Cambridge O Level Business Studies · Syllabus 7115 · Operations Management
Quality Control
What is Quality Control?
A method of achieving quality by inspecting output, at the end of production or at selected checkpoints, in order to identify defective items and take corrective action. It prevents defective goods reaching customers but only after the waste has been created, and it can make quality appear to be the inspectors' responsibility rather than everyone's.
This definition is part of the Operations Management chapter in Cambridge O Level Business Studies.
Common mistakes with Quality Control
- “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 Control
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.