Final answer:
Quality control in manufacturing involves incoming control procedures for supplies, in-process control of products, and controls of the processes themselves to ensure products meet the set standards. Just-in-time delivery exemplifies how supply chain management contributes to improved quality control by identifying defects promptly and maintaining supplier quality.
Step-by-step explanation:
Quality control procedures and techniques are critical in a manufacturing environment to ensure that products meet certain standards of quality. Incoming control procedures are applied to supplies to ensure that the components and raw materials meet the required specifications before they are used in production. This might include visual inspections, testing the materials, and reviewing supplier quality records.
In-process controls of products during operations are carried out to ensure that products are being manufactured correctly and to identify any deviations from the intended process. This can include measurements, checks, and automated inspections to confirm that products conform to design specifications.
Process controls, also an aspect of in-process controls, focus on monitoring and controlling the actual manufacturing processes. This could involve the use of statistical process control, regular equipment calibration, and ensuring that operators are trained and competent.
The concept of just-in-time delivery, adopted by American car manufacturers in the 1980s from Japanese business practices, illustrates how tight control over the supply chain can lead to improved quality control. Suppliers must deliver parts daily and any defect is identified quickly, preventing the accumulation of defective parts and driving suppliers to maintain high quality standards to retain contracts.