Analyse two benefits to WP of using quality assurance.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (May/June 2023). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. Quality assurance: a system of agreeing and meeting quality standards at each stage of production.
2. Contrast to quality control which is checking based on inspection of the product or a sample of products.
3. Quality standards assured
4. Satisfied customers
5. Motivated employees
6. Less waste
7. Greater competitiveness
8. Reduced costs
9. Problems identified during process
10. Need for final inspection reduced or removed
11. Easier to trace where faults occur
12. Employees have greater responsibility for making sure their work meets standards
13. Greater employee involvement in decision making
14. WP uses wood as key material in production.
15. WP customers are retailers.
16. Employees are skilled and paid a combination of a wage plus piece rate.
17. Employees check their own work.
18. Toys are designed well and have excellent quality – USP.
19. Firm has grown rapidly.
20. (quality standards assured) faults with products will be identified ensuring that quality standards are met which will increase customer satisfaction AN and this will increase repeat custom resulting in higher sales. L2AN
21. (less waste) as employees are responsible for checking the wooden toys for faults APP there will be less waste of materials which will reduce costs AN resulting in an increase in profits. L2AN
22. (reduced costs) employee checking of quality will reduce costs and therefore enable WP to offer more competitive prices AN resulting in an increase in sales and therefore profit. L2AN
23. (motivation of employees) greater responsibility for quality may increase the motivation of employees which will lead to an increase in work effort and productivity AN and therefore increase output of wooden toys. L2AN
24. Problems identified in production so costs of correcting are lower
25. Reduced cost of final inspection so less or no quality inspectors need to be employed
26. Fault finding easier so future costs saved increasing production efficiency
27. Accountability for quality/errors is improved so production workers take more care and waste is reduced.
28. Greater employee motivation and feeling of being in a team so less conflict and more efficiency.