Quality Control will be part of an overall Quality Management system, focused on fulfilling quality requirements throughout the business.
This can be a visual or physical check and can occur as a continuous process during manufacture of the product or as a final process.
In respect of this production facility in particular, quality will be set specifically to identify the following:
- defects or irregularities with in the production process
- target specific areas where the need for improvements are to be made
- control and manage the effectiveness of each process, measured against
- time management, quality of workmanship and overall efficiency levels
- waste and loss
- reduce the need for corrective actions to be carried out onsite lowering cost to service levels
Throughout each production process, quality will be assessed by a fully trained operative (“QC”) specifically trained with a high level of competency to the specific department. Their task will be to identify specific problem areas and identify defects before moving to the next stage of production, thereby minimising the need for snagging of defects at the end of the process which can cause unnecessary time delays to delivery.
Each area will therefore have a target set for each operation which will be monitored throughout the production process until each product reaches the final QC check which can only be signed off/ authorised as complete by personnel authorised to do so. When each product reaches its Quality Gate a sign off sheet specific to each individual project will be made available to guide through the quality check procedure, an acceptance level measured by percentage will also be set. Failure to reach this agreed level will result in a failed quality check and the product will require remedial works before moving to the next stage.
Should the targets not be achieved in a particular area of production the product will not move to the next process or it will be classed under “quarantine” to be set off against the targets of the department which has created the defect/delay. This will also minimise the need for operatives to be working outside of their permitted zones and should prevent a bottle neck affect through the process.
