Assessment of quality control practices in manufacturing firms in Ondo State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study assessed the quality control practices in manufacturing firms in Ondo State. It assessed the quality control practices available, examined factors affecting quality of products, examined the challenges involved in implementing quality control practices and evaluated the relationship between quality control practices and organizational productivity in the manufacturing firms in the study area. To achieve these objectives, a study of four cocoa processing firms in Ondo state was carried out. Fifty- seven questionnaires were distributed and the data were analyzed with the use of Frequency Tables, Mean Ranking, Relative Importance Index and Pearson Correlation Coefficient. The results showed that the Cause and Effects diagram is the most used. Unavailability of
funds to cover the needs of quality control ranked highest as the most critical factor that affects quality of products while the need to reduce cost so that products can compete well in the market ranked the most significant problem affecting manufacturing firms in the study area. The findings suggest that strict adherence to best quality control practices should be enforced by management of manufacturing firms and the employment of highly skilled personnel should be improved upon so as to sustain the level of conformity to quality.