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Gathering Quality Control Data: Quality Control
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How can the raw product producer or the secondary product processor ensure that the products that he produces meet the consumer’s demands?
Farmers and processors must produce products that meet certain quality standards. In South Africa, there are very clear standards for the quality of meat, milk, fibre (mohair, wool, and cashmere), eggs, leather, etc.
Various indicators or indices are used to measure quality. When quality is measured, and the results of this measurement are assessed and acted upon, we are busy with the process of Quality Control.
Quality control can be defined as: “The degree to which control is measured against predetermined requirements (quality).”
Quality Control has been with us for a long time. It is safe to say that when animal product harvesting began and competition accompanied product processing, consumers would compare and choose the most attractive product.
For example: When producer A discovered that producer B's profits soared, the former tried to improve his/her offerings/production, probably by improving the quality of the output, and/or lowering the price. Improvement of quality did not necessarily stop with the product - but also included the process used for adding value to the product.
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