer. Naturally there are more chances of scrap in this method of inspection as the rejected items cannot be corrected at this stage or it may be quite expensive to do so.

But this type of inspection provides valuable information and guidelines about the comparison of different process, assessment of various inspection procedures and the evaluation of defective work etc. Here producer risk is more and consumer risk is minimized.

Post-Sales Quality Evaluation :

There is always a possibility that any item approved in terms of its quality standards may not render satisfactory and reliable service to the customer. There can be regular complaints about this from the consumer or sometimes the consumer may insist to return or ask for replacement of the item during the guarantee period.

In such case the items rejected by the consumers should be thoroughly inspected to locate the reasons for defects and suggestions should be made for necessary improvements. This can be done by providing after sales service to the customer.

Nature and Extent of Inspection :

(i) When great accuracy of the product is desired.

(ii) When model changes are frequent.

(iii) There is a rise in quality standards.

(iv) When an item has many parameters and the standards are liable to change.

Inspection should be designed to suit the particular requirements of any manufacturing system. General rule is to inspect as long as the expected value from the inspection keeps increasing.

Expected value from inspection = cost of inspection + ∑ Expected value of gains + ∑ Expected value of loss avoided.

Cost of inspection includes labour time and administrative efforts introduced into the system. The gains include the returns for higher grades.

Essay # 3. Acceptance Sampling:

Any inspection procedure involving 100% inspection needs huge expenditure of time, money and labour. Expenditure on inspection is always considered as ‘dead weight cost’. Moreover due to boredom and fatigue involved in the repetitive inspection process there is always a possibility to overlook some defective item even by most competent and efficient inspectors.

Also the nature of items may be such that these may be completely destroyed during the process of inspection e.g. life of a candle. Evidently in such cases 100% inspection cannot be planned.

The alternative is statistical sampling inspection methods. Here from the whole lot some items are selected for inspection and a decision regarding the quality of the whole lot is taken on the basis of the sampled items. The items can be selected by various sampling methods.

Here the whole lot is accepted if the sample items conform to the specifications otherwise it is rejected. Thus the sample items are considered to be the representatives of the, whole lot. The method of rejecting or accepting a lot on the basis of a simple is known as Acceptance sampling or sampling inspection.

Acceptance sampling is the process of evaluating a portion of the product material in a lot for the purpose of accepting or rejecting the lot as either conforming or not conforming to quality specifications.

Advantages of Acceptance Sampling:

The advantages of sampling inspection can be listed as follows:

(i) Items of destructive nature during inspection can be inspected by sampling only.

(ii) Economy of time and money in comparison to 100% inspection.

(iii) Problem of inspection fatigue occurring in 100% inspection is eliminated.

(iv) Small inspection staff required.

(v) Due to quick inspection, scheduling and delivery times are improved.  

(vi) Can exert more effective pressure on quality improvement than the rejection of individual items.

Limitations of Acceptance Sampling:

(i) Since the conclusion is based on a sample there is always some likelihood/risk of making wrong inference about the quality of the lot.

This is termed as Producer’s risk or consumer’s risk.

(ii) The success of the scheme depends on, randomness of samples, quality characteristic to be tested, lot size, acceptance criteria etc.

Producer’s and Consumer’s Risk:

The acceptance or rejection of whole lot in acceptance sampling depends on the conclusions drawn from a sample. The accuracy of these conclusions depends upon the nature of the sample. There is always a chance that a sample may not be representative of the population from which it is drawn i.e. the lots or batches.

This leads to two kinds of risks:

(i) The sample inspection accepts a lot which otherwise would have, been rejected i.e. the whole lot in reality does not conform to specifications. In this case the consumer will accept a lot which may contain too high number of defective items. This is known as Consumer’s risk. It is the probability of defective lots being accepted which otherwise would have been rejected.

(ii) Sample inspection rejects a lot which otherwise should have been accepted i.e. the lot or batch in reality has a lower percentage of items than specified. Naturally this will be loss to the producer and is known as Producer’s risk. It is probability of rejecting a good lot which otherwise would have been accepted.

At first impression it appears that the producer and consumer should have been completely opposite viewpoints towards acceptance sampling. But it is observed that there is a continuing relationship between procedure long run the costs incident to the rejection of good products tend to be passed on by the producer to the consumer.

Terms used in Acceptance Sampling:

Following terms are generally used in acceptance sampling:

(i) Average Out-Going Quality (A.O.Q.):

When the initial quality of the goods inspected is high, when the outgoing quality will also be high and in the same way when the initial quality is poor then too the outgoing quality will be high as the sampling inspection will easily sort out the defective items from the lot. A.O.Q is the expected fraction defectives in the outgoing lots after sampling inspection It is defined as

(ii) Accepted Quality Level (A Q L):

It represents maximum proportion of defectives which the consumer finds acceptable. It is the maxim um percent defectives that for the purpose of sampling inspection can be considered satisfactory. It is the fraction defective that can be tolerated without any serious effect upon further processing or on customer relations. In fact this level has probability of acceptance and is rather procedure’s safe point.

(iii) Rejectable Quality Level (RQL) or Lot Tolerance Percent Defective (LTPD):

This prescribes the dividing line between good and bad lots. Lots at this level of Quality are considered to be poor and have low probability of acceptance. The probability of accepting a lot at RQL represents consumer’s risk.

(iv) OC- Curve:

Operation Characteristic curve for a sampling plan is a graph of fraction defective in a lot against the probability of Acceptance. In practice the performance of acceptance sampling for discriminating good and bad lots mainly depends on the size of the sample (n) and the number not defectives (c) that can be permitted in sample.

For any fraction defectives ‘p’ the OC curve shows that such a lot will be accepted by the sampling plan. For different sampling plans OC curve will differ.

Characteristics of OC Curve:

(a) Sampling acceptance plans with same percent samples give different quality protection.

(b) Fixed sample size tends towards constant quality protection.

(c) The OC curve of plans with acceptance number grater then zero are superior to those comparable plans with acceptance number as zero.

(d) The larger the sample size and acceptance number, steeper is the stope of the OC curve.

(e) A sampling scheme that discriminates perfectly between good and bad lots have a vertical OC curve.

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Quality Assurance (QA) vs Quality Control (QC)

Quality Assurance (QA) and Quality Contro(QC) are both important methods in software engineering to get high-quality software. Quality Assurance (QA) prevents software defects or minimizes the number of defects in software before delivery by making sure that proper methods and processes are followed during the software development process. Whereas Quality Control (QC) identifies and fixes the defects or errors that exist after development.

What is Quality Assurance (QA)?

Quality assurance is a method of making the software application with fewer defects and mistakes when it is finally released to the end users. Quality Assurance is defined as an activity that ensures the approaches, techniques, methods, and processes designed for the projects are implemented correctly. It recognizes defects in the process. Quality Assurance is completed before Quality Control. 

• It focuses on preventing defects.
• It is a proactive process and is preventive in nature.
• It helps to recognize flaws in the process.
• These activities monitor and verify that the processes used to manage and create deliverables have been followed. 

What is Quality Control?

Quality Control is a software engineering process that is used to ensure that the approaches, techniques, methods, and processes designed for the project are followed correctly. Quality control activities operate and verify that the application meet the defined quality standards. 

• It focuses on an examination of the quality of the end products and the final outcome rather than focusing on the processes used to create a product.
• It is a reactive process and is detection in nature.

Difference between Quality Assurance (QA) and Quality Control (QC)

Parameters	Quality Assurance (QA)	Quality Control (QC)
	QA focuses on providing assurance that the quality requested will be achieved.	QC focuses on fulfilling the quality requested.
	QA is the technique of managing quality.	QC is the technique to verify quality.
	QA is involved during the development phase.	QC is not included during the development phase.
	QA does not include the execution of the program.	QC always includes the execution of the program.
	QA is a managerial tool.	QC is a corrective tool.
	QA is process oriented.	QC is product oriented.
	The aim of quality assurance is to prevent defects.	The aim of quality control is to identify and improve the defects.
	Quality Assurance is performed before Quality Control.	Quality Control is performed after the Quality Assurance activity is done.
	QA is a preventive technique.	QC is a corrective technique.
	QA is a proactive measure.	QC is a reactive measure.
	QA is responsible for the entire .	QC is responsible for the .
	QA is a low-level activity that identifies an error and mistakes that QC cannot.	QC is a high-level activity that identifies an error that QA cannot.
	Pays main focus is on the intermediate process.	Its primary focus is on final products.
	All team members of the project are involved.	Generally, the testing team of the project is involved.
	QA aims to prevent defects in the system.	QC aims to identify defects or bugs in the system.
	QA is a less time-consuming activity.	QC is a more time-consuming activity.
	statistical technique is applied to Quality Assurance.	Statistical Quality Control (SQC) statistical technique is applied to Quality Control.
		Validation

Frequently Asked Questions on Quality Assurance( QA) vs Quality Control (QC)

1. does qa or qc comes first.

Quality Assurance (QA) comes first because Quality Assurance (QA) prevent software defects during development time while Quality Control (QC) identifies and fixes the defects or errors that exist after development.

2. Is QC part of QA?

While there are characteristics that distinguish quality assurance from quality control, the two techniques rely on one another to be effective.

3. Can QC be achieved without QA?

Quality Control (QC) is a reactive action that occurs only after Quality Assurance (QA).

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Executive Summary

Introduction to the topic, analysis and interpretation, recommendations, conclusions, works cited.

Quality management involves planning, QA/QC and quality improvement. It emphasizes on product or service quality and the manner in which to attain it. It applies QA and QC processes to give consistent quality. Quality management integrates the principles of management, which are embraced by top managerial teams to guide the organization for enhanced performance. Any organization is client-oriented and keeps on researching about their apparent needs, future needs and even goes beyond their prospects.

Customer focus is achieved if there is a way to meet their quality to ensure their satisfaction. The internal environment has to be controlled by every employee to attain the overall goal of the company. Their potential is crucial for the performance of the company and this is only attained when the tasks are managed as a process. Tasks in the organization becomes of high quality by running the process as a single system through analyzing data and information.

In the competitive global marketplace, organizations have to offer products and services of high quality, and yet maintain a competitive edge in the business. Strategic and systematic processes in manufacturing give confidence to suit the product with the intended need, for better business performance (Webber & Wallace 22). QA and QC procedures are therefore, essential to ensure that the products comply with given regulations.

The QA and QC have undergone several redefinitions by quality experts. The definition also depends with the industry. According to the American National Standard (ANSI/ASQC A8402-1994) QC is “all the planned and systematic activities implemented within the quality system, and demonstrated as needed, to provide adequate confidence that an entity will fulfill requirements for quality” (TQAS pr. 2).

According to American Society for quality (ASQ), Quality assurance is “the planned and systematic activities implemented in a quality system so that quality requirements for a product or service will be fulfilled” (TQAS pr. 2).

This definition infers that QA are procedures and tasks undertaken prior to production or delivery of a product, to guarantee quality to clients, which comprise of a proactive approach. QC is embraced as a universal managerial process to undertake tasks and ensure steadiness (TQAS pr. 3).

This paper shall give a distinction between QA and QC, how they are applied in the organizations and propose the recommendations of how to incorporate them in business.

Overview of QA/QC

Remarkable differences exist between QA and QC. QA is a set of precautionary undertakings that adhere to processes while QC is a detection activity that identifies the defectiveness of a product, following its manufacturing (Webber & Wallace 11).

QA describes the standard to be adhered to, in order to keep up to clients’ needs while QC guarantees the set standards that are followed to the latter through carrying out several checks & tests. QC formulates systematic reports, for input to QA department that reviews them and comes up with remedial and preventive measures needed for the processes (TQAS pr. 4).

Irrespective of the definition differences for QA and QC, the concepts have frequently been applied interchangeably. However, their importance cannot be underestimated, since QA department establishes the planning methods and procedures, which are aimed at ensuring that the manufactured products or service delivery by an industry have high quality.

However, certain process parameters are beyond control, thus calling for the services of QC. These evaluate the products or even services to determine flaws, which occur as a result of the parameters and eventually assist QC to achieve the overall goal of provision of flaw-free product /service to the clients (Besterfield 78).

QA and QC are interdependent. The QA department is reliant on the feedback given by QC. For instance, when there is a persistent problem with product quality, QC department gives feedback to QA personnel, which in turn evaluate the core cause and define alterations of the process to solve future quality problems. Likewise, the QC department adheres to the strategies as well as standard set by QA department, to determine if deliverables are in accordance to quality standards.

Therefore, the two departments are equally important for sustenance of quality. Even though QA and QC are not similar, they have are highly interdependent. Evaluating their differences is rather difficult since a slim line separates the two concepts. In addition, some businesses take a single department to serve the role of both QA and QC, which further enhance the confusion between them.

Specific Differences between QA and QC

Quality control (qc).

Quality Control (QC) is a system of routine technical actions to quantify performance process and regulate inventory quality in accordance to a given standard. Activities of QC help to assess an established work product and emphasize on determining defects of a product to improve it.

Therefore, it emphasizes on detecting and includes testing, which certifies that all quality standards are met. It is an inspection function and comprises of activities like calibration as well as analyzing check samples, in determining bias or precision related to sample outcomes.

It includes a procedure of routine testing of samples to determine whether they are reliable, accurate as well as precise in a test system. QC gives routine as well as regular checks to enable data integrity, comprehensiveness and accuracy. In addition, it helps to recognize and handle errors and omissions. QC assists to document as well as store inventories and records for the undertaken tasks (Mangino 8.4). It entails accuracy checks to implement standards for given measurements, calculations among others.

Quality assurance (QA)

QA is a process, which enables to enhance laboratory’s consistency, competence and quality. It is defined by USEPA as “the overall system of technical activities that measures the attributes and performance of a process, item or service against defined standards to verify that they meet the stated requirements established by the customer” (MASSDEP pr.2). It focuses on technical activities. For instance, in analytical laboratories, QC entails a comparison of empirical evidence required by QA, to preset acceptance procedure.

It includes activities to warrant adequacy in process development and upkeep, for attainment of the appropriate goals. Therefore, it involves evaluation of a process to identify defects and enhance it. It focuses on preventing and includes training, audits, facilitation and reviews, which shows that a given entity is in accordance to quality standards. It is an audit function. It is identified by USEPA as

an integrated system of management activities involving planning, training, quality control, assessment, data review, reporting, and quality improvement to ensure that a process, item or service is of the type and quality needed and expected by the user. QA is a management function that deals with setting policy and running an administrative system of controls to ensure the usability of the product (e.g., data) (MASSDEP pr.5).

The definition is flexible and important to entities with different QA requirements. It could also be a written procedure that document information ranging from plan to processing and ultimate acceptance. Another party unfamiliar with the process can use it since procedures are outlined to predetermine quality.

It incorporates three procedures which include pre analytical, analytical & post analytical to determine efficacy of a laboratory guidelines and procedures (Webber & Wallace 14). Besides, it is essential in identifying problems in order to solve them and enhance accuracy in performance as well as tests reports. QA entails a procedural review plan, which is handled by individuals who have no direct link to compiling or developing inventory.

Third parties are often involved and evaluate the product inventory as a result of following QC procedures. The reviews evaluate the extent to which data quality was met. It also facilitates precise representation of inventories with regard to scientific skills and data in place. QA also helps in the efficiency of QC programme (Mangino 8.4).

QA/QC practice facilitates confidence in the data produced and applied by the department to enhance credibility for concerned parties as well as staff competence (Webber & Wallace 33). Both QA and QC are essential processes to ensure accuracy and consistency of laboratory testing.

The concepts have a close relationship although they vary to an extent. QA is a process approach for effective development, to ensure good quality. On the other hand, QC is a product approach, to determine if certain aspects are in accordance with quality standards where the right steps are undertaken following the outcome.

Before executing both QA and QC tasks, it is essential to identify the techniques to be applied. The choice of this should not only be practical but also technical. Practical considerations put into focus the national situation, which includes resource availability as well as expertise and specific traits of the inventory. QA/QC tasks have to be in line with methods applied to approximate figures for certain groups. The resources have to be streamlined on precedence areas.

However, QC reviews every factor of production and focus on controls work, processes management, potential and integrity standards as well as records specifications. Moreover, competence is a key component of the process and entails acquaintance, expertise, experience and credentials.

QC pays attention to soft elements, which involve integrity, self-assurance, organization culture, enthusiasm and teamwork as well as quality dealings. The overall performance of the organization is compromised when these aspects are ignored. QC focuses on product testing to reveal defects. It also reports the flaws to the managerial team, who decide whether to permit or refute their release.

QA on the other hand, tries to progress a steady production and the connected processes, to limit problems which would compromise the quality. QC has the leading role in the renewal of government contracts with certain agencies. For project management, QC prompts the project manager and his team to scrutinize the attained work to facilitate its compliance with project standards. Projects ideally possess dedicated QC team that emphasize on the area (Besterfield 54).

QC encompasses various actions undertaken by a business to ensure quality in line with certain specifications. QC tests a process, product or service with regard to theses specifications and failure to comply with the production could be temporarily or even permanently ceased depending on the extent of the issue. People can also be covered by QC.

Employees are part of running the business and if they lack the necessary skills, cannot understand policies or have misinformation, quality could be compromised. Therefore, QC in relation to the employees emphasize on issues that can be corrected. QC is product oriented while QA is processes oriented and such a clear distinction is often confused by many people (Besterfield 35). Conversely, QA improves confidence since the process can be identified for flaws. QA is characterized by great paperwork, which consumes time.

It is often related to analytical laboratories. QA/QC is crucial in controlling permit submissions, creating fiscal documents and information implementation. For instance, agencies which control documentations on permits application require QA management plan to facilitate their reliable processing. A record manual recognize the documents needed for submission, the guidelines and filing needed to give consistency for people in the program specifications (Owen & Maidment 8).

Quality Management

This guarantees total quality in the business to award maximum customer satisfaction. It requires knowhow, dedication and efforts to pursue quality. The approach is essential to design, develop, manufacture, install or service as quality outcomes that would fulfill the client. The process of managing the stated tasks in various business departments is regarded as QC management. Many businesses have dedicated managerial teams as well as QA staff to manage the whole process.

Various reputed companies contain a good basis of management techniques that go a long way in facilitating business performance. The procedures have taken time to evolve to come up with planning measures in a specific time period, following a number of review processes. Applying the procedures aids the business to undertake a constant growing phase towards its ultimate success. Emerging businesses have as well assimilated the policies to sustain them in the competitive marketplace.

An effective QA management process requires planning quality policies by the quality department. It should identify these policies to sustain QC through documenting them and being distributed in the entire organization for employees to be aware of the range of performance. They should adhere to the stated policies for better performance and maintain ultimate quality within the business (TQAS pr. 3).

Nevertheless, this could be impeded when some employees fails to appreciate the policies and ignore to implement them in their duties. QA management personnel have to warrant uniform understanding for employees prior to the quality process. As a result, the business could see a need in upgrading apparent infrastructure when they have no potential to implement the policies.

Besides, there could be a need to train some of the employees to allow them to keep up to the stipulated quality standards. Following this, the business should engage in checks and audits of the quality policies to enable their implementation. The presentation of the quality policies has to be considered up to when the expected outcomes are reached.

The QA management personnel identify the policies, which fail to perform to either modify or correct them. Hence, periodic audits have to be performed to track the checks outcomes. The managerial teams should stipulate goals for the organization to pursue them. These goals have to be realistic in order to be attained. They should be flexible and modified as time goes by in order to strive towards perfection in quality (TQAS pr. 4).

QA/QC International Bodies

The international organization for standardization (iso).

The International Organization for standardization (ISO) set the Quality Management System (QMS) standards since nineteen eighty seven to a series dubbed ISO 9000:1987. They are applied in various organizations with regard to processes and tasks like design, manufacturing and service provision.

These standards are reviewed annually by ISO to draft other standards series such as the one drafted in nineteen ninety four, dubbed ISO 9000:1994 (Owen & Maidment 5). Another review of the standard was carried out in two thousand and eight and was dubbed the ISO 9000:2000 series, while the latest one is the ISO 9000:2009, which contain guidelines to enhance performance through quality management.

QMS stipulated by ISO has covered various industries as food and automotive to facilitate quality management. ISO series program offer standards to enable data documentation as well as audits for QMS. They ensure quality inventories and related agencies could find them timely to develop QA/QC plan (Mangino 8.7).

ISO 9004-1 contain guidelines on implementing a quality system while ISO 9004-4 directs on how to implement steady quality enhancement in an organization by applying techniques reliant on data gathering and analysis. ISO 100005 guides on preparation quality plans to control certain projects while ISO 10011-1 gives guidelines on how to audit a quality system.

Moreover, ISO 10011-2 guides on the requirement procedures for quality system auditors and ISO 10011-3 contain a guide on how to manage quality system audit programmes. ISO 10012 has a guide on calibrating systems as well as statistical controls to facilitate accurate measurements while ISO 10013 has guideline to develop quality manuals to encounter certain requirements (Mangino 8.7).

SGS Industrial services for instance pursue the needs of clients by awarding QA/QC inspection within the SGS Supply Chain Services. Its QA/QC focuses on quality for clients in relation to particular standards specifications. QC emphasize on real measurements, testing or supervision of producer Product by sample tests or inspection of each unit.

SGS QA/QC confirms materials, portions as well as finished product by conducting checks, audits, spectating and inspection. Material inspection follows QA procedures with regard to certain materials, operations and dealer’s QC system. The QA/QC is conducted entirely independent of the manufacturer and consumer (Webber & Wallace 47).

ANSI and JCAHO

A private nonprofit agency called The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) rules and supervises voluntary standardization and conformity evaluation system for every industry in the US. Currently, ANSI initiated the U.S ISO representative and stipulates international standards (Webber & Wallace 25).

Another international QA/QC body is the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), which assess as well participate in the accreditation of hospitals as well as other healthcare bodies in the U.S. It is an independent nonprofit company, which emphasize on quality improvement and health safety, which is acquired from the healthcare facilities (Webber & Wallace 25).

Quality Control: Peer Review

Expert peer review entails calculations and assumptions review, a procedure attained by reviewing documents related to the techniques and results. It does not involve data certification which normal audits entails. The peer review enables that inventory outcomes, assumptions as well as methods are rational in accordance to the judgment of experts in the field.

Peer review process could entail technical intellectuals and incase a nation possess official stakeholder and public review machinery, it could complement rather than substitute expert peer review. Expert peer review lacks given standard tools and therefore, should be put into consideration in each case. Increased uncertainty linked to figure estimate, experts reviewing could give information to develop the estimate or have an improved measure of the uncertainty.

Expert peer review could track the entire source category to award their industrial expertise even when they are not directly being linked to the project. An efficient peer review entails recognizing as well as communicating to main industrial trade organizations linked with particular source category. Essentially, the expert input has to be pursued timely during inventory advance process for them to contribute from the beginning.

Therefore, relevant experts have to be involved to develop and review approaches as well as data acquisition. Their recommendations are essential in determining the extensive acceptance of the eventual inventory. The expert’s reviews have to be properly documented in a report format, which portrays the results and recommendations for further upgrading (Mangino 8.16).

Quality Assurance: Audits

Audits are important to determine the effectiveness of the inventory agencies in accordance to QC standards stated in the QC plan. The auditor has to be liberated of the inventory agency in order to give an impartial evaluation of the processes and data assessed. Audits are carried out when the inventory is being prepared, on prior inventory or after its preparation.

They help when new methods are embraced or when the existing ones have been altered considerably. Inventory agency has to come up with a plan of audits at a particular time during the inventory progress. Audits linked to first data, quantities, transcription, calculation and records has to be carried out. It helps to certify implementation of QC steps and that certain procedures have been adhered to in accordance to the QC plan (Mangino 8.16).

QC and QA is a necessity for organizations that produce medical apparatus, pharmaceuticals, food industry such as the coca cola company, cosmetic industries among others. QC software is essential since it enhance compliance and steadiness of organization’s processes. QA and QC are put as software for approval of documents.

Introducing actual QC process in a business requires several procedures. It is necessary to market approval of the program from crucial stakeholders. Besides communication influence could be essential for a sponsor to articulate necessity for change and one with political control to attain compliance if necessary. Moreover, communicating the motive for change and the benefit it would fetch to the entire organization would be important.

Training employees for organization change would help them to embark on accurate and consistent tasks. QC should be hosted bit by bit, which could be achieved by establishing a pilot project that enables small changes to a portion of the process for determining the impact. When the outcomes are fascinating, they could be implemented for entire organization change. If otherwise the damage impacted is minimal and can be ignored (Webber & Wallace 11).

Therefore it is necessary to plan on improving processes in the business by evaluating the issues which undermine the quality of the products. Consequently, improvements should be made through enforcing minute changes to lessen disturbance of the process.

The production should then be checked for the outcome, to determine if a change was done and therefore, act on in the whole process. Inspecting production as part of QC ensures its conformity to customers’ needs in accordance to their specifications through comparison of the two. The process could however, be expensive particularly for high volume and less valuable products such as shirt buttons (Webber & Wallace 12).

Managing quality in a given project requires an understanding of given expectations of the clients. This is followed by having a proactive plan to rhyme with the expectations. This proactive plan is characterized by undertaking elements regarded as Quality control and quality assurance.

These concepts are very essential but they are vaguely understood by managers. QC focuses on the establishment of project deliverables. It is applied in the verifications of the deliverables to ensure that their quality is satisfactory, complete as well as correct. Peer reviews and testing comprises the QC tasks (Webber & Wallace 9).

Quality assurance focuses on procedures to form variables, which managers, clients or a third party could undertake. Project audits as well as checklists are some of the deliverables that QA entails. Auditing a project helps to evaluate the acceptance of its content (QC). The auditor is able to determine the acceptability with regard to the applied process on its creation (QA).

This is the reason as to why project auditors conduct QA review, even with no information on the particulars being delivered; I.e. they have no awareness of the project but are able to evaluate on its goodness. QC therefore, pays attention to the deliverable while QA on the process to form it. The two techniques are equally important and have to be carried out to make sure the deliverables are in line with clients’ needs (Besterfield 23).

Besterfield, Dale. Quality Control . Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson/Prentice Hall, 2009. Print.

Mangino, Joe. “Quality Assurance and Quality Control.” Good Practice Guidance, nd . Web. < https://www.ipcc-nggip.iges.or.jp/public/gp/english/8_QA-QC.pdf >

Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MASSDEP). Quality Assurance/Quality Control Project . Boston, Massachusetts: Department of Environmental Protection, 2011. Web.

Owen, Fred, and Maidment Derek. Quality Assurance: A Guide to the Application of ISO 9001 to Process Plant Projects . Rugby, UK: Institution of Chemical Engineers, 1996. Print.

Total Quality Assurance Service (TQAS). Quality Control and Quality Assurance . 2011. Web.

Webber, Larry, and Wallace Michael. Quality Control for Dummies . Hoboken, NJ: Wiley Publishing Inc., 2006. Print.

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IvyPanda. (2018, October 10). Difference Between Quality Control and Quality Assurance. https://ivypanda.com/essays/difference-between-quality-control-and-quality-assurance/

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IvyPanda . 2018. "Difference Between Quality Control and Quality Assurance." October 10, 2018. https://ivypanda.com/essays/difference-between-quality-control-and-quality-assurance/.

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IvyPanda . "Difference Between Quality Control and Quality Assurance." October 10, 2018. https://ivypanda.com/essays/difference-between-quality-control-and-quality-assurance/.