1.
quality control; QC
The systematic process of ensuring that products or services meet defined standards of quality. Includes inspection, testing, and process management.
品質管理を徹底する。
To thoroughly enforce quality control.
この工場では厳しい品質管理が行われている。
Strict quality control is carried out at this factory.
品質管理部門が不良品の原因を調査している。
The quality control department is investigating the cause of the defective products.
Compound of 品質 (quality) + 管理 (management, control). Often abbreviated as QC in Japanese business contexts.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 品質管理部門: quality control department
- 品質管理を徹底する: to ensure thorough quality control
- 品質管理基準: quality control standards
- 品質管理体制: quality control system
RELATED WORDS:
- 品質保証: quality assurance (QA) — broader than QC, covers the entire system for maintaining quality
- 検品: inspection of goods — the physical act of checking products
- 不良品: defective product — what quality control aims to prevent
CULTURAL NOTE:
Japanese manufacturing is world-renowned for its quality control practices. The concept of 改善 (continuous improvement) and QC circles (品質管理サークル), where small groups of workers regularly meet to discuss quality improvements, originated in Japanese factories and became globally influential.