WHAT IS QUALITY

What is quality? Ask this question to 10 people and you will receive 10 different answers. What is quality to you might not be quality to someone else.

?There are 4 absolutes of quality.

?THE FIRST ABSOLUTE OF QUALITY

The definition of quality is the conformance to requirements.

?If a product or service conforms to the requirements of the person requesting it, that product or service then it is a quality product or service.

?Two people buy a light bulb for their house.

?Person A buys a cheap bulb that cost R20 and only lasts 6 months

Person B buys a bulb that costs R60 and lasts 2 years.

?Who bought a quality product? If we consider the definition of quality then both bought a quality product. Maybe person A could only afford R20 on a light bulb, so the requirement based on the availability of finances, was conformed to.

?THE SECOND ABSOLUTE OF QUALITY

The standard of quality is zero defect.

?At all times we should strive to ensure that this standard is adhered to by following manufacturer’s guidelines, instructions and procedures.

THE THIRD ABSOLUTE OF QUALITY

The system of quality is prevention.

?The only system to ensure quality is to prevent things from going wrong. The only way to achieve this is to teach the people using the equipment how to use it correctly and to report any suspicious noise, smell, heat, visual defect immediately to the appropriate people.

?THE FOURTH ABSOLUTE OF QUALITY

The measurement of quality is PONC (Price of Non-Conformance)

?The only measurement of quality is the ‘Price of Non-conformance’ or PONC. Every time we make a mistake there is always a price attached to it. This is called the price of non-conformance. If as a company, we calculated the price of non-conformance, what would the figure be?

?For a quality service to be delivered, we must conform to all of the above absolutes of quality. The next time you perform a task ask yourself does this job conform to the four absolutes of quality.????