Quality control & Total Quality Managment

By Yashika Vaishnav

Quality
Quality is a distinguishing feature or grade of the product in appearance, performance, life, reliability, taste, odor, maintainability etc. A product can be said to possess good quality if it has suitability, reliability, durability, safety, economical etc

Quality control
Quality control can be defined as the entire collection of activities which ensures that the operation will produce the optimum quality products at minimum cost. It can also be defined as the tools, devices or skills through which quality activities are carried out.

Objactives of QC

Establishment of quality standard : The main objective of quality control is the economical production of a high quality product at the quality. Locating quality deviations : It is necessary to analyze the trend and extent of quality deviations in a manufacturing process. Evaluating methods and processes of production Quick sale of quality goods Improvement in quality

Steps In Quality Control Process

Devising control over raw materials a resident inspector may be deputed by the Quality Control Department in the vendor's place to see that only goods in accordance with specifications are supplied

Fixing standards and specifications it is essential to predetermine standards and specifications. The practice should be to provide quality instructions in the form of drawings, showing shapes, dimensions and specifications describing color, strength, thickness, chemical composition, etc.

Exercising control over production operations The technical expert of the Quality Control Department must investigate, from time to time, the operating methods.

Locating inspection points : When the points at which defects occur are wrongly located or located with delay, it hinders quality control. Therefore there should first inspection of the raw materials at the vendor's places, then at the company's plant, then at the various points during the process of production and finally at the time of packing. The defects are likely to occur at these points. The finished goods can be cleared after obtaining 'O.K.' or 'All Correct' from the Quality Control Department.

Maintaining quality of equipments The Quality Control Department is responsible for testing the equipment used in inspection such as gauges, which measure dimensions, electronic devices, magnetic devices etc.

Maintaining records The Quality Control Department is responsible for maintaining all records relating to quality inspection and control and the number rejected

Advantage of QC
Advantage of QC to the company stability to sale,goodwill in the market, ability to face market competition effectively, reduction in production costs, and elimination of wastage due to rejections and uniformity in production.

Advantage of QC to the consumer

Advantage of QC to the consumer Availability of standard quality and reliable goods, proper reward for the price paid, safety to life and health, better standard of living and protection against substitution or adulteration.

Total Quality Management

John Gilbert, Total Quality Management is "A process designed to focus on customer expectations, preventing problems, building commitment to quality in the workforce and promoting open decisionmaking."

TQM

TQM is a gradual process :. It is self improvement and group improvement programme through team building for raising quality and productivity. TQM is about the gradual change of people's behavior towards the tasks they perform and their attitude towards other people. A mental revolution among the employees is required for the execution of TQM.. This suggests that TQM is a gradual process.

Phases of TQM

There are, in fact, four broad phases in the introduction of TQM.

Awareness Phase, Planning Phase, Implementation Phase, and Institutional Phase.

focus areas of TQM

Main focus areas of TQM Focus on customers : The focus of TQM is on customer satisfaction on quality, cost and delivery through improved orgarnisational quality of processes. According to British Quality Association (BQA), TQM is a corporate business management philosophy which recognised that customers' needs and business goals are inseparable.

Employee involvement : Employees involvement is the most important recognised feature of TQM. Their participation and cooperation are required to be taken at all levels. Under TQM, employees will be motivated to participate actively in the process of quality improvement through incentives and recognition of contribution for achieving quality standards

Management's involvement : Top level management has to take number of initiatives in order to start the process of TQM. In fact, TQM cannot have a good take off without total commitment of CEO and other senior executives.

Advantage of TQM

Customer satisfaction Quality improvement Raises competitiveness Facilitates expansion and diversification Provides trained and motivated employees Long-term consumer support Prestigious position in international marketing

Thank You