← Internal factors in a global business
Quality management (every paper)
Name the system, place it on the scope ladder, then give a benefit and a cost tied to a named group.| System | How it works | Strength | Weakness |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quality control | Inspect finished output; reject defects | Defects never reach customers | Waste already incurred; inspection adds cost |
| Quality assurance | Standards and documented processes prevent defects | Fewer defects made in the first place | Set-up cost, paperwork, certification time |
| Total quality management | Whole organisation, continuous improvement, every employee | Lowest long-run waste; engaged staff | Slow, needs training and sustained commitment |
The "negative impact on CUSTOMERS of using quality control" question (2025) wants: rejected units reduce supply or raise prices, and defects caught late can delay delivery.
Exam-style Explaining a negative impact on customers of using quality control The Honest Grain chooses quality control over quality assurance for its new cereal bar. Explain one possible negative impact on customers. THE MECHANISM: quality control inspects the FINISHED product and rejects defective units — the defects have already consumed materials and production time before being caught. THE COST OF WASTE: rejected units mean fewer good units produced from the same input, which can either raise the unit cost passed to customers or reduce available supply. THE CUSTOMER IMPACT: customers may face higher prices, occasional stock shortages, or delays if a batch fails inspection late in the process and must be remade. ✓ Trace the mechanism (inspect-and-reject) through to a SPECIFIC, named customer consequence (price, availability, delay) — not just "quality control has downsides".A fast check before naming a quality system
- Have I placed it correctly on the scope ladder (inspect vs prevent vs whole-organisation), not just named it?
- Have I attached a benefit AND a cost, each tied to a specific named group?