Introduction:

Quality refers to certain standards and the ways and means by which those standards are achieved, maintained and improved upon. One can find a number of definitions of quality. Definition of the quality will be influenced by how well numerous aspects of performance are able to provide satisfaction of multiple wants and further distinguished by the subjective importance attached by the individual.

 

Quality characteristics:

Some characteristics of quality are product/service related and others are process related.

(i) Grade:A category or rank indicator of products, processes or services intended for the same functional use, but with a different set of needs (ISO/TC 176 [1984]).

 

(ii) Imperfection:A departure of a quality characteristic from its intended level or state without any association with conformance to specification requirementsor to usability of a product or service (ASQC A1 [1978]).

 

(iii) Nonconformity:A departure of a quality characteristic from its intended level or state that occurs with a severity sufficient to cause an associated product or service not to meet a specification requirement (ANSUASQC A1 [1978]).

 

(iv) Defect:A departure of a quality characteristic from its intended level or state that occurs with a severity sufficient to cause an associated product or service not to satisfy intended normal or reasonably foreseeable, usage requirements. (ANSI/ASQC A1 [1978])