Is this the formula for quality?

Do you have a clear understanding of quality that is consistent and applicable across supply chains and production? In other words, do you have an explicit formula for quality that can guide your quality control (QC) work? This may sound complicated, but it can be boiled down to a straightforward formula. Read on to learn more about it and how it can improve your quality performance and insights.

The Qarma quality formula

Our suggestion is based on decades of experience working with quality control and solutions. It also builds on years of conversations with quality professionals worldwide.

In full, the formula is:

We believe it is simple enough to remember and a powerful tool for teams, suppliers, and industries. Let us unpack what each part means in practice.

A quality baseline is your starting point

You need to know your starting point to know if you are making progress. So, we need to find a way to define your quality baseline. To do so successfully, you should examine two specific aspects:

• Minimum acceptable standards for performance, appearance, function, and safety.
• Detailed performance measurements on those metrics today.  

Your baseline must not become a static document in a binder. It should be clear, accessible, and consistently applied, especially when collaborating with external suppliers, contract manufacturers, or distributed production lines.

Structure makes quality repeatable

Standards are only as good as the systems built on them. Therefore, structured processes, such as checklists in your QC tools, training, and follow-through, are vital for success.

Structure does not mean rigidity or inflexible approaches. Instead, it is how you define what gets inspected, when, by whom, and how exceptions are handled. Without such structures, you may end up relying too heavily on memory, spend more time than needed on QC inspections, and increase the risk of mistakes.  

Why people matter most

No matter how good your software solutions may be, people are key to successful quality upgrades. They are the first to notice if something is off, who report issues, and offer suggestions for improving the situation.  

That is why optimal quality systems do more than measure performance – they empower it, giving inspectors, line workers, supervisors, and quality professionals the tools, training, and authority to act.  

Honesty as non-negotiable

Quality cannot improve unless people register issues and are willing to speak up. That makes honesty, and a culture that supports it, a central ingredient for quality.  

Honesty drives improvement, prevents cover-ups, and saves money in the long run. These are some of the reasons why quality and compliance are closely linked with overall success.

How QC factors multiply everything else

So far, we've discussed the human elements, your baseline, processes, team, and culture. But what multiplies all of that is how well they are encouraged, supported and enabled.

This is where QC systems, tools, and technologies come in. The better they are at reinforcing structure, connecting people, and providing insight, the more value you get from every other part of the formula.

How Qarma can help you improve

Qarma offers the QC factors that act as the multiplier for the quality formula.

• It centralizes and clarifies your quality baseline – so suppliers, inspectors, and product teams are always aligned.
• It structures your QC workflows with digital checklists, mobile inspections, and real-time documentation.
• It empowers individuals with tools that simplify and standardize reporting, even on the factory floor.
• It builds honesty and visibility into your supply chain through transparent dashboards, photo documentation, and shared issue tracking.
• It speeds up your entire QC system with data-driven insights and automated compliance reporting.

For teams that take quality seriously, Qarma does not reinvent the wheel. It helps it turn faster and more smoothly – across borders, languages, and teams.