Product quality management is a system for ensuring that a product meets or exceeds standards for safety, reliability, and cost-effectiveness. It involves the use of quality assurance, process control, and quality improvement techniques to ensure product integrity. The main components of product quality management include:
Quality planning: Quality planning involves the establishment of goals and procedures to ensure the product meets its quality standards during the production process. This includes selecting equipment and tools, specifying testing methods and procedures, and selecting appropriate suppliers.
Quality assurance: Quality assurance involves the establishment of testing to ensure that products meet their stated quality standards. This includes verification activities, such as inspections, measuring, testing, and observational auditing.
Quality control: Quality control involves the monitoring, measurement, and inspection of products to ensure that they meet their quality standards. Quality control measures also include corrective actions taken when necessary to correct any problems.
Quality improvement: Quality improvement involves the use of process improvements, such as Six Sigma and Lean Manufacturing, to ensure products meet their stated quality requirements. This includes the continual monitoring of processes and taking steps to reduce errors and defects.
By implementing a comprehensive product quality management system, companies can ensure their products are safe, reliable, and cost-effective. This system consists of processes and procedures aimed at reducing the risk of product failure, increasing customer satisfaction, and improving overall quality.