Changing phases of quality department: An Indian experience

Abstract

Organization for quality has remained static, though the name has been changing from time to time. The competitive environment of today is demanding products of high quality at lesser cost. Industries have been caught unawares and do not know how to face this price war. Cost has to be brought down, while quality level has to go up-quite an uphill task. The need of the hour is aggressive practice of QC by one and all. QC department has to take a lead in promoting and facilitating prevention among the employees. One of the reasons for todays's limping status of quality improvement programmes in many companies is a weak QC department. Management cannot aff ord to be inactive on this issue of reorganization of QC department any more. The sooner it is done, the better it is. There is a need for total restructuring of QC department. This paper discusses the issues to be addressed by QC department, the type of organization structure it should have and how to bring in a change in QC department.