What aspect of quality improvement does "quality control" primarily focus on?

Quality control primarily focuses on preventing defects in products. This aspect of quality improvement involves the ongoing evaluation of the quality of processes and outputs during production or service delivery. Quality control mechanisms, such as inspections and testing, are implemented to ensure that products meet established quality standards before they reach customers. The goal is to identify and rectify defects or inconsistencies that may arise during production, thereby enhancing customer satisfaction and minimizing waste.

While designing new quality initiatives, training employees in quality standards, and establishing performance metrics are all important components of a comprehensive quality improvement strategy, they do not specifically encapsulate the essence of quality control. Quality control is reactive and focuses on the operational aspects of maintaining quality, as opposed to proactive measures like training or designing new initiatives which are more strategic in nature.