Kinds of Quality Control

Total Quality Control

“Total quality control”, also called total quality management, is an approach that extends beyond ordinary statistical quality control techniques and quality improvement methods. It implies a complete overview and re-evaluation of the specification of a product, rather than just considering a more limited set of changeable features within an existing product. If the original specification does not reflect the correct quality requirements, quality cannot be inspected or manufactured into the product. For instance, the design of a pressure vessel should include not only the material and dimensions, but also operating, environmental, safety, reliability and maintainability requirements, and documentation of findings about these requirements.

Analytical quality control, commonly shortened to AQC refers to all those processes and procedures designed to ensure that the results of laboratory analysis are consistent, comparable, accurate and within specified limits of precision.

AQC processes are of particular importance in Laboratories analyzing environmental samples where the concentration of chemical species present may be extremely low and close to the detection limit of the analytical method. Very low concentrations of potentially harmful materials in a very large flow of a major river can equate to a considerable environmental load even at concentrations in the parts per billion range.

In well managed laboratories, AQC processes are built into the routine operations of the laboratory often by the random introduction of known standards in to the sample stream or by the use of spiked samples.

Because of the complex inter-relationship between analytical method, sample concentration, limits of detection and method precision, the management of AQC is undertaken using a statistical approach to determine whether the results obtained lie within an acceptable statistical envelope.

In circumstances where more than laboratory are analysing samples and feeding data into a large programme of work such as theHarmonised monitoring scheme in the UK, AQC can also be applied to validate one laboratory against another. In such cases the work may be referred to as inter laboratory calibration.

Which approach to managing quality is best?  Here is a summary of the main considerations:

This article is about the project management process.

Quality control, or QC for short, is a process by which entities review the quality of all factors involved in production. This approach places an emphasis on three aspects:

1.    Elements such as controls, job management, defined and well managed processes, performance and integrity criteria, and identification of records

2.    Competence, such as knowledge, skills, experience, and qualifications

3.    Soft elements, such as personnel integrity, confidence, organizational culture, motivation, team, and quality relationships.

The quality of the outputs is at risk if any of these three aspects is deficient in any way.

Quality control emphasizes testing of products to uncover defects and reporting to management who make the decision to allow or deny product release, whereas quality assurance attempts to improve and stabilize production (and associated processes) to avoid, or at least minimize, issues which led to the defect(s) in the first place. For contract work, particularly work awarded by government agencies, quality control issues are among the top reasons for not renewing a contract.

The ISO 9000 family of standards relate to quality management systems and are designed to help organizations ensure they meet the needs of customers and other stakeholders (Poksinska et al, 2002 ). The standards are published by ISO, the International Organization for Standardization and available through National standards bodies. ISO 9000 deals with the fundamentals of quality management systems (Tsimet al, 2002), including the eight management principles (Beattie and Sohal, 1999; Tsim et al, 2002 ) on which the family of standards is based. ISO 9001 deals with the requirements that organizations wishing to meet the standard have to fulfill.

Third party certification bodies provide independent confirmation that organizations meet the requirements of ISO 9001. Over a million organizations worldwide are independently certified, making ISO 9001 one of the most widely used management tools in the world today.

The ISO family of standards is the only international standard that addresses systemic change, the idea of system change is best summarized by W.E. Deming, the holistic transformation of the organization is the single most important factor and is often overlooked. The global adoption of ISO 9001 may be attributable to a number of factors. A number of major purchasers require their suppliers to hold ISO 9001 certification. In addition to several stakeholders’ benefits, a number of studies have identified significant financial benefits for organizations certified to ISO 9001, with a 2011 survey from the British Assessment Bureau showing 44% of their certified clients had won new business.Corbett et al (2005) showed that certified organizations achieved superior return on assets compared to otherwise similar organizations without certification. Heras et al (2002) found similarly superior performance and demonstrated that this was statistically significant and not a function of organization size. Naveh and Marcus (2007) showed that implementing ISO 9001 led to superior operational performance.Sharma (2005) identified similar improvements in operating performance and linked this to superior financial performance. Chow-Chua et al (2002)  showed better overall financial performance was achieved for companies in Denmark. Rajan and Tamimi (2003) showed that ISO 9001 certification resulted in superior stock market performance and suggested that shareholders were richly rewarded for the investment in an ISO 9001 system.

While the connection between superior financial performance and ISO 9001 may be seen from the above, there remains no proof of direct causation, though longitudinal studies, such as those of Corbett et al (2005) may suggest it. Other writers such as Heras et al (2002) have suggested that while there is some evidence of this, the improvement is partly driven by the fact that there is a tendency for better performing companies to seek ISO 9001 certification.

The mechanism for improving results has also been the subject of much research. Lo et al (2007) identified operational improvements (cycle time reduction, inventory reductions, etc.) as following from certification. Buttle (1997) and Santos (2002) both indicated internal process improvements in organizations leading to externally observable improvements. Hendricks and Singhal (2001)  results indicate that firms outperform their control group during the post implementation period and effective implementation of total quality management principles and philosophies leads to significant wealth creation. The benefit of increased international trade and domestic market share, in addition to the internal benefits such as customer satisfaction, interdepartmental communications, work processes, and customer/supplier partnerships derived, far exceeds any and all initial investment according to Alcorn.

TRANSPORT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM OF NEPAL

Nepalese transport management is affected by existing topographical condition of the country. Due to this only means of transport used in the country are road transport and air transport. In this paper only road transport is discussed. During the Tenth Plan period, the vehicle transport management

• Private sector participation will be increased in legal, institutional and policy-related improvement

and transport management.

• Modern technologies will be used for driving license, number plate and vehicular emission.

• Capacity of concerned agencies and human resources will be enhanced.

• Implementation of third-party insurance provision will be made effective.

Policy and Working Policies

• Through an improvement in policy, legal, institutional system and technology, highways will be made safe, reliable, effective and modern.

• Institutional improvement will be carried out for effective development and management of the transport sector; and by establishing an autonomous National Transport Board, partnership and        co-operation with private sector will be strengthened.

• By operating vehicles in a competitive environment, certainly, cost effectiveness and economic capability will be achieved in transport service, and the syndicate system will be abolished.

• Priority will be given to public transportation system.

• By involving the private sector in transport, making it competitive, attractive and responsible, the

transport system will be strengthened. In addition, polluting vehicles will be phased out.

• Embossed number plate will be installed in vehicles and smart card will replace the existing driving

license.

• By computerizing the archive system related to transport management, prompt and reliable service will be provided. National network of vehicle and transport service will be built.

• For pollution control, necessary mechanism will be established in urban areas including the

Kathmandu Valley, and public awareness on this issue will be enhanced.

• Effective co-ordination will be established among the concerned agencies involved in transport management.

• Office of Transport Management will be constructed and renovated, and will be made resourceful.

• By carrying a study on road accidents, possible causes and the reasons of accidents will be

identified, and necessary precautions will be taken.

• Travel cost in vehicles will be subsidized for senior citizens and persons with disability on the basis

of identity cards.Major Programs

• Legal and institutional improvement program.

• Modernization of number plate and driving license.

• Purchase of equipments to check number plates and the driving license system.

• Monitoring system strengthening program.

• Building construction, and expansion and strengthening of Transport Management Offices.

• Detail study, research and formulation of master plan for the strengthening of the transport sector.

• Trainings to women and persons with disability on driving and transport service.

• Refresher training to transport workers.

• Sticker system to differentiate vehicles driven by persons with disability.

• Public awareness program on road accidents. Expected Outcomes

• Road accidents will decrease due to improvement in transport administration.

• Number plates and driving license will be of quality standard, safe and at par with the international

standard.

• Vehicular pollution will decrease.Expected ………

• On site monitoring system will be established for vehicular inspection.

• Competitive and economical transport system will be developed.

• Detailed project report for the strengthening of the transport sector will be prepared.Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation

Upon implementation of the above programs, services will be provided through a computerized system, which would bring effectiveness in implementation. Through decentralization

of transport management, concerned human resources will be trained. An effective mechanism will be built to establish co-ordination among concerned agencies related to transport management. Through regular monitoring and evaluation, emerging problems will be solved. 30Public Transportation Planning, Multi-modal integration and Transport Demand Management

Features and Challenges

• Primarily, private sector has been providing public transportation facilities

• All the airlines except one are operating privately.

• Means of public transport are: buses, minibuses, microbuses, tempos

(three wheelers) and taxis (cars). Public Transportation

• Government provides permission to the public transport providers.

• Government is trying to make permission system more transparent and efficient.

• In remote areas, even in certain districts, there is no motor road network. People are demanding

for the construction of motor roads in those areas.

• In area having motor roads, maintenance of roads has become a challenge. In certain roads

authorities have started to raise funds from the vehicles for using particular roads.

• Government is planning to extend networks of motor-able roads to each and every districts and also to improve the quality of roads and proper maintenance.

• Replacement of old vehicles also is a challenge. As the age of vehicles has not been declared, pollution created due to the emission of vehicle has also become a challenge for Nepal.

• Government in trying to implement vehicle replacement program also.

• Scientific and appropriate system for determining fares of public vehicles has become another challenge for the country.

• There is 51 KM railway transport connecting Janakpur to Jayanagar(India). Out of this only 29 KM is in operation. Similarly, dry ports of Birgunj and Bhairahawa are connected directly to the Calcutta

port with broad guage railway. Initiatives taken to make transport system environmentally sustainable

• There is provision of compulsory environmental impact assessment for the construction of new roads and highways.

• Introduction of compulsory pollution testing to vehicles.

• Conversion of  diesel engines three wheelers into battery operating system four wheelers (esp. micro buses) into gas (LPG)systemRegistration of Vehicles According to

Categories

Fiscal Year 2007/08(Mid July)

Category of Vehicle Number

Bus 17,842

Mini-bus 6,902

Crane/dozer/truck 36,794

Car/jeep/van 93,266

Pick up  3,419

Micro-bus  1,935

Tempo (three wheeler)  7,353

Motor cycle 4,89,686

Tractor   40,104

Others      5,741

Total 7,03,044

Source: Department of Transport Management Distribution of license

Fiscal Year 2007/08 (Mid July)

Category of Vehicle Number

Distributed by police up to 2002/03 7,21,246

Fiscal year 2003/04 18,125

Fiscal year 2004/05 62,920

Fiscal year 2005/06 87,778

Fiscal year 2006/07  1,35,856

Fiscal year 2007/08  2,14,709

Total 12,40,634

Source: Department of Transport Management Non motorized transport

• Non motorized transport varies according to the topography of the

country.

• In southern part and other plain areas there are bicycle, rickshaw, horse driven carts as well as bullock carts.

• In hilly areas horses, mules and donkeys are used for transport of both goods and human beings. Non motorized…

• In high mountain regions especially goats and yaks are used for transport.

• Porters are also used for carrying goods.

• There is no alternative cheap means of transport to walking in many parts of the country.Land use measures of pollution reduction in the transport sector

• Road construction – environment impact analysis is a must.

• Survey phase – Attention is given to choose the route that makes least destruction of forest and landscape and least cost required to make bridges and other necessary arrangements.

Road safety measures & public

Road safety measures & public health issues related to transportation

• Route permission for vehicles is based on the condition of vehicle.

• There are criteria for route permission. The criteria permits limited number of vehicles to

run in specific roads

• Traffic law including traffic

• Provision of Insurance of vehicles & travelers

• Compulsory provision of ambulances

• Speed limit

• Punishment system

• Accident control measures

• Vehicle pollution testProblems, Challenges and Opportunities

Problems

• Lack of expansion of road in proportion to the increase in number of vehicles.

• Slow progress in the vehicular management system.

• Rising number of accidents.

• Syndicate system among private entrepreneurs.

• Rising pollution rate.Challenges

• To Update the Vehicle and Transport Management Act and Regulation.

• To manage the complete record of transport and vehicles, effectively.

• To modernize transport management by using new technology, number plates and driving license.

• Availability of financial and human resources.

• To make transport business competitive and service-oriented.

• Co-ordination among stakeholders.

• Old vehicles still in operation

• Minimum required condition of vehicle not properly followed

• Insurance policy

• Difficulty of treatment in case of accidents

• To expand the road network all over the country

Opportunities

• Increase in revenue.

• Emerging private sector investment. Institutional Framework

Ministry of Labour and Transport

Management (MOLTM) is the apex government body to formulate transportation policy and programs in the country. Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology (MOEST) is the apex

body to formulate policies related to environment and to provide guidelines and set standards for pollution control including emissions from vehicles. The Department of Transport Management

and 13 Transport Management Offices are working under MOLTM in different parts of country for implementing transportation policies, programs and projects.

Oracle Transportation Management delivers robust transportation planning and execution capabilities to shippers and third party logistics providers. It integrates and streamlines transportation planning, execution, freight payment, and business process automation on a single application across all modes of transportation, from full truckload to complex multileg air, ocean, and rail shipments.

Oracle Transportation Management lowers transportation costs, improves customer service and asset utilization, and provides flexible, global fulfillment options.

Tight Integration, Modular Adoption

Regardless of the size or volume of your business, Oracle Transportation Management delivers the capabilities you need in an open, standards-based architecture that allows you to start with a single component or a mix of components. It also provides the flexibility to grow easily, without installing or reinstalling added functionality.

Oracle Transportation Management can be used with an enterprise resource planning or legacy order management system, as well as any commercial best-of-breed or legacy warehouse management system.

As we’ve reported extensively, Transportation Management Systems (TMS) continue to enjoy very strong market growth and adoption.

Nonetheless, by some accounts, only 20-30% of even large companies have implemented strong packaged TMS solutions.

But recent research by Forrester finds that isn’t for a lack of benefits. In a recent report on TMS, it says that on average, companies deploying new TMS technology expect savings of 8% in terms of total freight spend – a sizable number for almost any company.

The graphic below, taken from the Forrester report, takes the benefits of TMS a bit further, looking at how TMS adopters described both quantitative and qualitative benefits from the systems.

An important new wrinkle is the growth in on-demand TMS solutions, which are becoming increasingly popular, though traditional deployments are still the majority.

A Transportation Management System (TMS) is a software system designed to manage transportation operations.

TMS are one of the systems managing the supply chain. They belong to a sub-group called Supply chain execution (SCE). TMS, whether it is part of an Enterprise Level ERP System or from an integrated “Best of Breed” Independent Software Vendor(ISV) has become a critical part of any (SCE) Supply Chain Execution and Collaboration System in which real time exchange of information with other SCE modules has become mission critical.

In more recent times, we have seen that these systems are being offered in many different types of licensing arrangements. These different arrangements have given shippers who otherwise would not be able to afford sophisticated software the opportunity to utilize TMS to better manage this vital function. The 3 primary offerings are:

• 1. On-Premise Licensing (traditional purchased license)
• 2. Hosted (remote, Saas, Cloud)
• 3. On-Premise Hosted Licensing (a blend of 1 & 2)

Additionally, we are seeing that some software providers have either been acquired or merged with traditional supply chain management consultancies and are now offering shippers “blended” managed and software services as an outsourced process. Primary Tier 1 TMS providers are still independent, carrier and 3PL neutral, and ERP neutral.

TMS usually “sits” between an ERP or legacy order processing and warehouse/distribution module. A typical scenario would include both inbound (procurement) and outbound (shipping) orders to be evaluated by the TMS Planning Module offering the user various suggested routing solutions. These solutions are evaluated by the user for reasonableness and are passed along to the transportation provider analysis module to select the best mode and least cost provider. Once the best provider is selected, the solution typically generates electronic load tendering and track/trace to execute the optimized shipment with the selected carrier, and later to support freight audit and payment (settlement process). Links back to ERP systems (after orders turned into optimal shipments), and sometimes secondarily to WMS programs also linked to ERP are also common. Most TMS systems help shipper directly work with asset-based carriers and support dis-intermediation (including avoiding use of non-asset based brokers and other intermediaries).

Functionalities

Transportation Management Systems manage three key processes of transportation management:

• 1. Planning and Decision Making

TMS will define the most efficient transport schemes according to given parameters, which have a lower or higher importance according to the user policy: transport cost, shorter lead-time, fewer stops possible to ensure quality, flows regrouping coefficient…

• 2. Transport follow-up

TMS will allow following any physical or administrative operation regarding transportation: traceability of transport event by event (shipping from A, arrival at B, customs clearance…), editing of reception, custom clearance, invoicing and booking documents, sending of transport alerts (delay, accident, non-forecast stops…)

• 3. Measurement

TMS have or need to have a Logistics KPI reporting function for transport.

Various functions of a TMS:

• Planning and optimizing of terrestrial transport rounds
• Transportation mode and carrier selection
• Management of air and maritime transport
• Real time vehicles tracking
• Service quality control
• Vehicle Load and Route optimization
• Transport costs and scheme simulation
• Shipment batching of orders
• Cost control, KPI (Key performance indicators) reporting and statistics
  • Typical KPIs include but not limited to:

1.  % of On Time Pick Up or Delivery Performance relative to requested
2. Cost Per Metric – mile; km; Weight; Cube; Pallet

Inventory control system

Modern inventory control systems often rely upon barcodes and RFID tags to provide automatic identification of inventory objects. In an academic study performed at Wal-Mart, RFID reduced Out of Stocks by 30 percent for products selling between 0.1 and 15 units a day. Inventory objects could include any kind of physical asset: merchandise, consumables, fixed assets, circulating tools, library books, or capital equipment. To record an inventory transaction, the system uses a barcode scanner or RFID reader to automatically identify the inventory object, and then collects additional information from the operators via fixed terminals (workstations), or mobile computers.

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 Optimize inventory and customer satisfaction

• Warehouses and storage bins (multiple warehouse use available).
• Stock products in multiple units (for example in kilograms and boxes).
• Personalized product attributes in the warehouse (color, size, quality description, etc.).
• Lot and serial numbers.
• Management of bundles in warehouses.
• Restocking control.
• Traceability configurable by product.
• Movement among warehouses.
• Physical inventory. Inventory planning. Continuous inventory.
• Reports of movements, tracking, stock, arrivals/departures, expiry, inventories, locations, etc. Personalized reports.
• Integrated with Openbravo POS
  • Synchronization and control of the stock in the shop floor