--- title: "QC, QA, TQC and TQM compared" subject: "Metrology" chapter: 15 key: "semester_3/metrology:quality-control-vs-assurance-tqm" source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_3/metrology/quality-control-vs-assurance-tqm site: BCT Engineering --- # QC, QA, TQC and TQM compared Metrology · Chapter 15: Quality Control Management - Asked in: year not given, 8 marks - Video: [TQC Vs TQM How do they compare](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8w90bKpOvPM) — Array Excellence Academy - Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14 - Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_3/metrology/quality-control-vs-assurance-tqm - Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_3/metrology/chapter-15 ## Question Define quality, quality control, quality assurance, total quality control and total quality management. Differentiate between quality control and quality assurance, and state the main principles of TQM. ## Short answer Quality is fitness for use. QC inspects and tests products to detect defects (reactive). QA sets up system procedures to prevent defects (proactive). TQC and TQM are company-wide quality approaches. The main difference: QC detects, QA prevents. TQM principles: customer focus, leadership, employee involvement, process approach, continuous improvement (PDCA), facts-based decisions, and supplier partnership. ## Answer **Quality** is the degree to which a product or service meets its specification and the needs of the customer ("fitness for use"): performance, reliability, durability, safety, conformance and appearance. - **Quality control (QC):** the operational techniques and activities that check that products conform to specification, and take action on defects (inspection, testing, control charts). It is product oriented. - **Quality assurance (QA):** all the planned and systematic activities (procedures, audits, training, documentation) that give confidence that the quality requirements will be met. It is process oriented. - **Total quality control (TQC):** Feigenbaum's concept in which quality is built into every function of the organisation (design, purchasing, production, sales, service) and the aim is to give customer satisfaction at the lowest cost. - **Total quality management (TQM):** a management philosophy where all employees are involved in continuous improvement of the quality of all products, processes and services to meet or exceed customer expectations. | Point | Quality control | Quality assurance | |---|---|---| | Aim | Find and correct defects | Prevent defects | | Approach | Reactive (detection) | Proactive (prevention) | | Focus | The product | The process and system | | Activity | Inspection, testing, SQC | Audits, procedures, training, documentation | | Responsibility | Quality control department | Everybody, led by management | | Timing | After or during production | Before and during production | #### Principles of TQM 1. Customer focus (internal and external customers). 2. Leadership and commitment of top management. 3. Involvement of all employees and teamwork. 4. Process approach and continuous improvement (Kaizen, PDCA cycle). 5. Decisions based on facts and data (SQC). 6. Supplier partnership. 7. Education and training. ## Check yourself The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why. 1. Which pair correctly contrasts QC and QA? A. QC is reactive, product-oriented detection; QA is proactive, process-oriented prevention B. QC is proactive and process-oriented; QA is reactive C. Both are product-oriented inspection only D. QC is led by management; QA is done only by inspectors Answer: A. QC finds and corrects defects in the product; QA prevents them via procedures, audits and training. (Key point: QC vs QA) 2. What is Feigenbaum's total quality control? A. Inspection of 100 % of finished products B. Quality built into every function of the organisation to give customer satisfaction at lowest cost C. Quality checks by the quality department only D. Use of control charts on the shop floor Answer: B. TQC extends quality responsibility to design, purchasing, production, sales and service. (Key point: TQC) 3. What is TQM? A. A set of inspection techniques for final products B. A one-time audit of the quality system C. A management philosophy with all employees involved in continuous improvement to meet or exceed customer expectations D. A statistical sampling plan Answer: C. TQM covers all products, processes and services and relies on continuous improvement. (Key point: TQM) 4. Which is NOT one of the TQM principles listed? A. Customer focus B. Decisions based on facts and data C. Supplier partnership D. Maximising inspection by a separate department Answer: D. TQM principles include customer focus, leadership, employee involvement, continuous improvement, fact-based decisions, supplier partnership and training; inspection by a separate department is the QC style. (Key point: TQM principles) ## Related in other subjects - [Differentiate quality control and assurance](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fproject_engineering%3Aqa-vs-qc-differentiate) — Project Engineering, chapter 4 - [QA vs QC; types of cost of quality](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fproject_engineering%3Aqa-vs-qc-cost-of-quality) — Project Engineering, chapter 4, asked 2× - [Quality; QA vs QC; site engineer steps](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fproject_engineering%3Aquality-qa-qc-site-engineer-steps) — Project Engineering, chapter 4 - [Quality; QA vs QC; factors in Nepal](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fproject_engineering%3Aquality-qa-qc-nepal-factors) — Project Engineering, chapter 4