What are the 4 types of quality control?
Quality control is an essential part of any business that is manufacturing goods that will be sold on to consumers. It helps to ensure that every product that leaves your facility has been made to the highest possible standards. There is no room for error with quality control, but it can encompass different approaches depending on the industry that your business is in. In this guide we will be exploring exactly what quality control is and involves as well as the 4 types you need to know about. With a better understanding of quality control, you will know how it applies to your processes and business as a whole.
Understanding quality control
The main goal of quality control processes is testing units to see if they are within the parameters for producing the finished items to the required standard. If the tests show that something isn’t operating as it should be, you can then take the steps needed to resolve the issue in the manufacturing process.
Consumer demands and the standards set for products are incredibly high so strict quality control is key, especially in industries like food and drink. As you know, making products is expensive and time-consuming enough without you facing fines or backlash for producing unsafe products. Getting the process right every time is a must, you can never be too careful when it comes to quality control. Professional and experienced food engineering services like FESS provide can help you implement quality control processes that work for your business.
How is quality control carried out?
Testing quality control is typically done during each stage of the manufacturing process. Raw materials are tested at the start, then samples are taken from the production line at each key point, and lastly the finished product is checked. By testing several times at various points, you can highlight where an issue could be coming from, and get it solved quickly and smoothly to avoid unnecessary downtime. You can also prevent the problem from occurring again in the future as it could have been something that would have continued to happen if it hadn’t been found.
As previously mentioned, the exact methods used for quality control by a business will depend on the product and industry there are in. One of the most notable examples is pharmaceutical and food manufacturing who need to feel completely sure that the product won’t make anyone ill. So, chemical, and microbiological tests are done on samples at multiple stages of production. A food factory consultant can help businesses in the industry with their quality control to ensure everything they produce is to a consistently high standard.
What are the types of quality control?
Quality control can be broken down into four distinct types: control charts, process control, acceptance sampling, and product quality control. A control chart is beneficial in examining changing processes over an extended period of time. Both process control and product quality control monitor and adjust the process to each the optimum end result without too much variation.
Business efficiency can be improved with these types of quality control as they make sure each element is working smoothly and in the right way. Acceptance sampling is different to the other types as it uses a statistical measure to decide whether a sample of batch of products is safe and achieves the necessary standards.
Why is quality control important?
Quality control testing and procedures help to safeguard the reputation of a business as well as ensuring that products are always safe and reliable, building trust with consumers. Having the right process in place for your business can also reduce costs and maximise both your overall profits and operational efficiency, which is important in large scale manufacturing.
Conclusion
If you need help with quality control in your operations the team at FESS can help. As experienced factory setup consultants, we know how to maximise efficiency and reduce costs in businesses working in a wide range of industries. Book a free site survey with us online to find out how else we can help your processes become more effective. Contact us if you have any questions.