WHAT IS QUALITY?
Quality is often defined as “The degree to which a set of inherent characteristics of an object, product or service fulfils requirements.
From the above definition we can see that Quality is not an absolute concept instead it exists on a scale, meaning something can have a high or low degree of quality based on how well it meets expectations. Let us take sometime to explain each key term in this definition to further elucidate the meaning of quality.
Degree – This refers to the extent or level to which something meets a standard meaning a range can exit from high to Low.
Inherent Characteristics – These are the built-in or essential attributes of an object, product, or service. They can include physical properties (e.g., material, durability), functional properties (e.g., speed, accuracy), and intangible aspects (e.g., aesthetics, user experience).
Object, Product, or Service –
Object: A general term for anything that can be evaluated for quality, such as materials, systems, or concepts.
Product: A tangible item that is manufactured or produced.
Service: An intangible offering that provides value, such as customer support.
Fulfil– Means to satisfy or meet a specific requirement. Quality is determined by how well the inherent characteristics of an object, product, or service align with expectations. We could talk of high and low quality.
Requirements – These are the predefined criteria or expectations that define what is considered acceptable quality. The key word here is predefined, hence before a service or product is given, the requirements are predefined. requirements can come from customers, industry standards, regulations, or internal benchmarks.
to put all this together, we can say that Quality is measured by evaluating how well the natural characteristics of an object, product, or service meet set expectations. The degree of quality can vary depending on how closely these characteristics align with the defined requirements.
I hope this makes sense.