Introduction
The article concerns the hurdles that Cody Fixer, who is hired as the new director for quality assurance department at his new workplace Greasex Line. Cody is not well conversant with the activities of the company and needs to consult his subordinates on various issues. The problems in the company dawn on him after his return from an interesting seminar for quality managers in manufacturing companies. He had inadequate time to learn the system so that he could he easily identify with the problems. He relies on his immediate subordinate Mark Hamler, who is the quality control manager. Mark explains the issues that took place when Cody was away for the seminar. There is exclusive trouble in the organization, and it requires exclusive intervention by Cody who does not understand the best part of the organization. As the quality assurance director, he is required to develop a solution that would assist in resolving the problem that continues to arise in the organization.
Issues
The first problem that was in the company in the previous week was a situation where a specialized degreasing solvent was packed in a spray can, and some of the cans had been characterized with high pressure. The company also has a low production standard of 50%. The third problem is that there is poor handling of products in the company leading to confusion between the accepted goods and the rejected ones. The fourth problem was poor production planning leading to delays. The fifth issue is that the organization did not have specific people set to carry out certain roles. Also, the organization did not have excellent follow up to ensure proper maintenance of the machines. Lastly, there was no major concern about the quality of the goods that were getting to the customers.
However, there are several concerns that should be done to ensure the operations of the company are outstanding, and the customers do not get low quality products. There have to be extensive changes in various sectors of the company to influence the much needed quality work for the organization. Cody Fixer, who is responsible for the quality products, must ensure he undertakes necessary steps accordingly to the responsibilities and powers bestowed on him.
Team involvement
The first major move that would change the current situation for the organization is engaging in teamwork. It is the role of the people within the organization to carry out activities that would make them achieve their goals as a company (Kelchner, 2014).
Teamwork means all the employees to work together having a common goal in mind. Cody Fixer has to take charge of all the individuals in the quality assurance department. As a director, he is supposed to issue directions on what the department should do at a specific time. He has to ensure that all the team members are in their rightful positions at the right time.
The quality control department is highly sensitive as it requires activities to take place at the right time and be executed by the right people (Kelchner, 2014). In the case study it is clear that some employees in the packaging department of the company had failed on their assignment. They were not keen on some issues which led to poor packaging for the degreasing solvent. The act exposed the employees as well as the customers. If the employees were responsible enough such an incidences could not have been witnessed.
Teamwork would have ensured that all the employees were at work and if they were not available proper representation could have been adopted. The failure to recognize the power of taking responsibility any time one is required to do it in the organization brings in an exclusive challenge to the management of the problems that were arising in the organization (Quality Control and Assurance, 2014).
Customer focus
It is the role of every manufacturer to ensure the customer is fully satisfied. The manufacturer must protect the consumer against any harm that may be caused by a product. However, Greasex Line fails in that direction. The company has a reputation of offering faulty products to its customers. There are consistent complaints from customers of substandard products. Some of the products that the company releases to the customers are of extremely dangerous status (Kelchner, 2014). For example, the degreasing insolvent that was packaged at the time that Cody was away was extremely risky for the user since some of the cans had developed high pressure.
Every employee in the quality assurance department should be aware of the sensitivity of producing low quality products or ignoring the customer safety. The employees must understand that the goods must fit the needs of the clients. By no chance should any of the products go untested for major elements that may be harmful to the consumer (Kelchner, 2014).
The company had failed in major issues that interest the customer. For example, the company did not have proper delivery strategies. There were delays on delivery and many customers were not happy of the issue.
There was a need for more focus on customer satisfaction. Protecting the customers should be the ultimate goal for the organization. Cody must ensure that necessary principles are in place to satisfy the customer through production of high quality products.
Continuous improvement
For a company to maintain high quality production, improvement is necessary. The improvement may occur in different forms. It means that the organization must be willing to make improvement from time to time. Therefore, continuous maintenance of the system is the core.
Greasex Company does not have proper maintenance programs hence the massive problems in the production. Proper maintenance minimizes the cost of production for the company while it helps in improving the quality.
Also, the employees will be required to improve their skills. As the demands and tastes by customers continue to change, necessary changes are required among the employees. They must be willing to employ new skills or enhance the existing ones to achieve high quality production. The move will help the company in sustaining the customers (Quality Control and Assurance, 2014). Greasex Company must employ the strategy if it is to experience any change or improvement.
Use of data
Proper quality control system must recognize the significance of data in executing various activities. The data acts as guidance on the various processes within an organization. For example, the data on quality index for the products is useful in showing the usefulness of the products among consumers. The index will help in determining the best process to use in the production of a quality product (Kelchner, 2014). The standard represents safety which the producer must satisfy.
The data helps the organization in making projections for demand as well as prepare products as per the requirements of the client. The product must meet the standards, which will build customer’s confidence in the quality of the goods. It will be extremely easy to develop a reliable pool of customers through use of data to develop high quality goods (Quality Control and Assurance, 2014). Greasex Company fails in producing high quality products following the insensitivity to data in production.
Recommendations for Cody
The first step that Cody may take is to request the board of directors to hire people who are qualified for a specific position. Since he is new to the company, he is not aware of the different skills that the subordinates possess. There are issues of incompetence among the employees, and he needs to encourage change through hiring of competent employees.
The second thing that would be advisable for Cody to do is to develop a quality control system that would help in automated control of activities in the organization. The system would help in consideration of data as well as continuous maintenance of the production system.
Also, the director must develop reliable tie with the employees. It will ensure that the company upholds the significance of team involvement. The employees will appreciate their positions and will be willing to assist whenever required.
Lastly, Cody should insist on consideration for customer’s feedbacks. There is need for a system by which the company reaches the customers for their responses on services offered to them. The responses will help in coming up with reasonable formulas to satisfy the customers.
Conclusion
The quality control department is a major department in any organization. It requires exclusive keenness and concern. The director of the department must be keen on all the activities that take place by ensuring necessary things are done in the right way and at the right time. Although, there are challenges at Greasex Company Cody is in a position to employ his quality control skills to revolutionize the situation.
References
Kelchner, L. ( 2014). Theories of Total Quality Management. Retrieved December 4, 2014, from http://smallbusiness.chron.com/theories-total-quality-management-55715.html
Quality Control and Assurance, an Overview - Boundless Open Textbook. (2014). Retrieved December 4, 2014, from https://www.boundless.com/management/textbooks/boundless-management-textbook/organizational-theory-3/modern-thinking-31/quality-control-and-assurance-an-overview-179-1447/
