Why is quality important for businesses? Why do some companies care so much about quality, while others disregard it? Why is quality so important and what does it really mean? Below are some of the answers you have probably been asking yourself.
Quality is defined in the Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary Tenth Addition as “a quality of sound or shape or the quality of being shaped.” This quality is most often found in products of a physical nature. Products that feel good to touch, look good to the eye, or perform well when used in a typical manner. When a product meets the above criteria, then it is said to be of quality. It is important to the owner, operator, and consumers to meet these standards, since this leads to a better standard of living and a better economy.
Why is quality important to consumers? People want to buy a quality product, and they expect the same from their businesses. Most customers will not return if they have purchased sub-par products. Companies are held to a higher standard because they reap the benefits of good name recognition, and positive word-of-mouth referrals. These are all benefits that directly affect business sales.
Another reason quality matters is that it affects product confidence and trust. If a product is of high quality, consumers will be more likely to purchase than a lower quality product. Trust and confidence can be earned over time with a solid product’s performance, and it will only continue to grow once a consumer has a positive experience with a given product.
Lastly, quality assurance is key to product distribution. Having quality control of every step in the distribution process makes it easier for a company to offer a variety of products to its market. Distributing a product without quality assurance can lead to product returns and tarnish a company’s reputation in the marketplace. This holds true for every industry, but particularly true for the manufacturing industry.
There are countless ways to achieve quality assurance in any given business. While it may not seem important now, quality assurance will play a large role in a business’ ability to remain relevant and viable in the future. With competition becoming harsher and profit margins are shrinking, a company has to make every effort to maintain quality in order to keep customers happy and keep profits up. Consumers don’t want to pay extra for sub-par products; they want quality that won’t break the budget. For any business, this is the mantra of success.