They also must ensure that the entire production plant is under quality and safety rules and that everything is of excellent quality and generates well-being for the consumer.

Professionals in this field must meet several requirements and competencies to be able to fill the position.

Specific functions of a quality inspector

The objective of each inspector must focus on avoiding errors that cause damage. That is why they always seek to ensure that everything is controlled and carried out under the security rules established in the company. Next, we break down the functions into three fundamental inspection stages:

• Inspection stage: consists of understanding the indications of the machinery to check if it thoroughly performs all its functions.
•  The production stage includes quality management, not only the product but also the machinery, personnel, and workplace. This process requires the full attention of the inspector, as well as security and trust, to avoid errors.
• Report stage: An inspection report is included here with each specification about the production process. This report is addressed to the production manager. There he will realize the problems found, if quality standards are being met, the number of defective products and machinery without service, and the possible causes.

An inspector has a lot of responsibility, so he must be focused and attentive when doing his job.

Inspection: what is it and how to do it

Quality inspection has been explained above, but what is this process? The word inspection is an examination of products, elements, and the workplace in general with two purposes: to maintain the quality of the product and to reduce possible risks of accidents with the machinery.

To carry out an excellent inspection, it is necessary first to define the areas, aspects, and criteria of said inspections. Also, the frequency and the objective of the same.

Second, the items to be tested must be identified. This way, a list of those presenting problems will be formed. Through these procedures, each business element of the plant will be verified.

Importance of quality control

Foremost, quality controls are those inspection processes that the company undergoes when measuring how much quality a product has. The latter is to compare it with the relationships and rule out quality problems. This way, you could act on the difference you get.

However, quality controls in companies are of great importance. It is because customer satisfaction and good business performance are guaranteed if they are executed exceptionally.

Advantages of quality control

Having quality control means offering products that fully satisfy each customer. The advantages of quality control are many, among the most outstanding we can mention:

• Detailed monitoring of the company’s actions.
• Detection of problems in advance.
• Follow-up of the quality control processes carried out in the plant and its inspections.
• Always seek to improve the quality of the product.
• It modifies the conditions that may exist in the production process.

It is what marks the success of a company. Therefore, each person in charge of this work must be trained to fulfill the role.

Systems used for quality control inspection

These systems work for the measurements of specific product characteristics and materials used. Quality inspection systems are carried out using particular measurement tools, and the preceding is to confirm proper compliance with the requirements.

This type of process verifies products in batches. There are three types of inspection, and we have a review:

1. Sampling: it is based on verifying the final quality of the products in batches. In this way, the time spent reviewing each article is reduced.
2. Attribute: it consists of verifying products or samples, but randomly. Here, they are classified according to whether or not they comply with what is specified.
3. Variables: it is based on examining a measurement module with certain specific characteristics so that its variation can then be reviewed.

In general, all types of quality inspection are intended to confirm whether the system is working correctly.

Benefits of having quality inspectors

Quality inspectors have vital services for each company in its production plants. They perform various tasks that greatly benefit the company. They include the verification and location of product defects throughout their process. Some benefits are:

• Better use of resources, increasing productivity.
• Obtaining greater profitability in the production units leads to a reduction in costs.
• By scrapping defective products, company losses are reduced, and quality gains are increased.

Good quality of the final product favors the success and reputation of the company.

Suppose you are looking to outsource your quality processes so that your products meet the highest quality standards. In that case, AMN Quality Solutions offers a diverse range of quality services that you can implement in your processes and, with them, achieve maximum customer satisfaction. Customers do not wait any longer to save time and resources; AMN is the perfect ally.

Do you have more doubts about your quality services? Contact us; our team will always be willing to give you the best care.

There is a constant desire to obtain more profits within companies since this helps growth. The elimination of waste within these can be crucial to achieving this. That’s why today, we will learn everything about eliminating lean waste.

What is the methodology to eliminate Lean waste?

The elimination of waste in companies is a process that goes hand in hand with the lean methodology. That is an improvement in the effectiveness with which business is managed by focusing on the customer, and it is the basis on which the entire lean strategy stands.

8 Wastes of Lean: How to Optimize Resources

We must focus on the Lean methodology, so it is important to give examples of the seven wastes in a company. These are the ones that generate additional costs that do not allow a real benefit for the company. Let’s see some of them.

Transportation

It is one of the most decisive because many companies carry out excessive transfers. These cover materials, finished products, and even personnel. If these transfers do not produce a profit or their logistics are not optimized. Finally, they become waste.

Movement

It refers to the actions carried out within a company. Both the movement of employees and machinery can generate problems of time wastage and even injuries.

 Inventory

Many companies seek to cover quantities of material and reserve products. While it is good to be cautious, there are also losses to having so much inventory.

 Wait

It presents in the case of lost time while processes conclude within the company. In the same way, delivery times, transfers, and others can also generate waste.

Overprocessing

It is a remarkable element in eliminating lean waste from overspending. When a job does not generate benefits, it is due to unnecessary expenses produced.

Overproduction

It occurs when the sale needs to exceed and when there is a lack of inventory control and sales statistics. It is a critical factor since other waste can start from here. The defects reflect on the products and services, leading to work repetition. There is wasted material, and more must be spent to produce within the company.

Waste of talent

One last element, known as the eighth, is the waste of talent, which may be one of the most important for the company. Since there is poor organization and constant destruction in other aspects, much of the human talent will consequently make useless efforts that, in many cases, can cause their separation from the company due to impotence, causing a poorly organized structure.

¿What strategies to reduce material waste can cover all these problems?

The truth is that the lean methodology contemplates different efficient procedures to achieve this goal, and it is required to understand them before starting with them.

How to reduce the 7+1 waste of Lean Manufacturing

We already know the problems that companies face, so how to avoid the waste of raw materials? The key is making the right decisions and attending to the most relevant points of the Lean Manufacturing strategy:

●       Know the value the consumer is giving to your products. We know that each job by itself generates value, but this must be following the client. Eliminating lean waste is based on achieving maximum value in the eyes of the customer.

●     Establish a map of the entire flow of expenses and work that leads to value generation. Are you missing out on profit? Do you know where in the value chain this is happening? From here, you can plan how to eliminate the seven wastes.

●      Once we identify problems in the operational flow, it is time to create solutions. We will eliminate waste in companies, reducing any possibility of interruption.

●      Go for the pull system, based on planning based on demand. Nothing necessary will manufacture and, in this way, overwork, described as waste, is avoided.

●      Study the process and clarify the flaws that may be subject to improvement.

So, these are the bases that support the elimination of waste through Lean Manufacturing. However, you are probably wondering if there is proof that this is effective.

Lean Manufacturing Usage Examples

What better way to understand the effectiveness of this system than with examples of the seven wastes in a company and their solutions? Many have been corporations have been subject to these strategies. The results speak for themselves:

· Nike has applied strategies to reduce employee failures in domestic and foreign plants. By enhancing the worker role, the value of the product and the company rose considerably.

· Intel has focused on reducing the time it takes to manufacture microchips. However, that is why it has used Lean Manufacturing and precise quality controls. Thus, the elimination of waste has been possible.

· Toyota has been one of the pioneering companies in lean manufacturing, patenting its production system. They have managed to attack defects and waste, thus creating a very efficient production system.

We can see how important it is to reduce scrap in a company. By junk, we mean waste that reduces the company’s productivity. Hence, large corporations increasingly place more emphasis on these strategies.

Would you like to put into practice the strategies to reduce the waste of materials? We have a solution for you, and you are about to discover it.

AMN Quality Solutions is thinking about eliminating Lean waste

There is no better option when it comes to lean manufacturing and to eliminate lean waste. AMN Quality Solutions is the ally that will allow you to access the best technology and processes to avoid waste. We have a long history that has supported us for years.

Contact us and discover everything we have for you.

Quality control is a strategy that companies cannot ignore if their objective is to be competitive. Quality control inspects compliance with standards established by companies and regulatory agencies to guarantee quality to consumers and achieve optimum customer satisfaction. 

Although factors such as size or age influence a company’s success, one of the most important aspects of competitiveness are quality, which involves the quality management of products or services, as well as a quality culture that consists of every member of the company.

One of the essential standards in quality supervision is ISO 9001; for maximum use, companies must adopt this culture in all their departments, processes, products, and services.

What is product quality control?

The quality inspection of a product is the review and compliance with the standards set by the company and the industry for that resource, here are evaluated from aesthetic details or attributes such as color, prints, prints, tears or visible flaws as well as variables that are different versions of the product; different colors, sizes or components.

What is the quality control of a service?

Like products, the quality of service can be evaluated by considering its attributes and variables. The characteristics of a service can be the established deadlines or the quantitative aspects offered; the variables are the different adaptations the service has according to cost, customer, or availability.

How is quality controlled in the production area?

There are different production quality control techniques, but most are based on fundamental evaluation aspects.

• Define the lot and a sample: The number of products to be inspected must be delimited to make the process efficient by using the data intelligently.
• Based on the standard: before starting an evaluation, it is essential to establish the metrics that differentiate a Conforming product from a Non-Conforming one.
• Establish the time of collection: a quality inspection can be performed at various times and parts of the process. At this stage, it is defined in which position it will be done: during production, at the beginning, or at the end.
• Performs the inspection and filters: in this stage, it is necessary to separate the units that have defects from the Conforming ones; with this separation, it is also defined in the Non-Conforming material can be reworked or discarded.
• Failure analysis: it is not only essential to detect failures, but it is also important to analyze what caused them.
• Decisions based on data: after analyzing the failures and establishing which parts of the process the quality standards are not being achieved, it is necessary to propose strategies to improve the production process: change of equipment, personnel training, and even raw material.

Main challenges in quality control

Implementing a quality control system without the necessary commitment can result in companies failing to realize the benefits. Many times after establishing a quality strategy come different challenges due to the lack of involvement of essential areas such as top management, archaic or disorderly methods in documentation, or no action on the results. 

Here are some of the main problems that companies face when they do not have integral quality control:

• Top management is not involved in the implementation process: outsourcing quality services has proven to be the most effective strategy, however, to achieve the best results it is necessary that the company does not remain oblivious to this process and the data it provides.

“Sixty percent of organizations surveyed by the American Society for Quality (ASQ) in its “State of Global Quality 2016″ study stated that the vast majority of executives do not know or do not measure the financial impact of quality.”

• Failing to document errors or doing so in a disorganized manner: the sole function of quality inspection is not to detect the mistakes, send them to rework or discard them. Optimal quality control will generate data on errors made to gain perspective on needed improvements and implement corrective actions.
• Many companies can perform the entire process, but having scattered data on different platforms or not giving the proper follow-up can also hinder improvement.
• Few audits and few reports: companies that implement audits yearly are not taking advantage of their resources; effective reviews should be frequent.
• Lack of training and little knowledge of the product: people in charge of manufacturing should understand their job as much as possible; this will not only make them understand why to avoid bad practices but will lead to an improvement of the process from that angle.
• Little attention to suppliers: often, the short time and blind trust in our suppliers make us overlook failures in the raw material, which can hinder our workflow.
• Not having the same quality criteria in all areas and departments: product quality is not only the responsibility of the production area, all areas are involved, from Human Resources to logistics, if something is failing, it will probably contaminate the performance of other areas. Even the hiring of personnel must be done under the quality control criteria.
• Consider the resources allocated to quality control as an expense: many finance departments do not consider the cost-benefit of investing in quality processes. The benefits of a well-implemented quality inspection can be seen in several aspects. Still, the most important ones are the reduction of expenses and the improvement of production times, which leads to a considerable improvement in profitability.

There is no doubt that not leaving your inspections in the hands of professionals can cause your company more quality problems than good results, so it is always advisable to turn to professionals with extensive experience and have correctly structured processes.
AMN has 30 years of experience in quality services, being part of the growth of companies that today compete worldwide, besides being the trusted quality suppliers of multinational companies that have found in AMN the professional support they needed to operate in Mexico and the United States.