Quality Management (Edexcel A Level Business): Revision Note
Exam code: 9BS0
Quality management methods
Quality considers the characteristics and features of a product that satisfy the needs of customers
Businesses need to maintain a level of quality that continues to attract and retain customers
Methods of quality management
Method | Explanation |
|---|---|
Quality control |
|
Quality assurance |
|
Quality circles |
|
Total quality management |
|
Continuous improvement (Kaizen)
Kaizen involves a business taking continuous steps to improve productivity through the elimination of all types of waste in the production process
Changes are small and ongoing rather than significant one-offs, and they are constantly reviewed to ensure that the desired positive impact on productivity is achieved
Comparison of Kaizen and one-off improvements
Elements of Kaizen commonly include:
Total quality management
Just-in-time stock management
Teamwork and quality circles
Zero defects in manufacturing
High levels of automation
High levels of cooperation between workers and management
Kaizen requires a long-term management commitment to change
Competitive advantage from quality management
The quality of a business's products can provide a competitive advantage
Unit costs are likely to be low if a business takes a preventative approach through the use of quality assurance or total quality management
Low costs may allow a business to reduce its selling price to better compete with or undercut its rivals
Increased finance may be available to fund marketing activity to improve brand recognition and attract new customers
High levels of quality can be used in promotional activity and provide a unique selling point for businesses in competitive markets
Successfully developing a unique selling point for quality can ease expansion into new markets as a result of the positive reputation it creates
Case Study
Vantage Cycles
Vantage Cycles is a medium-sized bicycle manufacturer based in Sheffield, founded twenty years ago by a former professional cyclist. For most of its history, Vantage relied solely on quality control, inspecting finished bikes at the end of the production line and rejecting any with faults.
Last year, a spike in warranty claims over faulty gear systems damaged Vantage's reputation among independent bike shops, its main customer base. Rather than simply inspecting more bikes, the founder introduced quality assurance throughout the assembly process, training staff to check components at every stage instead of only at the end.
Vantage also set up quality circles, giving assembly line workers regular time to discuss recurring problems and suggest fixes, several of which reduced gear-cable defects significantly. Building on this, the business adopted a Kaizen approach, making small, continuous adjustments to its processes rather than waiting for major overhauls.
Within a year, warranty claims had fallen sharply, and Vantage began marketing its low defect rate directly to bike shops, winning new contracts from rivals known for cutting corners on quality
Examiner Tips and Tricks
Don't just name a quality method - link it explicitly to the business in the case study. A quality circle only earns application marks if you explain why it suits that specific business's workforce or product, not just that quality circles exist
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