WHAT IS QUALITY CONTROL(Q.C.) and QUALITY ASSURANCE(Q.A.)

Quality control (Q.C. or QC) is the regulation of quality performance against set standards and acting on those whose performance is below par. Quality assurance (Q.A. or QA) is the activity and proof showing that the quality operation is being carried out adequately and assuring customer's confidence and satisfaction in using the product. Without Q.C. and Q.A., the export-manufacturer could end up losing his/her business.

Q.C. must start from the time the materials or component parts arrive at the factory. For example in the production of electric irons, if a component part like the thermostat is defective on arrival but is unknowingly being fed into the assembly line, the final product will not work. In such a case the loss to the company can be very high, considering the loss of time, materials, labor and overhead. The exporter might not be able to ship the electric irons on time as required by the L/C, thus the order and the expected profit could be lost.

Q.A. is the concern of everyone in the company. Further to the example given above, assume that the incoming thermostats passed the Q.C. test, but during warehousing they were damaged due to carelessness. The same devastating result may occur. Mishandling of the products during warehousing and on their way to (and on) the assembly line must be avoided.

Product Safety
Consumer Protection and Satisfaction
Safety is zero injuries. Product safety must be seriously considered during the early stages of research and development (R&D). Even a simple plastic bag used in export packaging must not be overlooked, it can potentially kill babies and children.

Export goods may be required to meet the safety standards or requirements of the exporting country. In addition, they may also be required to meet the safety requirements of the importing country. For example, children's toys and playthings cannot contain excessive levels of toxic materials such as arsenic, antimony, cadmium, chromium lead, mercury, selenium and soluble compounds of barium.

Safety Test Marks
In many countries, it is necessary to obtain safety test marks or safety standards marks before a product can be sold in the market. For example, the safety marks UL in USA, CSA in Canada, JIS in Japan, and CE in European Community.

If the market potential of a product is small in an export market, it may not be worthwhile to enter the market and to obtain the safety mark, considering the costs of penetrating the market and in applying and maintaining the safety marks.

The safety mark is necessary for a wide range of products, such as toys, household appliances, tools, machines and leisure equipment. The exporter may apply for the safety mark directly with the testing laboratory concerned or hire an independent consulting firm experienced in the application of safety marks. The wordings in the standards and the safety requirements for a product are straightforward, they mean one thing---SAFETY.

Application for Government Export Safety Inspections
Where the application for government export safety inspections is required by the country for products such as electrical appliances, the exporter must allow adequate time to ensure that the inspection is completed before the customs closing date.

The prescribed application forms---the form itself is the Certificate of Approval---must be filed with the designated Inspecting Bureau on time and an inspector will be assigned to inspect the goods.

The inspection is conducted at the factory following the government prescribed procedures. If the consignment passes the test, the 'INSPECTED' stickers are then attached on the master packages to show that the goods have been inspected. The original and a number of the copies of Certificate of Approval, sealed and signed by the inspector, are returned to the exporter. The Certificate of Approval is required in the customs export declaration.

In certain countries, the export factory may be classified as a Class A, B or C factory and the Certificate of Approval may be color coded to distinguish the factory class. The Class A factory has excellent export quality records and the products may be exempt from inspection, but the exporter is still required to have the Certificate of Approval sealed and signed by the Inspecting Bureau. The procedures and forms used may vary from country to country.

In the Class A factory, the export master packages may have a pre-printed word 'INSPECTED' or the like on them, instead of a sticker.

Patents, Trademarks, Brand Names, and Copyrights
With the existing pool of highly experienced production engineers in many countries, any new product design or invention can be imitated in no time when it enters the international market. Hence, it is important to patent and register the new product.

It is also important to register the trademark of the company and/or product, the brand name of the product, and the copyrights of products like software, in order to avoid imitations and infringements which can cost a huge amount in lost revenue to the company. The registration of trademarks, brand names and patents in the exporting country does not give protection in the importing countries, unless they are also registered. The exporter may file for registrations directly with the Trademark and Patent Office in the importing countries or hire an independent law firm experienced in trademark and patent registrations.

The exporter must be cautious in the use of any registered brand names, for example the Teflon non-stick coatings. The word "Teflon" is a registered brand name belonging to Du Pont. Should the exporter use polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) other than Teflon PTFE on cookware, he/she cannot claim that the cookware is coated with Teflon and cannot mention the word "Teflon" in the product, packaging or any advertising materials.

The exporter must be careful when using brand names registered by others.