Question 1: Define 'quality' in the context of business operations.

Answer: Quality refers to the degree to which a product or service meets customer expectations and standards of excellence.

Question 2: Explain two benefits for a business of maintaining high quality standards.

Answer: Benefits include increased customer satisfaction leading to repeat business, and a stronger reputation which can attract new customers.

Question 3: Identify and describe two methods a business might use to ensure quality in its products or services.

Answer: Methods include quality control, which involves inspecting products at various stages, and quality assurance, which involves systematic processes to prevent defects.

Question 4: Describe what is meant by 'quality control' and how it differs from 'quality assurance'.

Answer: Quality control is the process of inspecting products for defects after production, while quality assurance involves implementing procedures during production to prevent defects from occurring.

Question 5: A company wants to improve its product quality. Suggest two strategies it could adopt.

Answer: Strategies include training employees to follow quality standards and investing in better machinery to ensure consistent production quality.

Question 6: Sketch a simple flowchart showing the steps involved in a quality control process.

Answer: A correct sketch would include steps such as 'Production,' 'Inspection,' 'Acceptance/Rejection,' and 'Feedback for improvement.' The flow should show the sequence and decision points clearly.

Question 7: Explain why consistent quality standards are important for a business’s reputation.

Answer: Consistent quality builds trust with customers, encourages repeat business, and enhances the business’s reputation for reliability.

Question 8: Identify two challenges a business might face when trying to maintain high quality standards.

Answer: Challenges include increased costs associated with quality control measures and potential delays in production due to rigorous inspections.

Question 9: Sketch a diagram of a business process that incorporates quality assurance at each stage.

Answer: A correct sketch would depict a process flow with quality assurance checkpoints before each major stage, such as design, production, and final inspection, with feedback loops for continuous improvement.