The first stage of production requires the brief and a detailed specification from the client. Quality assurance systems initially ensure that the client is checking the product regularly so that it matches their requirements exactly. It is common practice to produce a prototype which can be presented to client and consumer is that improvements can be made before full-scale production begins. Quality assurance is a system that builds in quality at all stages of the manufacturing process. The application of standards and quality assurance is sometimes referred to as total quality management.
Total quality management (TQM) is a concept that improves the attitude of the whole of the production team and consequently improves the final product. The responsibility for TQM is led by management teams who lead through example, they involve everyone to meet and discuss any issues that will affect the quality of the product. This has recently been introduced by firms to boost production and the quality of the end result.
Quality control is the process within the production line whereby the product is inspected and tested against the specification to ensure it meets all the quality standards set out by the company. Often, however, there are certain tolerances which allow the product to be of acceptable quality but not quite perfect. I was able to see this at a local textile company; the material was treated and heated before it was died, in the heating process the cotton was likely to shrink. The acceptable degree of shrinkage or tolerance was ±3mm. If the material have shrunk more than this then it would not be suitable to use in full production.
The quality control is carried out at critical control points. Critical control points are significant points on the production line where, the product’s quality is checked and the quality control process is carried out. These are usually crucial points where the product begins another stage of production.
Wastage is also a major concern for manufacturers. An efficient production line would leave little or no wastage. This is also applied to the efficiency of machinery, as some machines in mass production, are left to function 24 hours a day. This particularly applies to forming and moulding machines which require heating-up before they can be used.
Often products are given certificates to indicated high levels of quality of safety. A common example of this is the ISO 9001 which certifies good quality management systems in the production company. Another common seal of quality is the British Standard (BS) Kite Mark. This shows that the product has been independently tested and meets a particular BS standard. Safety of products also significantly affects the quality, symbols like a CE Mark shows that the manufacturer thinks that they have met safety standards set by the European Commission.
Many companies in the early terms of production make mistakes that can cause the product to fall below quality standards and therefore, unsuitable for sale on the ‘High street’. Usually these goods are sold as down graded products, often in a factory shop.
There is becoming increasingly more range of products for the consumer to choose from. This makes it important for designers and manufacturers to improve quality and perform better than competitors. In the past decades more emphasis has been placed on improving service by introducing management systems like TQM and product are more frequently tested for quality. Improvements in quality and better value to the consumer will always be key issues for designer and manufacturer.
