Choose one of the following that best represents the organization or company you work for or are most interested in learning more about.
- Product-Based Organizations
- Service-Based Organizations
- Self-Service Based Organizations
- Health Care-Based Organizations
- Continuous Process-Based Organizations
- Defense-Based Organizations
Write an essay describing how this type of organization would attain superior results through quality. Consider the tools and methods that would be employed. If the organization you are working for is using one or more of these tools or methods please summarize how.
Written Assignment 6
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Written Assignment 6 `
Product-Based Organizations
Quality is an important aspect of all companies, particularly product-based companies. High-quality products that meet customer expectations go a long way to determine other paraments such as demand, prices, market penetration, and so on (Lucid Content Team, 2022). As such, companies implement various strategies and tools to improve quality. This study will briefly elaborate on these areas taking Apple Inc. as an example.
Ways to Attain Superior Results Through Quality
Product-based organizations should improve quality for better results. Defining the product quality to meet a set of predetermined specifications and satisfy customer preferences is one way of attaining superior quality (corporatevision, 2021). A product should be customer-tailored, problem-solving, polished, efficient, and easy to use. A company can also invest in machinery, implement a Quality Management System, benchmark competitors, develop a quality-oriented company culture, test products, train employees, and listen to customers to improve quality (corporatevision, 2021).
Applicable Tools and Methods
Many tools including a Cause-and-effect diagram (fishbone diagrams), check sheet, Pareto chart (80-20 rule), Scatter diagram, Control chart, histograms, and stratification can be used to enhance quality improvement. For instance, the Cause-and-effect diagram helps identify the probable sources of a problem in order to address them promptly. These tools provide vital information about the products that can inform any needed change, adjustment, or alteration for better quality improvement (Lucid Content Team, 2022).
For instance, histograms help break the frequency of data into categories such as age, days of the week, and physical measurements to identify any areas that should be given the most focus and the ones that need improvements. Stratification also separates data, objects, and people into distinct groups that can help make meaning of any pattern hidden from the naked eye if the data has no discernible pattern (Lucid Content Team, 2022). Check sheets are effectively used to collect data for showing the number of occurrences of a particular value to allow quick identification of errors and defects that needs amendments.
The Case of Apple Inc.
Currently, I am working at Apple Inc., which is a technology and electronic company. Apple Inc. uses various tools, including Statistical process control (SPC) charts and Flowcharts for quality management. It uses flowcharts along with the causes and the effects to facilitate the identification of points for measuring quality performance. They also facilitate the understanding of the production process and the necessity of change. Flowcharts are useful to the company in ascertaining the current progress of the company and future performance projections of the company (CS Odessa, 2022). This enables the employees to identify and understand areas for adjustments and improvement.
SPC, on the other hand, is used to identify whether a given process is under control and performing as expected, or not. With such information, the company can predict the expected performance. Apple is renowned for its continuous introduction of new and improved products that meets the ever-changing customer demands and preferences (CS Odessa, 2022). The success of these new products is dependent on SPC because it enables the company to manage the likely risks associated with the introduction of a new product into the market.
All companies must struggle to attain a strategic quality of a product to ensure better performance in the competitive market. They should not only focus on one area of the company but a wide range of paraments, especially customer preferences, while enhancing quality. Various tools have been reported to be effective at enhancing quality. Just like Apple, companies must strategically choose the tools that can work best for them and apply them appropriately to improve product quality.
References
CS Odessa. (2022). Examples of Flowcharts, Org Charts and More. ConceptDraw. https://www.conceptdraw.com/examples/gantt-chart-for-apple-inc-transformation
corporatevision. (2021). 8 Ways to Improve Product Quality In 2021. https://www.corporatevision-news.com/8-ways-to-improve-product-quality-in-2021/
Lucid Content Team. (2022). What Are the 7 Basic Quality Tools, and How Can They Change Your Business for the Better? Lucidchart. https://www.lucidchart.com/blog/what-are-the-7-basic-quality-tools