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Quality Control (QC)
Definition
Quality Control, commonly abbreviated as QC, is the operational process of inspecting, measuring, testing, and verifying products, services, or outputs to ensure that they conform to predefined quality standards before reaching customers or subsequent stages of operation.
Unlike Quality Assurance, which focuses on preventing defects through process improvement, Quality Control identifies defects after production or service delivery has occurred. QC activities may include inspections, sampling, testing, performance verification, audits, and acceptance criteria designed to detect deviations from expected standards.
Effective Quality Control provides valuable feedback that supports continuous improvement by identifying recurring issues, process weaknesses, training needs, or equipment problems contributing to quality variation.
Why It Matters
Organizations that consistently monitor quality reduce customer complaints, warranty costs, operational rework, reputational damage, and regulatory risk. Quality Control also provides measurable evidence that products and services meet customer expectations before they enter the market.