External quality standards

Question 1

British quality standards (BS)

Answer 1

British Standards (BS) are a set of standards and guidelines for the quality and safety of products, services, and systems in the United Kingdom. They help to ensure that products and services are safe, reliable, and of good quality.

Question 2

European quality standards (EN)

Answer 2

standards set by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) to ensure the safety and performance of products, promote the free movement of goods within the EU, and facilitate trade with other countries.

Question 3

International quality standards (ISO)

Answer 3

standards set to ensure that products and services are of consistent quality and meet specified requirements, to enhance customer satisfaction and confidence, and to promote international trade by facilitating the acceptance of goods and services across borders.

Question 4

evaluate the impact and importance of external quality standards to a business and its stakeholders

Answer 4

• Improve product and service quality (lead to increased customer satisfaction and loyalty)
• Enhance customer confidence
• Facilitate international trade
• Meet regulatory requirements (avoid costly penalties and legal issues)
• Improve organizational efficiency and competitiveness

Question 5

how and why is benchmarking used by a business

Answer 5

t is used to identify best practices and areas for improvement in a company’s products, services, processes, and operations. The reasons for using benchmarking include:

• To identify and adopt best practices
• To measure progress
• To set realistic goals and targets
• To increase competitiveness
• To identify opportunities for improvement

Question 6

evaluate the impact and importance of benchmarking to a business and its stakeholders

Answer 6

• improved performance
• increased competitiveness
• Better decision-making
• Increased customer satisfaction
• Improved internal processes
• Better stakeholder communication