The Cost of Quality(CoQ) is an important concept which is related to safety in industries, especially in high risk sectors.
Components of CoQ such as Prevention Costs (i.e. investment in high quality materials and equipment, proper design and sizing, risk assessments, hazard analysis) and Appraisal Costs (i.e. testing and monitoring, safety audits and inspections, and third party assessments) ensure continuous improvement and adherence to overall safety performance.
Organizations that neglect CoQ are often faced with higher costs due to accidents, legal liabilities and in some cases damaged reputation.
Shown in the photograph above is a collapsed (supposedly concrete?) drainage cover which we found at a parking space recently.
The poor quality materials and design exemplifies the failure to invest in the Prevention Cost of quality, leading to significant risks and potential downstream expenses. Someone somewhere cut corners, and it remained undetected by the customer and by the passersby for years post installation.
We would like to call for all of our readers to stay committed to the subject of safety and quality in all that we do. Every decision (no matter how small), impacts the lives of those around us.