Poor quality costing

Sammanfattning: This thesis presents an effective model for measuring thecost of poor quality. It consists of two models, developedduring the research project,assessmentsand theconstruction of measurement systems. By tradition, mostcompanies prefer to design systems of their own for measuringtheir poor quality costs, but experience shows that this isdifficult and time consuming, and, none the less, there isalways the risk of failure. With this experience as a base, themodel for a measurement system, put forward in the thesis, hasbeen constructed and it should, consequently, have a betterchance of success. The author would, however, like to point outthat these measurement systems can only be used to measure alimited number of selected costs and should therefore only beapplied when the company has matured some in its qualityactivities.Assessments, on the other hand, are simpler to perform,produce quick results, and, as shown in case studies, tend tobe very successful. On account of that, the thesis highlyrecommend that assessments should be used as main means,particularly when the intention is to influence attitudes andbehaviours, or to give priority to the most costly problems.The bulk of the research work has for this reason been focusedon the development and test of a methodology for assessments,as past experiences and researches into these fields are verylimited.Case studies show that the method developed for assessments,has functioned quite well in the companies using it. Poorquality costs, studied in the area 9-16% of the business?turnover, have been registered. This is far from the total poorquality costs of these businesses, but it is a considerablyhigher part than previously measured. The time spent on theseassessments has been moderate, and the members of theassessment groups and the co-workers tended to respond infavour. The management groups, in the companies in question,have all taken an considerable interest in the studies and,consequently, in the results.Keywords:Poor quality cost, Cost of poor quality, Nonvalue adding cost, Quality related cost, Quality measurements,Quality, TQM