Definition of Quality
Quality is in the eye of the beholder and is a very subjective topic. Merriam Webster has several definitions for what the term means. The definition from Merriam Webster, “degree of excellence; superior in kind”, is the one that comes to most people’s mind when asked to define quality.
Quality is perceived as the ability to fulfill the reasonable expectations and needs set by the end user or the one who is developing the product. There are six identifying aspects of quality. They are reliability, functionality, usability, efficiency/performance, portability, and maintainability.
When the consumer is looking for a quality product they unconsciously use the six aspects. When you are the manufacturer of the product, you also add cost as a major factor. Quality of a product is to satisfy the end user so when companies try to produce their product at the cheapest level then the quality of the overall product is in jeopardy. Businesses need to produce at the least costly level without damaging the end product to stay in business, but still need to follow the six aspects of quality.
I would define quality as a product that surpasses the customer’s expectations. By having what is needed, the design of the product or service, usability, and review of usage meet the specifications this would provide the customer with the best product or service.
Quality is not having the cheapest product on the market. Sometimes cheaper is good, but most of the time the cheaper the product, the lower the quality. The reason some products are more expensive is due to the amount of time spent on testing to ensure a product will meet or exceed the customer’s needs. There are government requirements placed on all products that the company has to meet. Some companies will only meet the minimum requirement to save money and are then able to sell the product a little cheaper than their competitor. Other companies will take the time and money and do all the testing that...