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Quality awareness refers to the understanding and perception of quality and quality-related work among all employees in a company, from top management down to every individual worker. It plays an extremely important role in influencing and regulating quality-related behaviors. In a company, 20% of the employees create 80% of its wealth! Lack of responsibility in work – substandard quality – products that lack competitiveness – inability to sell them – no profits for the company (or even bankruptcy) – how can wages and benefits be increased, and how can salaries be paid? Survival of the fittest through natural selection – the animal world is one where the strong prey on the weak. One’s own advantages lie in having good qualities. I. Why is it important to develop a strong sense of quality? What constitutes good quality awareness? Developing a strong sense of quality not only improves the quality of products but also enhances our production efficiency, reduces product costs, increases the rate of successful product completion, and boosts the competitiveness of the company. Why is that? Example: A customer places an order with us for 20 tons of product. Let’s analyze the impact of focusing on quality versus not focusing on it First scenario: Our production proceeds very smoothly, with operations carried out strictly in accordance with the established procedures, all the way to packaging and shipment; this can be completed in about 8 hours ； Second scenario: If there are quality issues in one or two of our processes, it will take us some time to address them, which inevitably affects our production efficiency. and affect the overall quality level of the company’s products ； If quality issues affect the customer’s delivery schedule, it inadvertently undermines the company’s reputation. Third scenario: If our employees fail to detect quality issues with the product, and those issues reach the customers, this not only affects the company’s reputation but also impacts customer satisfaction with the company. In more severe cases, it will affect the company’s order volume, reducing the income of the company and most people. (More on piece-rate work) II. Some insights on quality: Is quality determined through inspection? Wrong! Quality is created, not inspected. Inspections are usually conducted as random samples, and such sampling involves certain risks ； The products are made one by one by the operators, who not only produce each product but also evaluate it. Quality is an abstract concept that requires profound knowledge to grasp? Wrong! Quality is visible at all times and in every aspect, such as the quality of life (eating, clothing, housing, daily necessities), the quality of work (results, speed, methods), and product quality (dimensions, performance, appearance), among others. They can be used (good, poor ； described by terms such as qualified, unqualified, etc.). Regarding the products, for field operators, it may be difficult to grasp and control their dimensions and performance, so specialized inspections using various testing methods are required for oversight. However, the quality characteristic of appearance is very intuitive and easy to see; operators should be able to master and control it. Even new employees will be fine after spending some time getting familiar with things. Each product is made by the workers themselves; it can be said that in terms of visual inspection, the workers have more experience and know more than the inspectors. Quality is all around us, in our lives and work, and it is reflected in everything we do, in every product we create. A 99% good product rate means the company’s quality standards are already very high? Wrong! Improving quality targets or achieving 100% quality targets means reducing costs and increasing profits. The quality goal that any company should strive for is 100%, or zero defects. If we fail to achieve it, it means we still haven’t done enough or done it well enough. Then measures should be taken to make improvements, to strive for better performance and to perfect things. By everyone doing their part and producing each product to perfection, the quality goals of 100% compliance and zero defects can be achieved. Customers’ demands and expectations are for 100% satisfaction; if you can’t achieve 100%, I won’t feel at ease, or I won’t want your product. Imagine if we went to a mall to buy something, whether it’s a TV, a microwave, or anything else; if the seller told us that their product is only 80% good, or even if they said it’s 99% good, do you think you would feel comfortable buying it? It’s a small issue, it’s okay—Wrong! For example, when making a product, there might be a minor issue in the previous process. No problem; when it gets to me, there’s also a minor issue—still no problem. Then, in the next process, yet another minor issue arises—still okay. In the end, the product ends up having many such minor issues. These are no longer minor issues; they’ve become major problems. To solve a problem, one must first identify its causes. There are often many such causes, as there are numerous small issues involved; therefore, solving the problem starts with addressing these small issues one by one, making progress step by step until the problem is completely resolved. Therefore, small problems should not be ignored. In our daily work, once a problem arises, even if it’s a minor one, we should resolve it immediately. Never ignore or delay it! If we do everything well and address every small issue, then no major or long-term problems will arise, and our work and our products will be of high quality. It was the same before, it’s okay—Wrong! The products manufactured by the company are important safety components that affect people’s lives and property safety. When arriving at the company, one should approach the new job with a completely fresh mindset. Everyone, everywhere, at all times must keep quality control top of mind. When facing problems at work, don’t adopt the same attitude as before; don’t think that the requirements in your previous company weren’t so high or strict, and that you can ignore them or it doesn’t matter. At work, we should strive to solve and improve any problems that can be addressed. Rather than being content with the status quo and stopping in our tracks. It was the same even in the past, and it worked then; now that solutions or improvements have been found, one should actively work to implement them. Treat the product as if you produced it yourself! Story: The House Built by Oneself. There was an old carpenter who was about to retire; he wanted to tell his boss that he intended to leave the construction industry and return home to spend time with his wife and children. The boss didn’t want to lose his good worker, so he asked if he could help build another house for him, and the carpenter said yes. But it became clear to everyone later on that his heart wasn’t in his work; he used soft materials and did rough work. When the house was finished, the boss handed him the key to the front door. “This is your house,” he said, “It’s a gift from me to you. ” He was stunned and speechless; he felt extremely ashamed. If he had known that this was a house being built for him, how could he have acted like this? Now he has to live in a shoddy house. Aren’t we the same? We casually build our lives, not by taking proactive actions but by passing things off casually; we refuse to strive for excellence in everything and fail to give our best effort at critical moments. By the time we realize our situation, we’re already tightly bound in the house we built ourselves. Think of yourself as that carpenter; consider your own house. Every day, drive in a nail, add a plank, or build up a wall – use your wisdom to construct it well! A positive mindset is half the battle toward success. We must always keep in mind that quality is related to everyone, either directly or indirectly. Such as procurement – purchasing materials of qualified quality ； Business — selling products of qualified quality ； Human resources – recruiting and training qualified employees (only qualified employees can produce quality products), etc. Without good quality, the company could go bankrupt tomorrow, and we would lose our jobs. No matter what job one does, there are certain requirements and standards associated with it. Once we start working, or begin a new job, we should be clear about the requirements of our work and ensure that everything we do meets those standards; this is how we contribute to quality. By doing everything right, our quality will improve. If everything is done properly and every product meets the required standards, it’s very likely that we can achieve 100% compliance, zero defects. III. Foster a quality-first mindset. What should be noted to develop a strong sense of quality? 1. Do not step on the products (raw materials/semi-finished products/finished products). 2. Do not sit or lie on the products (raw materials/semi-finished products/finished products). 3. Do not throw the products. 4. Do not place the products directly on the ground. 5. Do not operate without following the prescribed procedures. 6. Do not start production without conducting a pilot test. 7. Do not arrange the products in a disordered manner. 8. Do not block the pathways for the products. 9. Do not operate the machines when they are faulty. 10. Do not take the products without permission. IV. What benefits can a strong quality awareness bring to a company? 1. Improve our work efficiency ； 2. Reduce our losses ； 3. Enhance company reputation and customer satisfaction ； 4. Accelerate the circulation of the company’s products ； 5. Increase our production capacity ； 6. Reduce working hours ； 7. Increase our income in the same amount of time ； 8. Improve the pass rate of products ； 9. Reduce unnecessary rework ； 10. Enhance the company’s competitiveness. V. What are the disadvantages of lacking a strong quality awareness? Without a good quality awareness habit*, not only will the company’s products lack competitiveness, but I believe the employees’ capabilities will also be significantly diminished. If none of us develop good quality habits, there will be a vicious cycle regarding the quality of our products. Rather than improving, the quality will actually deteriorate. We’ll receive fewer and fewer orders, and eventually, we’ll all have to look for new jobs. If everyone still has some affection for the company, I believe no one would want to see this day come. Without a habit of maintaining good quality, we will end up in an endless cycle of rework, constantly having to explain things to and apologize to customers. It continuously reduces the company’s reputation and customer satisfaction. Market competition shows no mercy to the weak; those who fail to break free from old ideas will eventually be eliminated. \"Team spirit\" is the core of corporate culture. “\"Total quality control\" is the guarantee for a company’s success. ““Sharpening the axe doesn’t hinder woodcutting.” Only by educating your subordinates in advance can your work yield immediate results. Full participation and unity from top to bottom are the keys to achieving goals. If you are dedicated to your work, your boss will be dedicated to you as well! ““It’s not enough to know what something is; one must also understand why it is so.” With a positive atmosphere and confidence in one’s own ability to inspire others, here’s a story: Chen Atu is a farmer from Taiwan who has never traveled far from home. After saving money for half a lifetime, I finally joined a tour group and went abroad. Everything abroad was very new to him. The key point is that Chen Atu joined a luxury tour group, and he had a standard room all to himself. It found him utterly curious. In the morning, when the waiter came to knock on the door to deliver breakfast, he said loudly, “GOOD MORNING SIR!” ” Chen Atu was stunned. What does this mean? In my hometown, when strangers meet, they usually ask, “What is your surname?” ” So Chen Atu shouted loudly, “My name is Chen Atu!” ” And so, for three consecutive days, it was the same waiter who came to knock on the door, shouting every day, “GOOD MORNING SIR!” ”And Chen Atu replied loudly, “My name is Chen Atu!” ” But he was very angry. This waiter is so stupid; he keeps asking me what my name is, and even after I tell him, he can’t remember it. It’s really annoying. Finally, he couldn’t help but ask the guide, “GOOD MORNING SIR!” ”What does that mean? The guide told him; oh my God! ! It’s so embarrassing. Chen Atu practiced repeatedly, *“GOOD MORNING SIR!” ”This word, so as to be able to address the waiter politely. Another morning arrived, and the waiter came to knock on the door as usual. As soon as the door opened, Chen Atu shouted, “GOOD MORNING SIR!” ”At the same time, the waiter called out, “I’m Chen Atu!” ” This story tells us that in interactions between people, it is often a struggle of wills against one another. Either you influence him or he influences you; and if we want to succeed, we must cultivate our own influence. Only those with great influence can become the strongest. VI. Knowledge related to quality management 1. How is on-site quality controlled? 1) Adopt the principle of combining self-inspection, mutual inspection, and specialized inspection ； In accordance with the requirements of the technical documents, the quality characteristics of products under production are inspected to prevent batch failures and avoid defective items from proceeding to subsequent processing stages ； 2) The inspector should conduct first-piece inspection ； Intermediate inspection and final product inspection ； The operator should send the first unit for inspection, as well as conduct self-inspection and mutual inspection of quality. 3} What should be done when non-conforming products are found? Upon discovering defective items, immediately label them for identification, isolate them, and notify quality control for handling. 2. The seven principles of quality management: ① Customer focus; ② Leadership; ③ Full employee participation; ④ Process approach; ⑤ Improvement; ⑥ Evidence-based decision making; ⑦ Relationship management. 3. What is 5S? 5S refers to Seiri, Seiton, Seiso, Seiketsu, and Shitsuke. ① Seiri: Distinguish between necessary and unnecessary items in the workplace, and remove those that are unnecessary ； ②Organize: Sort the items that need to be kept, place them in order and in their designated positions, and label them ； ③Cleaning: Clean all items, equipment, and areas in the workplace, including both visible and invisible places ； ④Cleaning: Maintain the state and results of the above 3S ； ⑤Competence: Every employee should develop good work habits, abide by rules, and cultivate a proactive attitude. Story: The Difference Between Heaven and Hell. Hell: There, one can see the “people” there having lunch; each of them has very long chopsticks with which they try to pick up food, but are unable to get it to their mouths. They all look distressed, pale and thin, like ants on a hot pan – running around in circles, helpless. ≈In heaven: The chopsticks here are of the same length as well, but why do the people here look full of energy and joy? Upon closer inspection, he saw that they were picking up the food and putting it into the mouths of the \"people\" on the other side, feeding each other in this way; thus achieving two goals at once – helping others as well as helping themselves. The angel said to the man, “This is the difference between heaven and hell.” ” I hope that in their future work, no matter which department or position they are in, everyone will be dedicated to their tasks and strive to deliver high-quality work and high-quality products!