Automotive Quality Systems Handbook, 2nd Edition

However, one can control results by installing sensors before, during or after the results

are created. It all depends on where you install the sensor, what you measure and the

consequences of failure.

The progressive development of controls from having no control of quality to installing

controls at all key stages from the beginning to the end of the product cycle is illustrated

in Figure 1.5. As can be seen, if you have no controls, quality products are produced by

chance and not by design. The more controls you install the more certain you are of pro-

ducing products of consistent quality but more control does not mean more inspection.

Control before the event

Some failures cannot be allowed to occur and so must be prevented from happening

through rigorous planning and design. One example is the use of reliability prediction

performed before the design is complete to predict whether product reliability will meet

the specification. Another is the use of competence-based assessment techniques where

personnel are under close supervision until they demonstrate competences following

which supervisory controls are removed. This allows you to remove output checks because

you know that if you were to inspect the work you would find it to be correct. Instead

of checking every product produced, you check competency periodically and assign

responsibility to personnel for checking their own work. Another method is the use of

prevention-based error-proofing mechanisms that sense an abnormality that is about to

happen, and then signal the occurrence or halt processing, depending on the severity,

frequency or downstream consequences.

Control during the event

Some failures must be corrected immediately using automatic controls or error proofing.

By continuous monitoring of parameters in a processing plant the temperature, pressure,

quantities, etc. are adjusted to maintain output within specified limits. Electronic compon-

ents are designed so that they can only be inserted in the correct orientation. Computer

programs are designed so that routines will not run unless the correct type of data is

entered in every field.

Basic concepts 31

Requirement

Plan Do Check

Remedial

action

Corrective

action

Conforms?

No

Feedback loop

Product/

service

Yes

Figure 1.4 Generic control model

H6663-Ch01.qxd 6/29/05 9:57 AM Page 31