Quality Management: The Manufacturing and Service Quality Implications (Essay Sample)

Name
Tutor
Course
Date
Quality
Introduction
Quality is a term that is commonly used in the field of manufacturing and service delivery. Quality may refer to one aspect or the other, depending on how it is set. Quality is an old concept that has undergone modification to encompass more meaning in the modern world. The traditional perception of quality has been the ability of any product or service to last for long or be useful in several situations. However, this perception has changed in modern world, especially in terms of business, to refer to several factors such as utility, convenience and durability. This drastic change can be associated with the need or desire to satisfy customers and maintain their loyalty. This paper seeks to defend the fact that quality takes many different definitions depending on the situation at hand.
It is true that the quality of management is as important as the management of quality. Management of quality would generally involve making decisions on how to keep the quality of products high in different dimensions. It refers to the capability and rationality of the managers in leadership and management functions. The quality of management is therefore directly influential in making these decisions. As such, both aspects are very critical towards the attainment of set objectives regarding quality.
The manufacturing and Service Quality Implications
From a manufacturing point of view, quality may refer to different stages and aspects and not just the final products. This starts from the available raw material used in the actual production. It is fundamental for them to be safe and of acceptable standards. This constitutes implied quality. Quality can also be measured in terms of the production process. Different stages of production require various inputs including labor. The levels of efficiency and wastage in the production chain measure the quality. It can either be high, average or low depending on overall judgment. The people and machinery involved in production also reflect of quality. Highly qualified, capable and experienced labor force can be used to describe high quality. The level of mechanization as well as automation also implies various levels of quality.
The final product is critical for definition of quality. The term utility, which defines the ability to satisfy human wants, is used to measure the quality of a product. In most cases, goods are produced for consumption. This means that they must serve the purpose they were meant for in a satisfactory way.
In services, quality is usually determined by the speed, convenience and effectiveness of delivery. In the modern world, service delivery has mainly been centered on the interests of the consumers. Businesses collect information through surveys and research on what exactly consumers want. As a result, quality of services has been understood to mean satisfaction of the customers by giving them their exact desires.
The speed of service deliver also implies quality. In a world where everyone is on the rush to attain personal, financial and social development, there is the need to have services delivered at th...