Chapter 1 Flashcards
What is Quality?
American Society for Quality Control (ASQC) defines quality as -
“A systematic approach to the search for excellence. According to International Standard Organization (ISO), “Quality is the fulfillment of the specified requirements for a product or service”.
What is the need/importance of Quality?
- Good Quality of goods and services can provide organizations with competitive edge.
- Good Quality reduces the cost due to product returns, rework and scrap.
- Good Quality increases the productivity, profits, and other measures of success such as brand image, product image and company good will.
- Most Important, good quality generates satisfied customers today and tomorrow.
- Good quality creates an atmosphere for high employee morale, which improves productivity.
What is Quality Control?
“The systems required for programming and coordinating the efforts of the various groups in an organization to maintain the requisite quality”. As such Quality Control is seen as the agent of Quality Assurance or Total Quality Control.
Name the dimensions of Quality?
. Performance
. Features
. Reliability
. Conformance
. Durability
. Serviceability
. Aesthetics
. Perceived Quality
Describe the dimensions of Quality
PERFORMANCE
This dimension focuses on the primary operating characteristics of products. Such characteristics may relate to size, model, color, design, structure, and operating outcomes.
FEATURES
It involves specific or extra characteristics of the product as compared to others. Such features may relate to quality, price, operating cost, or extra service, etc.
RELIABILITY
This dimension involves the consistent performance of products within a specified period. There is a minimum probability of defects or breakdown of products within a specified period. The rate of repair and maintenance of such products is rare.
CONFORMANCE
Conformance involves the degree to which the design and characteristics of products and services meet the specific standards of the customers. Based on the level of income and desire, different customers may have different degrees of standards.
DURABILITY
The length of the useful life of products or services is another of important dimension of measuring quality. Some products provide service for a long period of time whereas some products become useless within a short period of time.
SERVICEABILITY
Courtesy, competence, and easy availability of repair and maintenance services are other important dimensions. In the service sector, courtesy and competent services to customers facilitate earning of reputation and prestige in society.
Similarly, in the manufacturing sector, the easy availability of repair and maintenance services helps to draw the attention of customers.
AESTHETICS
Aesthetics is a subjective dimension of quality. It involves the looks, taste, feel, sound, and smell of products or services. It is a matter of personal judgment and a reflection of individual preference.
PERCEIVED QUALITY
It is concerned with how the customers perceive the product or service. Quality is conveyed through market standing, brand name, and reputation of the product.
Long-term standing in the market and service to the customers supports earning brand reputation and prestige in the market
What are Quality Circles?
A quality circle is a group of employees who perform a similar task at work and regularly meet in the workplace to detect and analyze workplace problems and devise solutions to these. There are usually between five and 15 members and management appoints high performing employees with excellent skills to take part in quality circles.
What are the benefits of Quality Circles?
- increases organisation’s productivity and competitiveness
- improves customer satisfaction
- raises awareness of quality control among employees
- improves the status of the company brand and gains consumers’ confidence
- creates a culture of learning and creativity
- motivates employees and values their contributions
- promotes teamwork and communication
- gives employees valuable insights into work-related problem solving
- gets the best from employees and creates a purposeful working environment
- improves staff attendance
Describe Quality Circle techniques
- Brainstorming: This gives all members an opportunity to raise issues and offer ideas. A member of the group writes down all the ideas for evaluation.
- Mind mapping: This is a helpful system for recording information and collating facts and ideas. It facilitates the early stages of problem-solving.
- Pareto analysis: An effective method for prioritising tasks and identifying methods that might deliver the highest impact on the problems.
- Cause and effect analysis: Recording the cause and effect of the problems and solutions on a fishbone diagram is a simple, reader-friendly way of summarising problems and solutions.
- Data gathering: This is essential for verifying cause and effect. An analysis of the data follows this step.
- Charts, graphs and drawings: These are effective ways of recording and representing data relating to problems and solutions.
- Management: They approve the implementation of the project and carry out regular monitoring and controls.
Describe the structure / elements of a Quality Circle
Quality Circles typically consist of the following elements:
- Team Members: Comprising 6-12 employees from various levels and departments of the organization.
- Team Leader: Facilitates meetings, ensures discussions stay on track, and acts as a liaison with management.
- Meetings: Regularly scheduled meetings where team members discuss and address quality issues.
- Problem-Solving Tools: Quality Circles use various problem-solving tools and techniques, such as the PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) cycle and fishbone diagrams.
What is an Inspection Loop?
The inspections are done to control the quality is means by examining the products without any instrument. To examine the fabric, sewing, button, thread, zipper, garments measurement and so on according to specification or desired standard is called inspection.
Detail the steps/processes followed in an Inspection Loop.
Mainly inspections are done in three steps in garments industries. The steps are:
1. Raw material inspection
2. In process inspection
3. Final inspection.
a. Inspection
b. Identify the defects
c. Knock the appropriate person
d. Identify the reasons for defects/faults
e. Remove the defects
