LECTURE 8

( C H A P T E R 8 & 9 O F R A M A G O PA L

Quality Control & Pre-

shipment Inspection
 INTRODUCTION
Quality assumes highest importance in using, is that the product would be
penetrating, capturing and sustaining qualitative.
in International market.
Such a psychological impact, Japan
The international market is highly has been able to establish with its
competitive and quality of product is incessant efforts on the quality front.
one of the important determinants in
export business. Before those efforts, in particular, prior
to the introduction of comprehensive
One of the important problems faced export inspection law in 1948, the
by many developing countries, products of Japan too were of poor
including India, in increasing exports quality. In short, quality control and
is the poor quality of product. pre-shipment inspection have an
important place in improving export
Quality improvement is one of the performance.
prerequisites in improving the share in
export market.
Once we hear that the product is made
in ‘Japan’, the immediate impression
we gather, even before testing and
DEFINITION AND MEANING OF QUALITY
CONTROL
Quality control is defined as with the raw materials, going
“a deliberate and planned through the various stages and
activity having for its object the ending up with the final
determination of quality of a product, paying due attention to
product with a view to packing, storage and transport”.
accepting it as such in case it
“Pre-shipment inspection is
satisfies the stipulated
requirements, or in case it does the process of inspection of a
not satisfy these requirements batch of goods, just prior to
to take necessary measures to shipment to determine whether
correct the quality it satisfies the conditions for
appropriately. Control of shipment, which may be
quality is best exercised during concerned either with the
the course of production of an quality, weight, packaging,
article, actually staring from contraband character, etc.”
CONTD….
To ‘ascertain’ the level and ‘ensure’ that the level meets the
expected requirements is the main theme of quality control.
The level of quality-high, medium or low- depends upon how
rich or poor the specifications are.
The quality of the product is determined with reference to the
requirements of the buyer.
It should be understood in the relative sense but not in
absolute sense of the term. It is immaterial whether the
quality of the product is high or low.
What is important, the quality should meet the requirements
of the buyer.
OBJECTIVES OF QUALITY CONTROL
The following are some of the by the foreign buyers of the product.
objectives of quality control*
6. Ensuring sound and safe
1. Promoting and ensuring the image performance, without causing any
of Indian goods exported to other health or safety hazards.
countries.
7. Observing conformity of rules and
2. Ensuring goods of assured quality regulations of the importing country.
only move into the export market.
8. Maintaining proper packing for the
3. Sustaining the foreign markets safety of product during transit.
where Indian goods are already
favoured an developing new markets 9. Eliminating the causes for
with qualitative edge. complaints from the foreign buyers
and making every effort to spread
4. Inspiring confidence in the minds quality consciousness in the country
of buyers, with the assurance to improve overall quality of
provided by reputed third party products.
guarantee.
10. Maximising production and
5. Adhering strictly to the effecting economies by
technological requirements accepted standardisation.
METHODS OF QUALITY
CONTROL AND PRE-
SHIPMENT INSPECTION

1. Consignment-wise inspection
2. In-process Quality Control
3. Self-Certification