A LevelBusinessAQARevision NotesManaging OperationsQualityMethods of Improving Quality

Methods of Improving Quality (AQA A Level Business): Revision Note

Syllabus Edition

First teaching 2026

First exams 2028

Exam code: 7132

Written by: Lisa Eades

Reviewed by: Bridgette Barrett

Updated on 4 August 2026

Quality control and quality assurance

Quality control

Quality control is a traditional method of checking quality at the end of the production process by using quality inspectors to find faults
It is not possible to achieve perfection in every production process
- E.g. there will always be some variation in terms of materials used, production skills applied or reliability of the finished product

Advantages and disadvantages of quality control

Advantages	Specialists in quality control check standards Little staff training is needed, as inspectors check quality rather than the employees themselves It is an inexpensive and simple way to check that output is fit for purpose
Disadvantages	Rejecting finished goods is a significant waste of resources The cause of defects is ignored, so problems may continue There are high costs of scrapping or reworking products

Quality assurance

Quality assurance involves inspecting the quality of production throughout the process
- Workers check their own work and, sometimes, the work of others at various stages of production
Some businesses take a whole-business approach to quality assurance, with systems such as quality circles, benchmarking and total quality management (TQM)

Advantages and disadvantages of quality assurance

Advantages	Quality issues are identified early, so products may be reworked rather than rejected The cause of defects is the focus, so future quality issues may be prevented
Disadvantages	Staff training and a skilled workforce is required, so labour costs may be increased Reworking may lengthen the production process

Total Quality Management (TQM)

TQM involves the organisation of the business with quality at its core and with every worker responsible for quality

Advantages and disadvantages of TQM

Advantages	Improved efficiency Focusing on quality in every part of the business helps reduce waste and mistakes, which can lead to higher profits Positive culture TQM encourages a workplace culture where everyone aims for high standards and continuous improvement
Disadvantages	Commitment and training All employees must be fully committed, and regular training is needed to keep quality high Strong leadership needed Managers must carefully monitor progress and lead by example to keep the system working effectively

Quality circles

Quality circles are groups of workers who meet regularly to solve quality problems identified in the production process

Advantages and disadvantages of quality circles

Advantages	Improved motivation Workers feel more valued and motivated when they are included in decision-making Better solutions Employees often understand daily processes well, so the ideas they suggest are likely to be relevant and effective Higher productivity When workers help create solutions, they are more engaged and likely to work harder to make them succeed
Disadvantages	Trust from management Leaders must trust employees’ ideas, which may not always happen easily Training required Employees may need regular training to take part effectively in decision making Time and organisation Meetings and discussion structures must be organised regularly, which takes time and effort

Benchmarking

Benchmarking involves a business comparing its quality and performance with market leaders within the same industry

Internal benchmarking

Comparison of different functions within a business such as finance and marketing
- Performance
  - Comparison of key performance indicators such as labour productivity or labour turnover rates
- Process
  - Comparison of business operations and processes such as call centre queue times or delivery times

External benchmarking

Comparison of key performance indicators (such as product recalls) against those of market leaders in an industry
International benchmarking compares key performance indicators against those of market leaders overseas

Advantages and disadvantages of benchmarking

Advantages	Helps identify areas where businesses can improve their performance by learning from the best practice of other successful companies Can identify innovative practices and processes used by competitors Can support the setting of realistic performance goals by comparing current performance with industry standards Workers may feel a sense of pride and motivation when they see their employer striving to be a leader in the industry
Disadvantages	Differences in metrics used to measure performance can affect the accuracy and comparability of benchmarking data Best practices from market leaders may not always be directly applicable to the unique needs of a specific business Small businesses may struggle to find the time and resources for data collection, analysis and implementation required for benchmarking Focusing too much on benchmarking against competitors may lead to a narrow view of success that ignores ideas for improvements that come from other sources

Advantages

Helps identify areas where businesses can improve their performance by learning from the best practice of other successful companies
Can identify innovative practices and processes used by competitors
Can support the setting of realistic performance goals by comparing current performance with industry standards
Workers may feel a sense of pride and motivation when they see their employer striving to be a leader in the industry

Disadvantages

Differences in metrics used to measure performance can affect the accuracy and comparability of benchmarking data
Best practices from market leaders may not always be directly applicable to the unique needs of a specific business
Small businesses may struggle to find the time and resources for data collection, analysis and implementation required for benchmarking
Focusing too much on benchmarking against competitors may lead to a narrow view of success that ignores ideas for improvements that come from other sources

Difficulties of improving quality

High up‑front and ongoing quality management costs
- Small firms often struggle to pay for staff training, better materials and certification fees
Staff or union resistance to new quality systems
- Changing routines and adding checks can meet resistance from workers, slowing down their introduction
Customer price sensitivity
- Better quality can push costs and, consequently, prices up
- Price‑sensitive shoppers may switch brands
Strain on resources
- If funds are scarce, pushing for higher quality can overstretch staff and cut service levels

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