Quality Improvement

Quality Improvement

Quality Improvement is not complex.

It is a way of thinking.

Yes, there are the various ISO standards (9000, 9001, 9002, etc.) These are valuable achievements to prove to your customers that your company follows well defined quality procedures.

However, when we say that "quality is a way of thinking" we mean that your managers, supervisors and employees must constantly perform their jobs with the continuing knowledge that what they do, and how they do it, are critical to the ongoing existence of the company and their employment.

It isn't hard. When raw materials are ordered from  suppliers the ruling criteria cannot be only price. It must be consistent, well-defined quality and timely delivery. Incoming materials must be inspected to assure they meet the quality standards. Suppliers must be notified immediately of unsatisfactory products.

Processing operations must be monitored continuously throughout the operations. This requires human or automated inspection.  If non-standard items are discovered, the process must be adjusted immediately to achieve proper standards.

If all stages of the manufacturing processes are monitored and controlled properly, the end products should be acceptable. Remember, you cannot inspect quality into a finished product, you can just scrap it, or undergo expensive rework.

If your employees are all trained, and rewarded, for producing quality products, they will do it. and your profitability will improve.