Some Practicalities and Pitfalls of Quality-Related Cost Collection

This paper, which is based on detailed case studies in three engineering companies, highlights some possible pitfalls in quality-related cost collection. It also makes clear that costs need to be suitably qualified if they are to be meaningful and comparable with other published data. A rational approach to quality cost collection exercises is outlined. Such an approach will help to ensure that the data collected are understood by all parties, and can be qualified.