Managing Quality (2.4.4) Flashcards
What is quality?
Good quality means meeting the needs and expectations of customers. Needs and expectations will depend on how much you have paid. Budget products can be good quality compared to their price.
What is Quality Control?
-Quality checked at the end of the production so only when products finished
-Time is saved in production process as only at end and so products go out quickly to customers
What are the Advantages of Quality Control?
-Reduces faulty products reaching customers
-Only some staff needed to be trained to check quality
What are the Disadvantages of Quality Control?
-Faults only found at the end of production
-Higher wastage costs
-Remaking faulty products is time consuming and costly
What is Quality Assurance?
-Quality checked at each stage of production
-All staff responsible for quality
-More time consuming process but sets higher standard so less faulty goods are produced
What are the Advantages of Quality Assurance?
-Zero faulty products reaching customers
-Better customer reputation for high quality
What are the Disadvantages of Quality Assurance?
-All staff need to be trained to check quality
-Slows down productivity due to regular checks
How does the size of a business affect the way in which they manage the stock?
The size of the business will affect the system for managing Quality required. Its more significant
What is Total Quality Management (TQM)?
-Organization of the business with quality at its core and with every worker responsible for quality
What are the advantages and disadvantages of TQM?
Advantages:
-Quality in all aspects of the business improves efficiency
-A culture of constant improvements exists within the business
Disadvanatages:
-All workers must be committed and receive significant continued training
-Careful monitoring and control is required
What is Kaizen?
Kaizen is a Japanese term meaning change for the better or continuous improvement. It is a Japanese business philosophy that concerns the processes that continuously improve operations and involve all employees. Kaizen sees improvement in productivity as a gradual and methodical process.
How can Quality management give a business a competitive advantage?
-Unit costs are likely to be low if a business take a preventative approach through the use of quality assurance or TQM which could allow the business to reduce its selling price to better compete with or undercut its rivals
-Successfully developing a USP for quality can ease expansion into new markets as a result of the positive reputation it creates
