Cambridge O Level Business Studies · Syllabus 7115 · Operations Management
Quality
What is Quality?
Meeting the requirements of customers and being fit for purpose, consistently. Quality is defined by what the customer needs from the product rather than by expense or luxury, so a low-priced product that reliably does what is claimed is a quality product.
This definition is part of the Operations Management chapter in Cambridge O Level Business Studies.
Common mistakes with Quality
- “JIT means the business holds no inventory at all.” Correction Just in time minimises inventory. It does not guarantee zero inventory in every circumstance, and it works only where suppliers are reliable, quality is dependable and demand can be forecast.
- “Quality control prevents defects.” Correction Quality control detects defects by inspection, usually after the waste has already been created. Quality assurance is the prevention system. Neither makes defects impossible.
Questions students ask about Quality
Does just-in-time mean a business holds no inventory at all?
Not necessarily. Just-in-time minimises inventory by timing supplies and production close to the moment they are needed, but it does not guarantee zero inventory in every circumstance. It only works where suppliers are reliable, incoming quality is dependable and demand can be forecast accurately, and it leaves the business with little buffer against disruption.
What is the difference between quality control and quality assurance?
Quality control detects defects by inspecting output, usually at the end of production or at set checkpoints, after the waste has already been created. Quality assurance builds quality into every stage of the process so that defects are prevented rather than detected, with employees working to agreed standards and checking their own work. Neither method makes defects impossible.