‘Balance quantity and quality for productivity’
Published in The Argus, 28 November 2009
Written by: Kowthar Solomons

‘Balance quantity and quality for productivity’

Construction company reveals its winning formula

IN ORDER for a business or company to run successfully it must pay attention to two crucial aspects of production: quantity and quality. But striking a balance between the two is often difficult and the question becomes whether one can prioritise one over the other.

Gary Hurst, the quality assurance manager for Power Construction, says it is vital for quality and quantity to play an equal role if a business is to survive - and thrive. His company was recently named the corporate winner of this year's National Productivity Award from Productivity SA, a Section 21 company with a mandate to serve the interests of government, organised labour and business through the enhancement of productive capacity.

Hurst says: "In today's modern economic climate one has to be able to produce dependable goodsand services in short periods of time. This is applicable to any type of worker and not just a business," Hurst says.

He suggested the first step to working out the best possible system was to evaluate the pros and cons of the two key aspects of production. "Focusing on quantity means you're pushing out more units in a shorter space of time. This means you can meet tighter deadlines if you need to. The drawback is that mistakes could slip by easier and your client or boss won't be impressed. Fixing the mess costs even more money and could lose you a valuable client," Hurst says.

"If you shift your attention to quality, you have less production problems. But even if you make the perfect product, if you can't meet deadlines it's pointless." Therefore, according to Hurst, quantity and quality must play equal roles for a successful business.

In order to achieve the balance, Hurst recommends following a simple plan. The first step is to boost and maintain quality. Once the quality is at a consistent high, it gives producers the freedom to increase quantity without fear of mistakes. Hurst said as long as both of these factors stayed monitored, success, was a step away.

"Acknowledging your workers can help to boost productivity as well. It gives them a sense of pride and a standard they would want to live up to. In the end, the only way to make it to the top is through hard work and determination," says Hurst.