What Is Quality free essay sample

Hoer Hoer state that quality standards and customer expectations, In various guises, have been In existence for many centuries. However International quality standards, the formal study and implementation of Quality are the preserve of the 20th 21st centuries. Consumers in the last 20-30 years have become finely tuned to the existence, value and need for quality but do they actually know what it is? Hoer Hoer identified 8 quality gurus and summaries their definitions of quality. The 8 definitions fall into two categories I. E.Level 1 (measure the attributes against specs) ND Level 2 (satisfy the customer), Philip Crosby definition of quality Is from the level 1 category and can be summarized as conformance to requirements. Crosby keys points to consider are: define quality, turn that definition into measurable attributes and finally measure these attributes. Crosby definition lacks clarity when considering if all units that conform to the spec. Are of equal quality. Deeming does his best to avoid a simple definition but it is clear he believes in a management style and strategy that has quality at Its heart.He Is from the level 2 side of the house and s best defined In terms of customer satisfaction, multidimensional variables and multiple levels of quality. Armband V. Figment is consistent in his belief that quality is allied to satisfying the needs and expectations of customers. Bagginesss theory states that quality is dynamic I. E. Customers have changing needs expectations and similar to Deeming quality is multidimensional. Bagginesss theory is weak on the process of translating customers needs to product or service attributes.Koru Chickasaws states that quality Is the pursuit of satisfied consumers ND as cost Is directly related to consumer satisfaction by Inference cost Is a key facet of quality. He adds that meeting national standards or specs is not sufficient as they cannot keep pace with consumer requirements. Chickasaws states that quality must be defined comprehensively within every department of the organization. J. M. Curran wants his definition of quality to be in both level 1 1 2 camps concurrently.Curran acknowledges that experts have tried to define quality but one definition has not been generally accepted. He discusses quality in the realm f product features that meet customer needs and provide satisfaction and also freedom from deficiencies but he eventually settles on fitness for use as his definition. I found even the summary of Prigs definition hard to comprehend but then I am but a simple quality engineer. In essence Prigs says it is impossible to define quality, therefore If you cant define the subject it is Impossible to know If and or when It exists. He goes on to say that his quality embodies excellence, worth, goodness which are all equally hard to define measure but Prigs central theme is hat we all know when we have experienced them. Walter A. Shareware defines quality in terms of a) the subjective I. E. What does the customer want b) the objective I. E. Product attributes independent of what the custom wants c) value for money d) quality standards in terms of measurable product characteristics and e) translating the customers requirements Into statistically reliable measurable attributes. Manufacturer and customer) after being shipped, other than losses caused by its intrinsic functions. Attachà ©s loss is restricted to 2 categories a) loss by variability of unction, and b) loss caused by harmful side effects. Attaching says a product or service has good quality if it performs its intended function without variability, and causes little loss through harmful side effects, including the cost of using it. Hoer Hoer preferred definition is that of Walter A. Shareware while they see merit with Attachà ©s concept they believe it will struggle to be implemented practically.In Bob Kennedys article Equalization the Right Things Right we find a mature, highly developed and worldly wise discussion on what is quality. The authors provenance is initially established and then we are presented with some rational thinking relating to quality a) there are lots of misconceptions misunderstandings re: quality b) quality is built on 2 commonsense c) quality matters in everything e verything matters in quality d) ultimately we must consider all components of quality but never at the expense of the subject as a whole. We must consider the 3 themes of quality: A) as an attribute I. E. Quality is fitness for purpose. B) as a professional I. E. We seek to encourage the attribute driven D. R. V. R. (Define, Realize, Verify and Deliver) approach to quality. We must exhibit radiate patience, tolerance, perseverance and determination in the pursuit of quality. We must represent the customer while protecting our organization. We must fully understand the core concepts to be able to promote them and ensure they become reality. All this must be done in a commonsense easily understandable language. C) as a culture way of life, this theme is the holy grail and encapsulates the 2 previous themes but their presence does not guarantee a quality culture. This theme is fundamentally the ultimate goal of quality. It is most important, most difficult to achieve and as a quality professional we must strive to promote the quality culture way of life. There is no doubt everyone has an intrinsic quality ethos and a simple no nonsense definition of quality is doing the right things right, this is evident in all aspects of life as we are all familiar with the phrase do the right thing.But to fulfill this simple definition we need to know what are the right things to do and how to do them. The what aspect is always the most important question to get right and the how is a simple function of the technology and information available. But to progress we must reflect on who decides on what and how? And the author proposes quite simply that it is the people involved in the system who decide what to do and how to do it. And these people are easily separated into 3 interested parties, the three Cos I. E. 1) Creators e. G. Signers, manufacturers, service providers, 2) Consumers e. G. Customers, the next stage in the process and 3) Complements e. G. National standards associations, certification organizations. Quality takes time but over time quality changes so the real task is to consistently strive for quality and or a quality outcome. If we as professionals or even better human beings endeavourer to always strive for quality at work and in life then our existence will be greatly enhanced. Quality in most organizations nowadays is compulsory I. E. Its the quality way or the highway but excellence is a voluntary road and the quality professional must be at the head of the excellence convoy. Excellence is the way and quality is rushing through it at the speed of light and we as quality professionals must keep up. Excellence is best practice and it must consume all interested parties I. E. The three Cos however the aspiration to implement excellence at all levels must come from deep within the individual. In conclusion and in summary my definition and beliefs in relation to quality are based in and shaped by my education and work experience.My undergraduate degree is in Quality Management and I have worked as a quality professional for 16 years. I have always been drawn to both Shearers and Bagginesss quality principles as they served me well in my student, working arsenal life in that you must strive to a) serve the needs of the customer, b) have in place objective product attributes and standards, c) provide value for money, d) ensure you define your customer requirements interpret them as statistically reliable measurable attributes. However to put it simply that is a mouth full!So I must come back to the simplest definition of quality I have heard Doing the right thing right, it seems almost too naive to be relevant or valid. But lets consider it against the current backdrop of the greatest economic meltdown in history. The US I-J administrations had been pursuing light touch financial regulation since the late sasss. After 9/1 1 the US government cut interest rates to 1% to ensure the US economy would recover prosper, the markets were flooded with cheap money for over 3 years.