In manufacturing, quality is critical. Customers count on their suppliers to produce parts that meet or exceed their exact product specifications, and when quality suffers, it can be a serious problem. On the other hand, when quality control is prioritized it can help ensure success for manufacturers as they can feel confident that they are providing their customers with a product that they can count on.

Let’s take a closer look at what goes into quality control and how it is being implemented throughout the industry.

The Elements of Quality Control

Part Inspection

So how does one check the quality of a part? Manufacturers and quality control specialists use a wide variety of inspection equipment to check any number of critical part features. Dimensional accuracy, surface finish, and material hardness are just a few of the aspects that can be measured to ensure that parts are meeting quality specifications.

While much of the inspection process can be done on the shop floor, or in designated quality control areas, there are also businesses that specialize in various types of part inspection. These outfits can be utilized for particularly complicated setups where tight tolerances are required and standard measuring equipment won’t suffice, or when unique part attributes are called for that require less common inspection procedures.

Standardized Practices

In a busy shop, the task of inspecting parts and enforcing quality control can be a daunting task, but this important process can be made simpler by implementing standardized procedures and protocols. Large manufacturing companies have entire departments devoted to quality control, with trained specialists tasked with the job of checking parts and catching any items that do not meet standards.

This same concept can be implemented on a smaller scale for shops of all sizes. A clearly defined quality control system can eliminate any guesswork while manufacturing, and will help ensure that bad parts don’t make it out the door undetected.

Designate one or more team members to oversee quality control. These quality managers will be responsible for implementing and enforcing quality control procedures. Aside from performing part inspections and quality checks, this can entail training new employees, creating documentation, acquiring and implementing new inspection equipment and more. While the practices will vary from shop to shop, the idea of standardizing quality control processes can be utilized across the board.

Response Plans

Despite our best efforts, errors will inevitably occur, so it is critical to have an effective response plan in place to promptly address and correct any issues that may arise.

To correct a sub-standard part, you must first understand what went wrong. Does it require a complete re-work? Can the part be modified to meet customer specs? Was an operation skipped or overlooked? Prompt and clear communication with your customer and quality control team is key. Decide on the most efficient and effective course of action, and don’t make the problem worse by being slow to respond.

Next, look inward. Why did the error occur, and how can it be prevented going forward. While it is always best to be proactive when it comes to quality control, use each hiccup as a chance to learn and improve upon the processes that are already in place. It is also best to track instances when quality issues occur. By monitoring and recording lapses in quality, managers can clearly define improvement goals and track progress when it pertains to quality control.

As businesses grow, and new employees, products and machines are introduced into your business, you must modify and strengthen your quality control regimen to ensure that you are providing the best possible parts to your customer. Quality can be a moving target in manufacturing, but clearly defined and implemented processes can make a world of difference and help set you apart from your competition.