The Connections Between Quality Control and Efficiency

By: Andrew Grasdal

There are many different ways that investments in quality control also affect the efficiency of a business. From increasing the number of satisfied customers to eliminating unnecessary spending on re-working materials, how quality control practices are implemented directly impacts workplace efficiency.

 

Productivity requires quality

If quality control standards are implemented and followed, then productivity will naturally rise. If low-quality or damaged parts are accepted from external sources, then they might break or malfunction, causing productivity problems as materials have to be reordered and projects have to be put on hold. This means less productivity, delays in finishing projects, and an overall lack of product quality.

Eliminating re-working of materials

Efficiency from start to finish is what customers look for – can you meet their deadlines? Are you able to provide top-of-the-line products? If you don’t have guidelines to ensure that products meet a certain standard of quality, then you may produce inconsistent materials that need to be fixed or completely re-done. This reduces efficiency because the time to completion essentially doubles.

Ensuring regular inspections

At every turn, it is important to have inspection points to prevent any problems with materials. That way, problems are caught early if they arise, and can be dealt with soon rather than later, meaning less time is spent dealing with problems in the product. This is an excellent quality control measure – think about all the points at which you can have the product inspected. One inspection point we adhere to at Bit Service is inspecting incoming materials. Well-trained employees in receiving know to inspect each piece of material as it comes in and they have the experience to know which parts are not up to established standards. That way, the affected part(s) can be sent back or replaced immediately instead of further down the line, avoiding any potential delays.

Prepare a quality checklist

There are plenty of good reasons to create a quality checklist, and one of them is efficiency. Not only will the expectations of a product be laid out for those involved in its creation, but it is also an excellent way to properly communicate quality control to all employees, whether they are new or experienced. Outline the quality standards and product requirements that the product must meet and provide criteria for inspecting the product to ensure that it will meet the customer’s expectations. Once again, this stops any miscommunication that can happen in the quality control process by making sure the right steps are always front of mind, rather than skipping a step accidentally and having to redo the project in its entirety.

These steps make it possible to manage your production processes knowing that you have made a quality product and that it was created in a timely fashion. Having a happy customer, a consistent product, and a staff that can take pride in the effort make it well worth understanding the connections between quality control and efficiency.