Quality control planning is aimed at setting up an efficient system to ensure relevant quality control goals are established and reached. Particular goals will vary depending on the organization, so quality control planning must first be concerned with determining appropriate criteria. The best way to do this is by gaining a clear understanding of consumer demands and the organization's current ability to meet them.
One of the most important aspects to developing a quality control plan is consumer input. This is true in all types of organizations that provide a service or product, both in the non-profit and for-profit sectors. The consumer for whom the service or product is designed should play an integral role in defining the standards that measure its quality.
It generally is best to conduct extensive research into customer preferences before drafting an initial plan. While some alterations and additions to any quality control plan will be necessary over time, it is better to start off with a plan that meets all the basic requirements of the customer. If the standards and regulations of a quality control scheme are in constant flux, as will be the case with any that is not based on solid research, it will likely cause confusion and disorder within the organization.
While meeting all customer requirements should be the ultimate aim in quality control planning, this might not always be immediately possible. Consideration must also be given to what all the parties involved in delivering the service or product are actually capable of producing. If necessary resources are lacking, realistic plans should also be established to try to attain those resources and thus make room for enhancing quality in the future.
Quality control planning should involve more than just the management team and customers as well. It is important to consult with employees across departments to understand both their capabilities as well as their concerns related to maintaining or developing quality in their respective areas. A quality control plan must be comprehensive and provide detailed instructions and standards to everyone involved at every stage of a service's or product's development and delivery.
Extensive training also should be provided before a new quality control plan is put into practice. Additionally, once all employees are aware of the requirements that concern their job roles, their success in meeting these requirements must be checked regularly. Customers opinions regarding quality should also be regularly canvassed. Quality control planning is a continuous process and, for an organization to improve, new goals should constantly be sought while previously established standards are maintained.
