Understanding the Concept of Quality

Quality is important to us as individuals and as business owners but it is also important to our economy. The reputation businesses create based on their operational philosophy can be a help or a hindrance. Quality over the years seems to be evolving utilizing the technology we have today. In fact communicating the philosophy of quality has never been easier but communicating it and individuals and businesses understanding what it represents is another matter.
The concept of quality can take on different meanings as you ask different individuals. One of the best definitions of quality can be found in dictionary.com which states:

“It is the totality of features and characteristics of a product or service that bears its ability to satisfy or implied needs.”

Another definition of quality can be found in businessdictionary.com which states:

“In manufacturing, a measure of excellence or a state of being free from defects, deficiencies and significant variations. It is brought about by strict and consistent commitment to certain standards that achieve uniformity of a product in order to satisfy specific customer or user requirements.”

Examples of quality problems can be found in news reports about product recalls among other things. The concept of quality and achieving it seems to have lost its way in our economy to some extent. Understanding the importance of quality processes and principles is an important factor for business success. This book will go over many of the functions of an organization and how they relate to achieving quality within them. It has been said that quality is a team effort and this concept is something which needs to have resurgence in our economy.
There are companies which have a good or great quality philosophy while others have issues with the approach they have taken with regards to quality principles. The concept of quality is understood by those who have been in the quality field over the years but they have been met with resistance related to the bottom line. What companies need to realize is that the bottom line will be in good shape if quality principles are engrained within their organizational structure.