KALYAN CITY LIFE

Importance of Quality Control

Briefly listed below is the significance or importance of quality control.

Image credits © Prof. Mudit Katyani.

Steps to improve product quality

Quality is not a result of some random process. It does not happen on it own. It is an outcome of some appropriately controlled procedure or steps. Managers have a great responsibility to produce good quality products. They must establish a quality framework in the entire organisation. They must take following steps to improve product quality.

Image credits © Prof. Mudit Katyani.

Definition of Product Quality

Before we proceed to understand, “what is product quality?” First, let's focus on the definition of quality.

It is not easy to define the word Quality since it is perceived differently by the different set of individuals. If experts are asked to define quality, they may give varied responses depending on their individual preferences. These may be similar to following listed phrases.

According to experts, the word quality can be defined either as;

1. Fitness for use or purpose.
2. To do a right thing at first time.
3. To do a right thing at the right-time.
4. Find and know, what consumer wants?
5. Features that meet consumer needs and give customer satisfaction.
6. Freedom from deficiencies or defects.
7. Conformance to standards.
8. Value or worthiness for money, etc.

Factors Affecting Plant Location

Plant location must be selected properly by entrepreneurs while planning to set up their business units. While taking such a decision, they must consider some important factors.

The following image depicts important factors affecting a plant location.

Image credits © Prof. Mudit Katyani.

Factors Affecting Scheduling

The following chart depicts various factors affecting scheduling.

The factors that affect scheduling are grouped into two categories viz;

1. Internal factors : Affect an entity (e.g. a company) from within.
2. External factors : Influence an entity (e.g. an organisation) from outside.

What is Scheduling? Definition

The definition of scheduling as quoted by eminent scholars are as follows:

Image credits © Prof. Mudit Katyani.

1. According to Richard Lansburgh and William Spriegel,

“Scheduling involves establishing the amount, of work to be done and the time each element of the work will start, or the order of work. This includes allocating the quality and rate of output of the plant or department and also the date or order of starting of each unit of work at each station along the route prescribed.”

Lansburgh and Spriegel gave scheduling definition in their book ‘Industrial Management’ published in 1995.

Problems in measuring productivity

Following image lists main difficulties or problems in measuring productivity.

Image credits © Prof. Mudit Katyani.

Benefits of higher productivity

The following image depicts a list of nine benefits of higher productivity.

Image credits © Prof. Mudit Katyani.

Importance of location planning

Location planning decisions are very important for all types of business units. This is because it affects the cost, selling price, and demand of the product. It is a non-recurring heavy expenditure. Large companies take the help of different professionals like lawyers, accountants, environmentalist, etc. for selecting the proper location of plant.

Following image lists 8 points that bring out importance of location planning.

Image credits © Prof. Mudit Katyani.

Factors that affect productivity

The following chart shows eight factors that affect productivity.

Image credits © Prof. Mudit Katyani.

Difference between Intermittent and Continuous Production System

Difference between intermittent and continuous production system; based on 10 points.

Steps or Procedure of Routing in Production

Following image depicts main steps or procedure of routing in production.

Steps in Production Planning and Control

According to the British Standards Institute, there are four stages, steps, techniques or essentials in the process of production planning and control.

Functions of Production Planning and Control

Functions of production planning and control are listed and explained below.

Relationship Between Production Planning and Control

Production planning and control are closely related to one another. They go hand in hand and are supplementary in character.

Ten points explain the relationship between production planning and control:

Definition of Productivity

The definition of productivity according to management expert Peter Drucker.

“Productivity means the balance between all factors of production that will give the greatest output for the smallest effort.”

Productivity is expressed or measured as a mathematical division of two important parameters (functions) viz., output and input.

The concept of productivity is depicted in the following illustration.

Image credits © Prof. Mudit Katyani.

Guidelines for determining performance dimensions

Guidelines for determining performance dimensions are depicted below.

Classification of Performance Dimensions

A dimension is a measurable extent of any kind. It is usually measured in terms of various extends like shape, size, quality and quantity.

The performance dimensions can be classified into following:

1. Quantity - which is the primary dimension of performance.
2. Quality - which is the secondary dimension of performance.

Image below depicts this classification of performance dimensions.

Image credits © Prof. Mudit Katyani.

Advantages of Work Sampling

The benefits or advantages of work sampling method are as follows:

Image credits © Prof. Mudit Katyani.

Work Measurement Techniques

Image depicts different work measurement techniques, methods or types.