quality control
KWAH-li-tee kun-TROHL
/ˈkwɒlɪti kənˈtrəʊl/
A system of maintaining standards in manufactured products by testing a sample of the output against the specification.
Specifically refers to the 'checking' phase to catch errors.
The story behind the word. Quality comes from 'qualis' (of what kind). 'Control' comes from 'counter-roll', a duplicate record used to verify accounts. So, quality control is checking the 'kind' of thing you made against a 'record' of what it should be.
Word relationships
- inspection: Inspection is a single act of looking; quality control is the entire systematic process.
Commonly confused with
- quality assurance: Quality Control (QC) is reactive (finding bugs); Quality Assurance (QA) is proactive (preventing bugs).
Collocations
- quality control standards
- strict quality control
- quality control manager
- pass quality control
Example sentences
- "Quality control is not just about finding defects; it is about improving the process so defects do not occur." W. Edwards Deming on manufacturing.
Memory hook
QC = Questioning the Creation. Quality Control = Controlling the Quality.
When not to use
Don't confuse with 'Quality Assurance', which is the process of preventing errors before they happen.
Fun facts
- Modern quality control was heavily influenced by statistical methods developed during World War II to ensure ammunition was reliable.
Related words
Explore more words
assurance, inspection, deviation, calibration, standardized, specification
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