(Shortform example: If one of your tasks is to organize the printing of a festival program, look at the page proofs as early as possible so that if there\u2019s a critical mistake, you can fix it before printing samples or the final program.)<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\nIf raw material inventory doesn\u2019t meet your standards, you have two choices: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Choice #1: Send it back.<\/em> If you do this, you won\u2019t be able to build anything until you replenish your supply, which may cost you in lost opportunity. <\/p>\n\n\n\nTo avoid getting into this situation, purchase extra raw material inventory. The general rule is that you should have enough to last you the amount of time it would take to replace your inventory. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Manufacturing example: If you get eggs delivered once a day, you should always keep a day\u2019s worth of eggs, so that if one day, the entire delivery is rotten, you have enough to last until the next delivery. The rule is general because having inventory costs money (storage space costs money), so you have to consider the trade-off. <\/li>
- Business example: In a managerial sense, raw inventory is yet-to-be-started discretionary projects that aren\u2019t urgent. You should have these backburner tasks to work on so that when you get free time, you aren\u2019t tempted to micromanage or interfere with your subordinates\u2019 work.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Choice #2: Use it anyway.<\/em> If you do this, the quality of some of your final products will be lower.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIn manufacturing, the decision is usually based on cost\u2014which is more expensive, an idle factory, or a lower-quality product? (To decide, manufacturers gather managers from the manufacturing, design engineering, and quality assurance departments to discuss.) <\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, there is one hard rule: Never <\/em><\/strong>use unacceptable material if it could cause your product to completely fail<\/strong>, which is called a reliability problem. Complete failure has unpredictable and potentially dangerous consequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n- (Shortform manufacturing example: If your company makes bicycle helmets and the paint you use to color them blue is the wrong shade, go ahead and use it. If there\u2019s something wrong with the life-saving parts of the helmet, don\u2019t<\/em> use them, because someone could die.)<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Point #2: In Process<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nThese tests check the components while they\u2019re at various stages of completion. There are two types:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Type #1: Functional<\/em>, which involves destroying a product to check its quality. <\/p>\n\n\n\n- Manufacturing example: You might occasionally open an egg after it’s been boiled to make sure it’s cooked properly.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Type #2: Process<\/em>, which involves checking the process that makes the product. This option is generally better because you don\u2019t have to destroy any product.<\/p>\n\n\n\n- Manufacturing example: You might check the temperature of the egg-cooking water using a thermometer to make sure it’s hot enough to boil the eggs.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Point #3: After Assembly<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nThis is also called the final or outgoing quality inspection. The final, assembled product is tested.<\/p>\n\n\n\n