quality control

American  

noun

1. a system for verifying and maintaining a desired level of quality in an existing product or service by careful planning, use of proper equipment, continued inspection, and corrective action as required.

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quality control British  

noun

1. control of the relative quality of a manufactured product, usually by statistical sampling techniques

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Etymology

Origin of quality control

First recorded in 1930–35

Example Sentences

The organization had preserved these cans over many years for quality control but eventually no longer needed them.

From Science Daily • Apr. 1, 2026

The model relies on a sharply curated assortment—often just a few thousand stock-keeping units, far fewer than a typical hypermarket—which simplifies choice and reinforces a perception of disciplined quality control.

From Barron's • Mar. 7, 2026

“We’re concerned about the lingering quality control issues at LULU,” the analysts said, noting the product issues underscore low visibility into the company’s turnaround.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 20, 2026

"Training and quality control are the biggest challenges," he says.

From BBC • Jan. 5, 2026

Moreover, if this trade-off is not acknowledged, there is a tendency to deny or cover up the inevitable defective items, which makes the job of quality control that much more difficult.

From "Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Consequences" by John Allen Paulos