Ensuring Quality Symbols

Conformite Europeen
This symbol basically means the same as the British Standards but extends across Europe.

British Standards Kitemark
These symbols that are normally applied to non-food products such as electronic products or toys. 
However, they may still be applied to the packaging as a reference to the package itself being safe.

Lion Mark
Means that the manufacturer/retailer has agreed to the ‘British Toy and Hobby Associations’ Code of practice. It is a consumer symbol that represents the manufacturers promise to conform to all relevant safety information. 

Unsuitable for Under 3
Either beside the Age Warning symbol or within the toys packaging will be further information describing the risk in more detail. 
For example, the toy may contain small parts that represent a choking hazard.

British Standards and the CE Mark

British Standards Kite Mark helps to ensure the safety and quality of products and services. 

Companies pay to have their products tested against the national standards. The BSI Kitemark assures users that the product meets consistently high quality and safety standards.

Conformite European ensures the product meets a minimum standard to be sold within the EU. The BSI guarantees a higher quality level than the CE mark.

British Standards Institute (BSI) Case Study

On the left is an example of a product being tested against a British Standard—this case it’s BS 4875; the strength of seating.

The BSI (British Standards Institute) tests any product for sale in the Britsh Market but it is your responsibility as designer and manufacturer to ensure your product meets their standards.

Manufacturers and Designers put their designs through rigorous testing to ensure they are safe for use in Britain.

It's a good idea to look at the BSI website, it will be really helpful for both revision and ideas of how to test your product for your coursework.

 

Quality Checks & Quality Assurance

Quality Check:  Checks made before, during and after manufacture.
For example checking measurements are correct.
Quality Assurance:  An overall approach to ensure products attain a consistently high standard. 
For example using templates and jigs and copying a CAD design ensure each product is identical.
Tolerance: If a large quantity of a product is made, it is not always possible to guarantee that every product is absolutely identical. Tolerances are the acceptable range of differences from the agreed standard, documented as plus and minus values and applied to such factors as size, weight and performance.
For example; “the chairs legs were +1mm over the tolerance”—meaning they were 1mm longer than agreed level of tolerance.

Quality Check and Assurance Examples

Below are some examples that have appeared in past exams. It's important to understand what quality checks and quality assurance methods are used both for the exam and for you to be able to plan them into your coursework. 
Watch a video about quality testing.

QC: Visual checks for faults in materials, surface finishes, joints. Legs and frame joined to seat and back securely. Destruction, wear tests, weightbearing, fire retardancy. 
QA: Seat and back curve matches pattern or former.

QC: Visual checks for faults in materials, button panel fit; surface symbol registration; destruction, wear tests; case fit; battery life; electronic function; circuit board assembly.

QC: Print registration; die cutting registration; colour rendition; straight fold; faults in materials (card) components.

Quality Assurance in Industry

Quality Circles: A quality circle is where employees solve problems related to their own jobs by forming a a group who meet to discuss problems of quality and come up with solutions and improvements. 

BS EN ISO 9000: The standard gives guidance to companies to make sure their products meet customers expectations of quality and that the companies consistently improve the quality of their product.

Consumer Issues

Pressure Groups: Pressure groups are organisations set up to try to influence what we think about the business and its environment. They are stakeholders within the business (for example investors or employees).
A pressure group can challenge and even change the behaviour of a business by: writing letters to MPs, contacting the press, organise marches or run campaigns.
Consumer Groups: an organization that gives honest and unbiased (gives a fair judgement that isn't influenced by the company it reviews) reviews or information to consumers, protecting their rights and interests, they make sure advertising is honest.

Consumer Groups - "Which?"

“Which?” Is a consumer group that tests all different kinds of products available on the current market—from mobile phones to cars or kitchen appliances.

They are independent of the companies and businesses and are funded through people buying magazines or through online subscriptions  - this means their views are purely their own and are not influenced by the companies.

They score products after testing them and give honest reviews to guide users into choosing the right product for them.