“ QA / QC ”
As a builder or manufacturer , you want to ensure that the product you are providing meets the quality standards of your customer . I myself working in the precast concrete industry , want to make sure the product received is adequately designed to the engineer ’ s specifications and is exactly what the customer is expecting . The same goes for any other constructed or manufactured product . Manufacturers and builders use quality assurance and quality control ( QA / QC ) management to reduce variability in their finished products and assure they meet the requirements of the end-user .
Quality assurance is defined as “ part of quality management focused on providing confidence that quality requirements will be fulfilled ” ( ASQ ). Quality assurance highlights the process of how a product is made to ensure it will be within tolerance . For example , if you are pouring a concrete slab on a hot summer day , you would need to take into account how the temperature affects the curing process . Hot weather accelerates the rate of hydration in concrete . Therefore , it can result in high early strength . On the other hand , hot weather significantly lowers the 28-day compressive strength if no adjustments are made . Covering the slab with burlap blankets would be a quality assurance method to retain moisture and prolong the hardening process .
Quality control is defined as “ part of quality management focused on fulfilling quality requirements ” ( ASQ ). The purpose of quality control is to examine the end product and react when quality is below tolerance . Inspecting the finished concrete slab for cracks , bugholes ( surface voids ), or any other defect is an example of quality control . Investigating why defects occur can result in refining the production method to ensure they don ’ t happen again .
QA / QC management is a safety net for manufacturers and builders because it reduces product variability , helps identify non-conformances in products , and can advance the manufacturing process to be more efficient .
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