What IS 'QraLity Control'l

By Frederick H. KRANZ Monoger, Golden Stote Lumber Co. Sqntq Monicq, Colifornicl

(Ed,itor's note: The recent October 7 front-cover ad'vertisement of The CALIFORNIA I-UMBER MERCHANT caused Dealer Kranz to rezlrite a speech he was scheduled to deliver at a local business school on the su,biect of "Quality Control." Believing that other reta'i,I lumbermen zai'il be interested in MrKranls talk, it is reported here.)

On October l, 1956, the cover of The CALIFORNIA LUMBER MERCHANT showed an advertisement for White Brothers which had in large red letters, QUALITY CONTROL. Then in black-"What it is-Shipping the proper grade, selected by experts from properly cared for inventories at proper moisture content with quick and efficient service." This is only part of Quality Control.

The Quality Control department's objective is to receive and ship that quality of lumber that will yield the maximum profit to the company. The term "Quality'Control" indicates those decisions and actions used throughout an organization to control quality.

The problems and concepts of industrial quality control are brought to life by the basically different view points of the buyer and the seller. The buyer demands quality of a specific level and a low price. He demands protection against his acceptance and use of items that will result in rejection by the building inspectors. The seller demands a specific quantity level and markup. He demands protection against the customer or building inspector rejecting a good item.

As a result of the conflicting view points of the buyer and seller, a third party is often required to decide their dis- pute. The third party most often used in quality disputes is the West Coast Lumbermen's Association. However, the best method of preventing disputes is for the lumber company to have a good quality control section.

Quality control is one of the family of controls used in industry today. It is part of the team with inventory control, production control, budgetary control, etc. It is not only a member of the team but, if it is to work effectively, it must be a first-string player and a real sixty-minute man. The quality control section should include one resident grader and have the cooperation of every department in the business.

It would be nice if quality could be added to lumber like a paint job. Since it can not, the quality control section must carry the ball in each operation.

Contractors specifications should be checked. Purchase order specifications should be set. Incoming lumber should be checked to see that it conforms with the purchase orders. Outgoing lumber should be checked for grade. Machine tolerances should be set. Loaders should be watched to see that they follow instructions.

The entire olreration should be quality conscious and work with the quality control men.

A brief history of quality control will show its current importance to all branches of industry.

In 1924, Walter A. Shewhart introduced the quality control charts which now bear his name.

In 1926 to 19D, Dodge and Romig worked on acceptance sampling for the Bell Telephone System.

In 1934, General Leslie E. Simon worked on acceptance sampling for the U.S. Army.

In 1945, A. Wald published the statistical relationships used in sequential analysis.

1942 to 1946 brought the most important developments in quality control as they were then installed in most of the industries supplying the U.S. Government during the

1950, Mil-St.-105.4' specified the sampling procedure be used by the government.

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T aNUFACTURETS Or SCTEEN DOOi5, IOUVTE DOOIs A SFUIIEIS ll27 Esrt 63rd 9treet, Lor Angclcr, Colifornic ADomr l-1108 't All West Cosf Produclr crc dislribulcd by rcpuloblc dcolers irolionvidc *