Only some managers and executives are aware that quality control management in business is a key to success regardless of the industry. Read on to learn why quality control management is important and what benefits can be reaped from implementing a quality control system in a company.
Quality Control Management
Quality control management is used synonymously with quality assurance and improvement programs. Quality control management is based on the fundamental concepts and benefits of process standardization, information centralization and workflow streamlining. The goal of quality control management systems is to minimize errors, waste and miscommunication, as well as maximize quality, profits and efficiency.
Quality Control Management in Business
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is the globally recognized authority on a variety of business standards, which include risk, energy, quality and environmental management. The majority of quality control programs are either directly certified through or indirectly borrowed from the ISO 9000 Quality Management standard. The ISO 9000 sets the official criteria and guidelines for quality control programs that are used by over one million countries in over 170 countries. The ISO 9000 program is a comprehensive system that is designed to promote a self-regulated quality program.
The Basic Principles of Quality Control Management
The ISO 9000 and other quality control programs al share common ideals and standards. The one factor that contributes the most to the success of any quality control management program is leadership support. Quality programs that do not have financial and operational support from executives will eventually fail. Executives must establish expectations with management, who will guide supervisors in encouraging employee engagement and participation. As an example, quality control committees must be staffed by mostly experienced employees, who will be able increase buy-in from their coworkers.
Quality control programs must be both process- and results-driven. That is, there must be a non-stop focus on evaluating and standardizing work processes. This is documented through Standard Quality Procedures (SQPs), which are quality guidelines that instruct employees how to accurately and efficiently perform every job. Related to this, quality control programs must be goal orientated and not become bogged down with complicated or bureaucratic processes. Lastly, continual improvement is a central theme that requires every aspect of the program to be persistently critiqued and adjusted.
What is a Common Quality Control Management Tool?
The success of quality control management in business depends on daily documentation. To illustrate, manufacturing companies rely on daily measurement sheets to calibrate and evaluate production values. They accomplish this through following standard procedures to measure products on the hour. In a lumber manufacturing facility, the quality supervisor would randomly pull of a few products to measure the exact size in order to ensure product quality and consistency. In a machine driven factor, the supervisor would regularly calibrate equipment specifications to ensure exact machine processes.
What are the Benefits?
A quality control management program will strengthen production values and the company’s competitive position. It will help them to adapt to changing market conditions, increase productivity and enhance their business reputation. It will reduce defects, costs and waste. It will increase profitability, customer satisfaction and employee morale.
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Quality control management in business is one of the deciding factors between mediocrity and superior products or services.