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Path: Sourcing News & Advice
>> Import from
China Advice >> What does quality mean to
Chinese manufacturers?

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What does quality mean to Chinese manufacturers?

Posted: December 08, 2014

by Renaud Anjoran

I often ask potential hires “what is quality?” and it seems even people
who’ve been in the quality assurance industry for 10 years don’t have a ready
answer.

It seems like I am not the only one. Here are the most common responses
gathered by the American Society for Quality during a recent survey:

I guess one could argue that there are several definitions, depending how
high up in the sky we choose to be:

At the micro level: “meeting the customer’s specifications”

In a slightly less narrow view: “fitness for use” combined with “never
stopping to improve processes”

In terms an accountant understands: “ensuring customers come back and
products do not”

On a more macro level: “doing the right things in the right way through
the practice of excellence”

Unfortunately, most Chinese companies are still at the micro level. Producing
a quality product means complying with rules imposed by a customer. With that
mindset, higher quality means extra inspectors, who cost more money.

I wrote about this in Is
it expensive to increase the quality level in a factory?:

Importers use statistical quality control standards based on AQL limits. If a
buyer sets a tolerance tighter than what is usually considered “normal” for
general consumer goods, the supplier generally raises prices.

What is wrong with this mindset? It is 100% reactive, 0% proactive. There is
no initiative to improve design & production processes.

Maybe some readers can propose a definition of quality that everyone can
agree on?

Renaud
Anjoran has been managing his quality assurance agency (Sofeast Ltd) since 2006.
In addition, a passion for improving the way people work has pushed him to
launch a consultancy to improve factories and a web application to manage the
purchasing process. He writes advice for importers on qualityinspection.org.

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