The APQP, or Advanced Product Quality Planning, is a proven approach for developing a new product to be made in high volume and under strict quality, timing, and cost requirements. It was developed by the North American automotive industry (virtually all tier-1 suppliers of car parts have to implement this approach.) It has also been adopted in other settings with similarly comprehensive requirements, with great success. (Note: for low- or medium-volume productions, a simpler quality plan is … [Read more...]
Manufacturing Organizational Chart: Top 7 Common Mistakes To Avoid
One of the first things we look at, during factory audits, is the supplier’s manufacturing organizational chart. And it often points to serious operational dysfunctions. Here are the top 7 common mistakes that you don’t want to see your supplier making… … [Read more...]
3 Quality Control Plans & Why They’re Needed BEFORE Production [Podcast]
![3 Quality Control Plans & Why They’re Needed BEFORE Production [Podcast]](https://qualityinspection.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/3QualityControlPlansWhyTheyreNeededBEFOREProductionPodcast-1140x445.jpg)
What is a quality control plan and why do you need to approve it before production begins? A QC plan is an essential tool for buyers to drive their suppliers to produce goods that reach their quality standard. It will typically list your quality-related expectations that the supplier needs to know about before the production starts which may be anything from legal penalties for poor quality, to the types of process used for production and checking quality, through to making the types of … [Read more...]
The Basics of Quality Management for Buyers [Podcast]
What's the best way to get started with quality management? It makes a lot of sense to work to improve your product quality coming from Chinese suppliers and you don't need to be a large corporation to do this, but this kind of quality management is best when it follows a process. So in this episode of the podcast, we discuss what the quality management process is, and its 3 main parts: quality planning, quality control, and quality improvement. By understanding how to put measures in … [Read more...]
How Quality Planning Drives QC and Process Improvement
What does quality management consist of? Juran wrote about this first in 1986, and he suggested 3 types of activities that make up the "Juran trilogy": Planning Quality control Improvement … [Read more...]
Quality Planning for Importers: Classify Orders by Risk Level
Every purchaser knows that some orders are riskier than others and the risk impacts many of the decisions they make. This is why quality planning and classifying orders by risk level is important for importers. … [Read more...]
Is your China factory’s quality standard too low?
Do you work with a factory in China, and wish their quality standard were a bit higher? You are not alone. Here are six pieces of advice you can follow in this case. 1. Say it, and write it, to your factory If you don't communicate your dissatisfaction, nothing will happen. Here is an example of message you can send: "The customers who shop in our stores expect a relatively high quality (higher than average). We don't want them to think, 'Oh, these products are also made in China'. Either … [Read more...]