Question

________ is(are) used to monitor and regulate performance and to prevent an undesirable change in a process.

Select one:
a. Quality
b. Quality control
c. Quality improvement
d. Quality techniques

Answer 1

Quality control is used to monitor and regulate processes, such as preventing undesirable changes in pollution levels. Command-and-control regulation, though effective in setting limits, lacks incentives and flexibility. Market-oriented environmental tools may offer better solutions for environmental protection.

Step-by-step explanation:

Quality control mechanisms are essential in monitoring and regulating performance to prevent undesirable changes in processes. In the context of environmental protection, traditional command-and-control regulation sets specific pollution emission limits and mandates certain pollution-control technologies. However, these regulations have shortcomings. They lack incentives for companies to exceed these limits, offer limited flexibility in mitigating pollution, and can contain politically influenced exceptions that undermine their effectiveness.

As an alternative, market-oriented environmental tools and thermodynamic control of processes can offer more flexibility and innovation in reducing pollution. Market-oriented tools can encourage businesses to find cost-effective ways to reduce their emissions, potentially going beyond what command-and-control regulations would achieve.