IMPACT OF QUALITY CONTROL AS AN EFFECTIVE TOOL IN PRODUCT STANDARDIZATION
BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Product quality and price constitute vital factors that consumers consider in the choice of product. Unfortunately however, the qualities of products continue to decline due to a number of factors. First and foremost, the production cost and other considerations have placed a heavy burden on product quality since as the economy weakens, the quality of a products is being sacrificed for quality at a relatively lower price. Secondly, most manufacturer have a realization that to survive in a recessionary economy such as ours, there is the need to review prices downwards to induce patronage from the low income groups all these are threats to quality.
In the seven-up Bottling company industry the nature of the existing completion where by foreign manufactures dominates the markets in Nigeria provides serious challenge to the indigenous manufacturers. Foreign products are often preferred by most Nigerians on the basis of quality, durability, price, colours, etc. this constitute an important competitive advantage to the foreign manufacturers and a threats to the indigenous company.
This calls for effective quality control in our seven-up industry to enhance product standardization and to favourably compete with other producers.
This study is an attempt to provide a realistic approach to quality control in seven-up bottling company.
Quality control is the comparison of products and services with a set standard. Total quality involves customer satisfaction by building in and ensuring quality from product planning to production, purchasing sales and services. In total Quality Management (TQM), everybody is involved and not just the quality control staff alone.
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
The quality of product may be defined in terms of its kinds, type, character, property, degree of goodness or excellence.
However, most present day, goods including seven-up company are produced or manufactured by massive production method on machines which repeatedly produce almost identical units owning to the uncontrollable variation in the quality of the processing machines, variation of the manufactured product are bound to occur. Â
If a company’s product is to satisfying the customer’s requirement, then it is necessary for the company to establish standard for the functions and appearance aspects of its products as well as for the durability requirement, then this is the general requirement for setting up an quality control department to ensure that standards is adhere to.
Quality of seven-up products some times fail to meet specification because of some assignable causes, defective materials, improper setting of equipments, operation errors, manpower and many others unassignable causes because it cost the same amount to produce goods unit, emphasis should be on prevention rather than error detection.
Thus, the attainment of suitable quality depends upon the appropriate human performance or behavior when the product is being made. Consequently, conflict arises between quality control personnel and production personnel, when this happens, it is the managers responsibility to resolve the conflict. In the economic depression in our society today, man becomes corrupt and can go at any length to compromise standard for their personal benefits.
