A Survey of Quality Control Practices in Manufacturing
Introduction
The manufacturing industry is the backbone of many economies worldwide, providing an estimated 13.7 million jobs in the United States alone (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2020). Quality control practices are essential for manufacturers to ensure products are safe, meet performance standards, and satisfy customer needs. Quality control also plays a critical role in reducing product waste, protecting customer safety, and delighting customers. This paper provides an overview of quality control practices in the manufacturing industry, addressing both the process of controlling quality and the measurement and assessment of quality in the manufacturing process.
Process Control
Manufacturing companies employ a variety of process control practices aimed at ensuring production quality. These processes may be manual or automated. Automated processes use specialized computer programs or robots to regulate key production elements, reduce human error, and make the production process more efficient. Manual processes require experienced employees to monitor and adjust the production process.
The first step in the process of quality control is to establish production processes that produce consistent and uniform results. Standard operating procedures (SOPs) are established and monitored to control the accuracy and reliability of the production process. This includes documenting the manufacturing process and inspecting the tools used in production. Quality control also includes preventative maintenance of the equipment used in production to avoid equipment failure.
Quality Measurement and Inspection
Production processes must be continually measured and inspected to ensure they are meeting quality standards. This is done by collecting sample products and measuring them to ensure they meet the specifications that were set at the beginning of the production process. This is often done through the use of a Statistical Process Control (SPC) system. The SPC system monitors parameters such as surface finish, size, weight, and other product characteristics. If these measurements fall outside the predetermined specifications, then corrective action must be taken.
In addition to measuring the products, the process itself must be inspected to ensure it is producing the desired results. Process audits are used to check that the production processes are operating as specified. This includes evaluating safety procedures and documenting any deviations from the production plan.
Conclusion
Quality control practices are essential in the manufacturing industry. Quality control processes are used to ensure that the products are of high quality, safe, and meet customer expectations. Quality control practices include process control, quality measurement and inspection, and process audits. Quality control is necessary for the production of consistent, safe, and reliable products.
References
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2020, October 21). Employment Data Current Population Survey. Retrieved from https://www.bls.gov/data/
Quality Glossary Definition of Statistical Process Control. ASQ. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://asq.org/glossary/s/statistical-process-control.html
Manufacturing Quality Control Overview. Quality-One. (2020). Retrieved from https://www.quality-one.com/category/manufacturing-quality-control-overview/
Process Auditing. ASQ. (2020). Retrieved from http://asq.org/learn-about-quality/process-auditing/overview/overview.html
