Quality Control QC: Definition, Importance and Tools of Quality Control

The main objective of quality control is to ensure that the business is achieving the standards it sets for itself. Quality inspectors measure or test every product, samples from each batch, or random samples – as appropriate to the kind of product produced. This analysis helps the entrepreneurs to locate the points in the manufacturing process where the faults lie.

The pre-production inspection helps to assess the quantity and quality of the raw materials and the various components required to start the process. It is determined whether these raw materials meet the relevant product specifications. Having drawn quality control chart, the entrepreneur can easily and clearly locate the points of deviations and causes of it. This enables him to evolve corrective measures to control the quality of the product accordingly. For example, if variation in quality is caused by inferior quality raw material, the quality of raw material will be increased.

Quality control – inspection

The purpose of the testing is to determine any needs for corrective actions in the manufacturing process. Good quality control helps companies meet consumer demands https://www.globalcloudteam.com/ for better products. Quality control must be carried out in every process of a business operation to ensure that products meet the required specifications.

• Qualio’s eQMS is built specifically for startup and scale-up life sciences companies.
• This analysis helps the entrepreneurs to locate the points in the manufacturing process where the faults lie.
• Similarly, it’s impossible to say whether QA or QC is more valuable.
• They need at least to be adapted and many new ones will have to be made according to the specific needs, but all have to fulfil the basic requirement of usefulness and verifiability.
• QC ensures that products or services meet specific quality standards.
• When non-conformances are discovered, it’s important to launch an investigation to determine where the breakdown occurred in QA processes and create stronger standards.

The simplest form of quality control was a drawing of the desired result. If the drawing did not match the item in question, it was rejected. Manufacturers soon discovered that it was very expensive to make products exactly as pictured. Implementation of quality control has been very useful in raising exports from an economy. A product can be sold in foreign markets only when it is not only cheaper but up to a certain quality also. Standardization of these products convinces the foreign customers better than any sales campaign.

More from Merriam-Webster on quality control

It allows the entrepreneurs to identify the points at which deviations from the standard set start. It is the common method of quality control purposes that are used in production as well as in services. Put simply; quality assurance focuses on defect prevention – it monitors the process. Quality control, on the other hand, focuses on identifying defects – it monitors the product. Three examples of quality control in the food sector are monitoring ingredient standards, verifying supplier lists, and making sure the manufacturing facility is hygienic.

Testing during various production phases can help identify the cause of a production problem and the necessary corrective actions to prevent it from happening again. QA involves the design of processes, such as documenting standard operating procedures (SOPs) according to ISO 9000 standards. A safe, effective product should be the result every time processes are followed. QC involves the testing of products to ensure they meet standards for safety and efficacy. If QC testing uncovers quality issues, it should result in reactive steps to prevent an unsafe product from being shipped and distributed. Quality assurance and quality control are often used interchangeably, but they are two different processes taking place at different times.

Statistical Quality Control

Quality control uses specific research tools to accomplish fact-finding processes and conduct analyses. Based on this evidence-gathering, quality control will recommend changes. Overall, Quality Control is crucial for maintaining high standards, minimizing risks, and fostering a competitive advantage in today’s dynamic and demanding business environment. It serves as the foundation for delivering superior products and services while ensuring customer satisfaction and loyalty. In today’s world, it’s not uncommon that we take the reliability and quality of products and services for granted. At the start of the 20th century, however, quality control in manufacturing was not exactly a reliable process.

Testing at the various stages of manufacturing helps identify where a production problem is occurring and the remedial steps it requires to prevent it in the future. It’s a series of test procedures used to verify that a product is safe and effective after mass production. They’re designed to save time while managing your quality and project development. It helps to measure actual work completed with that of standard determined and to find out deviation, if any, in actual performance. If any deficiency is found in actual work management can the corrective measures on time to maintain standards of performance and quality.

Quality Management in Project Management

Before making something, its designer determines what quality checks are necessary and when to carry them out. This course focuses on two important management methodologies — Lean practices and Six Sigma — that will enable you to accelerate business improvement. As you gain job experience, you can advance to the position of senior specialist and start leading groups of quality control specialists. In electronics, quality testing might involve using meters that measure the flow of electricity and stress testing. Finally, the QC process must be ongoing to ensure that remedial efforts, if required, have produced satisfactory results and to immediately detect recurrences or new instances of trouble. The basic rule is that all relevant plans, activities, conditions and situations are recorded and that these records are safely filed and can be produced or retrieved when necessary.

Quality Control (QC) is a reactive process and is detection in nature. Quality Control, or QC, is product-oriented and focuses on defect identification. Quality Control (QC)  ensures that the methods, techniques, approaches, and processes designed in the product are followed correctly. Quality Assurance, or QA, is process-oriented Quality assurance vs. Quality control and focuses on defect prevention. QA ensures that the methods, techniques, processes, and approaches designed for the projects are implemented correctly. We’ll review quality assurance and quality control meanings, definitions, acronyms and processes and then compare quality assurance vs quality control.

1 What is Quality?

This is done by training personnel, creating benchmarks for product quality, and testing products to check for statistically significant variations. Since this manual is aimed at improving the performance of a laboratory, the
activities involved focus on the term “quality”. The quality of the product,
in the present case analytical results, should obviously be acceptable. To establish
whether the product fulfils the quality requirements these have to be defined
first. Only after that it can be decided if the product is satisfactory or if
and what corrective actions need to be taken.

However, if defect levels are very high, the company’s profitability will suffer unless steps are taken to tackle the root causes of the failures. Inspection may involve the visual examination of a product, the chemical or microbiological testing of a product, or even the analysis of a service. Inspectors can check for defects or variations in any number of ways, depending on the industry and the scope of the QC inspection. Quality control plays an essential role in the Life Sciences space.

Inspection during production

Companies must perform regular inspections and tests to ensure they are adhering to these standards. Quality assurance also involves corrective action when deviations or errors occur, so that the product is still safe and effective. Does your work environment pay a lot of attention to ensure quality?