Quality control methods:

1) Inspection:

Involves comparing products to the standards, approving those that meet them and rejecting those that do not. Inspection serves as a check on the quality of incoming materials and finished goods.

2) Statistical quality control:

The assumption behind this is that most quality problems perhaps as many as 85% are as a result of flaws in manufacturing system and not errors by production workers. The goal of this is to determine whether something has gone wrong with the manufacturing system. It relies on the law of probability to do this by checking a sample of the output and applying the right statistics it is possible to tell variation or whether the system is out of control.

3) Quality Circles:
This is a quality control technique which originated in Japan. It involves the use of committee of workers that analyses and solves quality problems of various departments in the organisation. The quality groups are established in every department and trained on problem solving by use of statistical quality control and other group process. They are encouraged to make important inputs to key decisions affecting their activities. They regularly meet to review the quality of goods or services offered. The quality circle is not a permanent committee. It may comprise of between 5 –1 2 members and membership is rotated between members of the department/production units.

4) Monitoring the quality of supplies:

Quality problems in production are often the result of poor quality inputs. Organisations should have strong programs for ensuring that they have the right quality of incoming materials and supplies.

Supplies can be monitored through:
Involving the suppliers in writing specifications for production materials and components ensuring that suppliers understand the specifications before supply orders are place.

5) Total quality Management (TQM):

TQM is an intensive long-term approach directed at the creation and maintenance of high standards of product quality and services expected by customers. International Standard Organisation (ISO) defines TQM as a “management approach centred on quality based on the participation of all its members and aiming at a long-term success through customer satisfaction and benefits to the members of the organisation to the society.”

TQM therefore involves active participation of all members of the organisation at all levels to meet and exceed customer’s expectations.

Characteristics of TQM:

• Quality i.e. everybody’s responsibility
• It requires the commitment and active participation of all the individuals in the organisation
• Improvement in quality is a continuous process
• TQM should aim at customer satisfaction
• Quality is neither a technical function nor a departmental activity but a systematic approach cutting across an organisation. The emphasis in improved quality must take place throughout all phases of the business and not just in the operations process.
• All departments, sections and units must be involved in quality improvement effort.
• Quality achievement must be externally/customer driven and not internally/organisation driven.