productive quality (fit for purpose) - internal quality standards

Question 1

what is quality assurance?

Answer 1

ensures production quality meets the requirements of customers
the aim is to get the product ‘right first time’
more emphasis on self-checking rather than inspectors

Question 2

what are the benefits of quality assurance?

Answer 2

• costs are reduced - less wastage and reworking of faulty products as the product checked at every stage
• help improve worker motivation as workers have more ownership and recognition for their work
• with all staff responsible for quality, helps the firm gain marketing advantages arising from its consistent level of quality

Question 3

what are the disadvantages of quality assurance?

Answer 3

• demotivation of workers initially - takes time to get used to
• initial cost of finding mistakes

Question 4

what is quality control?

Answer 4

inspection is intended to prevent faulty products reaching the customer. This approach means having specially trained staff/inspectors
better placed to find widespread problems

Question 5

disadvantages of quality control?

Answer 5

• individuals are not necessarily encouraged to take responsibility for the quantity of their own work
• rejecting products is expensive for a business as it has incurred the full costs of production but cannot be sold (some rejected products can be reworked)
• a quality control approach can be highly effective at preventing defective products from reaching the customer, however if it defects level are too high, profit will fall

Question 6

impacts of poor quality?

Answer 6

• product fails
• unresponsive customer service. this results in:
• loss of customers
• poor reputation
• cost of replacement/refund
• wasted materials
• loss of sales and therefore profit

Question 7

impacts of high quality?

Answer 7

improved image and reputation, this results in:
- higher demand
- greater production volumes (economies of scale)
- lower unit costs because of less waste and rejected output
- fewer customer complaints (more satisfied customers)
- potentially a higher selling price (less need to discount)

Question 8

distinguish between quality control and quality assurance?

Answer 8

quality control is when the product is checked at the end by the inspector but quality assurance is when the product is checked by the employee making it while making it