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Quality
Assurance
It is up to
you whether or not you decide to apply a specific framework to your
business, but taking a quality-minded approach to your operations
is essential.
The basic factors
in quality assurance are awareness, analysis, adaptation,
and action.
- Awareness
comes from the detailed knowledge of what is going on in your
business and in your industry. By looking at the five questions
of production we discussed, you should have already developed
a substantial awareness of the various aspects of your operations,
and the important things to keep in mind within each of the operational
areas. Never lose touch with an area of your business; if you
feel that you don't have the time to give full attention to a
certain function within your company, it is probably time to hire
a manager to oversee it for you. A good manager will relay the
important information for you, so that you don't have to get caught
up in the detail, but you will retain a high level of operational
awareness.
-
Analysis
of your operations is more detailed, and more concrete. What is
the performance of your production process compared to the competition,
or industry standards? Are there any existing problems with quality,
and what aspect of your operations contributes to this? Are there
any potentially problematic areas? In analyzing your operations
you should use a mix of qualitative and quantitative information
to make inferences, including measurements, numerical trends,
cost analysis, and feedback from managers and employees.
- Adaptation
according to your findings is the next step for improvement. You
need to identify where you can improve, and decide exactly what
steps need to be taken in order to induce changes, and get results.
For instance, if you have identified that a new machine could
increase the amount of products you make by 10% while lowering
costs, but the price of the machine is $50,000, you have to decide
if it is worthwhile to purchase. You would look at how long it
would take to pay off the machine with cost savings, installation,
switchover time and lost production, retraining employees, and
if it could make the product to your standards and specifications.
-
Action:
Once you have evaluated the possibilities for change, you have
to take action! Implement the required steps to make this change
happen, and continually look to apply any course of action that
will lead to improvement in your operations.
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