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      Quality assurance when manufacturing: saving space

      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can manufacture accurately and to a high quality.

      Key learning points

      1. Designers and manufacturers use quality assurance (QA) and quality control (QC).
      2. Quality assurance is about checking the planning and processes.
      3. Quality control is about checking the product to make sure it meets the required standard.
      4. When QA and QC checks take place, they are ensuring accuracy.

      Keywords

      • Manufacture - the process of making products from raw materials using machines or labour

      • Quality assurance - ensuring the production process prevents mistakes and maintains quality

      • Quality control - checks made on a product before, during and after its production so it meets quality and safety standards

      • Accuracy - being correct and precise

      • Tolerance - the acceptable range of variation in a product's dimensions

      Common misconception

      Quality control and quality assurance is the same thing.

      Quality control focuses on identifying defects in finished products, while quality assurance is about preventing defects through planned processes and systems during production.

      Teacher tip

      Defining the difference between these two areas will be the key point of this lesson as these are so often muddled or mis-understood.

      Licence

      This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0
      except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions
      (Collection 2).

      Lesson video

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      Prior knowledge starter quiz

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      What type of tools are powered by electricity and are fixed in one place?

      hand tools
      power tools
      Correct answer: machinery

      Q2.
      Power tools are usually handheld and ...

      heavy
      Correct answer: portable
      fragile
      stationary

      Q3.
      What are two benefits from using power tools and machinery over hand tools to manufacture products?

      style
      Correct answer: consistency
      Correct answer: speed
      creativity

      Q4.
      When using power tools and machinery must be worn to protect your eyes.

      Correct Answer: goggles

      Q5.
      PPE stands for?

      Professional Performance Evaluation
      Public Protection Enterprise
      Correct answer: Personal Protective Equipment

      Q6.
      What power tool is shown in the image?

      An image in a quiz
      Correct Answer: jigsaw, jig saw

      4 Questions

      Q1.
      Quality checks the planning and processes.

      Correct Answer: assurance

      Q2.
      Which of these would be quality control checks?

      Correct answer: measuring finished parts
      use of jigs and templates
      Correct answer: using a go/no go gauge
      creating detailed working drawings with dimensions

      Q3.
      If you are within the acceptable range of variation in a product's dimensions you are said to be within ...

      Correct answer: tolerance.
      precision.
      calibration.

      Q4.
      What is this an example of?

      An image in a quiz
      press
      fig
      peg
      winder
      Correct answer: jig

      To help you plan your 10 design and technology lesson on: Quality assurance when manufacturing: saving space, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...