In manufacturing, what does QC represent?

• A. Quality check
• B. Quality control
• C. Quality assurance
• D. Quality compliance

Answer: (B)

Quality control in manufacturing refers to the activities that verify products meet the required specifications by inspecting, testing, and measuring samples of output. The aim is to detect defects and stop defective items from moving forward in the line, or to rework them so the finished batch is acceptable. It’s focused on the product and its conformity to standards and is typically applied after or during production as a way to catch issues that slipped through. This stands in contrast to quality assurance, which is the broader, proactive effort to design processes and systems that prevent defects in the first place, including training, documentation, and process controls. Quality compliance is about meeting external rules and regulations, and while it relates to quality, it is not the term used for QC. The established term for the function that checks products is quality control.