The things we focus on can often shape who we are as human beings and organizations. Here at Freelance Latin America, one of our core values is quality focus, and in this article, I will explain its depths and applications.
What Is Quality Focus?
I always like to begin with setting the basis of whatever subject we discuss. In this case, one might think the word quality requires no real explanation. But I believe that we can rally behind a singular idea by stating its definition.
I want to start with the American Society of Quality (ASQ), which gives us a very unfulfilling definition: A subjective term for which each person or sector has its meaning.
And that doesn’t get us anywhere. But if we keep reading, good ASQ gives us two workable alternatives.
We can define quality as the group of characteristics of a product or service that affect its ability to satisfy stated or implied needs. Quality is a product trait that, through its inherent characteristics, does its intended job well.
A second definition gives us a shorter line to make quality work with a product or service without deficiencies. If we consider that something without deficiencies is close to perfection, then quality strives for the perfection of a product or service.
ASQ gives us two more definitions by two different individuals. Joseph Juran defines quality as “fitness for use,” meaning that anything useable has inherent quality.
The more usability something has, the more quality it possesses. Yet, according to Philip Crosby, quality is “conformance to requirements,” meaning that anything produced that conforms to set expectations has the quality to it.
We can work out our definition of product quality by incorporating parts of all the previous ones ASQ provides us, thus complying with them and saying it’s a subjective term.
To me, quality is the characteristic of something: a product or service that performs its intended job suitably and strives toward perfection. Quality also gives our product or service value since it’s functional and continuously improving.
What Does A Quality-Focused Business Look Like?
A quality-focused company prioritizes delivering high-quality products or services to its customers.
This can be achieved through a solid commitment to its excellence, meeting and exceeding customer expectations and implementing processes and systems that ensure consistent quality throughout all business aspects.
One key aspect of a quality-focused business is a culture of continuous improvement. This means constantly seeking ways to improve processes, products, and services for the best customer experience.
This could involve regularly gathering feedback from satisfied customers and using it to make necessary changes, conducting thorough testing and quality control measures, and investing in employee training and development.
Another critical factor in a quality-focused business is effective communication. This includes clear communication between different departments within the company.
Quality Applied
Now that we agree on a unified definition, we can explore how a person or company becomes quality-oriented in its services or products.
The first thing quality-focus begins in a company is that by aspiring to quality, they set clear expectations for the customer.
The inherent value in this is that we, as customers, seek quality. There is always a negotiation between cost and benefit, price and the quality of what we acquire.
If we establish a reputation as a company through the quality of our work, then said reputation will benefit us in future relations.
But for a company to be quality-focused, it cannot be only about the end product but also about the process. To become quality-focused, a company must collect and analyze data and devote attention and resources to the feedback loop.
How To Achieve Quality
1. Set clear quality standards: The first step in becoming a quality-focused company is to define what “quality” means for your products or services. This could include durability, functionality, design, and customer satisfaction.
Setting these standards will help guide decision-making throughout the development and production phases.
2. Invest in data collection and analysis: Data is crucial in understanding where improvements can be made in your company’s processes and products. Collecting and analyzing data on customer feedback, production processes, and product performance can provide valuable insights for improvement.
3. Create a feedback loop: Continuously gathering customer feedback and incorporating it into the development process is critical to being quality-focused.
How To Recognize Quality-Focused Companies
Quality-focused companies are aware of the journey and their talents. They seek to better themselves, and to that end, they promote their talent for new positions and challenges instead of just hiring externally.
By doing this, the professional works and grows alongside the company, creating a sense of belonging and sharing their personal style and core values.
Additionally, a quality-focused company that values results and processes knows it has to celebrate and congratulate victories. Reaffirming positive outcomes is part of the feedback loop.
By recognizing human talent’s value, the company creates a healthy workspace that invites workers to reach for success, for success will not go unnoticed.
Why You Should Create Mentoring Relationships In Your Company
Mentoring relationships are essential to creating a positive and productive work environment. By pairing employees with experienced mentors, companies, and businesses can foster a sense of belonging and shared core values among their workforce.
One of the main benefits of implementing mentoring programs is that it allows for a readily available pool of professionals who can quickly step into different positions within the company.
This avoids the potentially lengthy process of searching for external hires and ensures that the company always has qualified individuals to fulfill its needs.
Furthermore, a quality-focused company understands the importance of achieving desired results and maintaining an efficient process. Celebrating victories over poor performance and acknowledging employee contributions is crucial.
Conclusion
To be quality-focused, I need to have an eye for detail. I need to be aware of every part of the process, especially willing to create value for the customer.
Even though we have found different definitions, we can conclude that quality focus is a boon to any enterprise or person who commits to providing quality service or product to their customers.
If you’re interested in this article, I invite you to read all the sources I used for my research.
See more articles by Haward Méndez
