Quality factor | Quality Characteristics | Definitions | Examples

Quality factors are taken into consideration while designing the product and the manufacturing process to achieve the desired quality. As we know, Quality depends mainly on customers’ perceptions. Hence, it is essential that all product features or product and service characteristics must be built into the design and maintained in manufacturing, which the customer would like to have and is willing to pay for it.

The product must perform its intended functions over its stipulated life cycle under normal conditions. Many times, it is required that the product must be safe in handling and must look attractive.

Thus, we come to the conclusion that the product should have certain abilities to perform satisfactorily in stated applications. These abilities are categorized into ten factors as under:

1. Reliability: means that it should give efficient and consistent performance
2. Suitability: suitability for a specific application.
3. Durability: It should have the desired life.
4. Affordability: It should be economical.
5. Maintainability: It should be easy to maintain.
6. Aesthetic look: It should look attractive.
7. Satisfaction to customers: It should satisfy the customer’s requirements.
8. Safe and foolproof workability.
9. Versatility: It should be used or serve a number of purposes.
10. Economical: It should have a reasonable price.

A product can be said to possess good Quality if all the above requirements are properly balanced while designing and manufacturing it.

Quality Characteristics

An element that makes the product fit for use is the quality characteristics.

It is a physical or chemical attribute or property, a dimension, appearance, temperature, pressure, taste, smell, or any other requirements used to characterize/define the nature of a product or service. It can be classified as:

• Technological -> e.g. dimensional characteristics like diameter, length, width, etc.
• Time oriented -> e.g. Maintainability and reliability etc.
• Psychological -> e.g. Taste, beauty, odour, etc.
• Ethical -> e.g. Integrity and honesty etc.
• Contractual -> e.g. Safety and Guarantee etc.