QA/QC Terminology-to-Application Matching Guide
Fundamentals of Quality Control
Purpose:
To help learners connect theoretical QC terms to real-world on-site applications in UK engineering and manufacturing workplaces, reinforcing understanding of UK-specific standards and legislation.
Terminology-to-Application Table
| QC Term | Practical On-Site Application | UK Workplace Example | Relevant UK Law/Standard |
| Quality Control (QC) | Monitoring production or construction processes to ensure standards are met | Inspecting concrete batches before pouring foundations | ISO 9001:2015, BS EN 206, HSWA 1974 |
| Preventive Measures | Actions to avoid defects before they occur | Calibrating mixing machines before asphalt pouring | ISO 9001:2015, CDM Regulations 2015 |
| Corrective Measures | Steps to fix defects after detection | Re-welding steel beams that fail inspection | ISO 9001:2015, HSWA 1974 |
| Defect Detection | Identifying nonconformance in materials or processes | Checking asphalt thickness and density on-site | BS EN 13108, ISO 9001:2015 |
| Sampling | Selecting representative items for inspection | Random testing of concrete cubes from a batch | ISO 2859-1, ISO 9001:2015 |
| Control Chart | Visual tool for monitoring variations over time | Tracking weld dimensions or bolt sizes | ISO 9001:2015 |
| Non Conformance | Products or processes failing to meet quality requirements | Asphalt layer not meeting specified thickness | ISO 9001:2015, BS EN 13108 |
| Root Cause Analysis (RCA) | Investigating underlying causes of defects | Analyzing recurring steel weld cracks | ISO 9001:2015 |
| Traceability | Ability to track production or material history | Maintaining logs of concrete batch tests | BS 1192, ISO 9001:2015 |
| PDCA Cycle | Continuous improvement method (Plan-Do-Check-Act) | Reviewing QC inspection reports to improve processes | ISO 9001:2015 |
Learner Task
Instructions:
- Review the terminology and on-site applications in the table above.
- Create your own matching table by selecting five additional QC terms relevant to your workplace. For each term:
- Provide a clear definition.
- Give a practical UK on-site example of its use.
- Identify the relevant UK law or standard that applies.
- Write a short paragraph (50–70 words per term) explaining how applying these terms on-site contributes to product quality, compliance, and workplace safety.
- Optionally, design a diagram linking all QC terms to their corresponding practical applications, showing the flow from detection to corrective/preventive actions.