Environmental, Health and Safety News, Resources & Best Practices

Best Practices for Quality Control Inspections

Written by Catherine Tims | July 11, 2023 at 4:00 PM

In a variety of industries, it’s important to perform quality control inspections and functions. This can be the last line of defense when it comes to making sure customers are receiving quality products. The key is being able to perform the right type of inspection for quality control purposes. This is where some companies can fall behind because if their quality control isn’t performed the right way, flawed products can still find their way to customers. That’s why we wanted to squash this potential problem by sharing the best practices for businesses in any industry to perform quality control inspections.

Use the Right Language

The language used during quality control inspections is important. It’s critical for employees and inspectors to be on the same page with the words being used and what those words mean. If there is a different language between these two parties or their definition of keywords isn’t the same, it’ll be easy for things to get lost in translation. Company leaders just need to take the time to make sure that everyone is using the same language and seeing eye to eye in that regard.

Define Criteria

Along those same lines, the criteria of what’s acceptable and what isn’t acceptable when it comes to quality needs to be clear. Both parties need to be working from the same criteria so that if something fails a quality control inspection, the employees who put that product together understand why. Ideally, workers will know before the quality control inspection that a product is going to pass or fail. But this is only possible if everyone is on the same page when it comes to the criteria that are checked by quality control employees.

Utilize Checklists

Using checklists can be one of the most efficient ways of performing quality control inspections and keeping everyone on the same page. The checklist will provide a rundown of everything that will be done during an inspection and how products should be inspected. Of course, it’s best for all parties to have access to a quality control checklist in the interest of everyone being on the same page.

Always Provide Feedback

There should always be some type of feedback involved in a quality control inspection. Even if a product passes, that doesn’t mean it’s perfect. At the same time, if a product receives a high grade after being inspected, employees should receive positive feedback about the work they’re doing. In fact, receiving positive feedback can help let employees know that they’re doing a good job and inspire them to keep doing everything the right way. Of course, if there are ways that employees can improve, that should also be a part of the feedback provided during quality control inspections.

Keep Communication Open

Perhaps more than anything, there should be an open line of communication between employees creating products and those performing quality control inspections. This is the only way that the two parties can be on the same page when it comes to the language used, the criteria for quality checks, and the feedback being provided. The more these two parties talk, the better everyone will be in the long run.

Check Safety 

When it comes to quality control, it’s important not to overlook the element of safety. Are these products being made in a way that adheres to the company’s safety protocols and policies? The best way to inspect workplace safety is with safety management software. That’s why the system offered by EHS Insight can be a good fit for any business. Our system is designed to monitor every element of safety, including hazard identification, training, and compliance. This means that safety is always monitored and managed properly to help create the safest environment possible.

If your business values the safety of its employees, let’s talk about the role our software can play in creating a safe workplace for them.