Quality indicators are important parameters when establishing a list of quantitative characteristics of goods. They are necessary to assess the level of quality of the studied products. Such a process involves taking into account certain parameters:
- purpose and conditions for the use of products;
- analysis of customer request;
- structure and composition of the analyzed properties.
Key quality indicators are divided into several groups. Let's take a closer look at some of them.
Classification options
Depending on the analyzed properties, single and complex (generalized, group and integral) characteristics are distinguished.
Quality assessment indicators by way of expression are considered in cost parameters or in natural units: kilograms, meters, points.
According to the stage of determination, indicators are:
- project,
- projected,
- operational,
- production.
Important aspects
Quality indicators must fully meet certain requirements:
- be stable;
- provide decent quality products for the population and the national economy;
- take into account the achievements of technology, science, innovation processes in various sectors of the national economy;
- help improve manufacturing efficiency;
- describe all characteristics of a product that make it suitable.
Criteria selection algorithm
Product quality indicators are selected taking into account the following characteristics:
- product group option;
- purposes of using the nomenclature;
- Methods for selecting indicators.
The type (group) of goods is established on the basis of industry and inter-industry documents that classify products according to the terms of use and purpose.
Quality indicators can be supplemented with individual features depending on the main functions that the analyzed goods perform.
For products of mechanical engineering and electrical engineering, the destination indicators are associated with the useful work performed by the product.
For a variety of conveyors, quality indicators are associated with productivity and transportation conditions. In the case of the analysis of measuring instruments, the accuracy and range of measurements must be taken into account.
The defining indicator of quality is chosen depending on the characteristics of the product and its purpose.
Destination indicators
It is customary to include certain subgroups: constructive, classification,structure and composition, functionality and technical performance.
What quality indicator will be decisive in the evaluation, experts decide. For example, among the classification parameters, the capacity of an excavator bucket, the power of an electric motor, the quantitative content of carbon in cast iron, and the tensile strength for fabric are distinguished.
Drinking water assessment
Water quality indicators are divided into several groups:
- organoleptic, which include color, taste, smell, turbidity;
- chemical;
- microbiological.
The color of water is given by complex compounds of iron. This indicator is determined by visual observation. Water acquires a smell due to substances that enter it along with sewage.
Fine impurities are the source of turbidity. Organic substances of plant origin give the taste to water.
Components of natural waters
Currently, there are six main groups, let's look at each of them in more detail.
- Macroelements. Among them, K+, Na+, Mg2+, Ca2 +, Cl-, SO4 2-, HCO 3 -, CO3 2-. Their percentage in water is estimated at 99.98% of the total volume of all s alts. The ions listed above enter the water from the soil, rocks, and also as a result of human household and industrial activities.
- Dissolved gases. These include oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen sulfide and methane. For quantitative content analysisof these chemicals use qualitative and quantitative analysis methods.
- Biogenic substances in terms of phosphorus and nitrogen. The main sources of biogenic elements are processes that occur inside water bodies. In addition, sewage and atmospheric precipitation act as them. Silicon compounds that are in water in the form of true or colloidal solutions of polysilicic or silicic acid are also considered biogenic substances. Iron contained in the form of microcolloidal hydroxide in natural water also affects its quality.
- Microelements. This group consists of metal ions contained in water bodies in small quantities.
- Group of dissolved organic substances (DOM). It includes the following compounds: alcohols, acids, ketones, aldehydes, phenols, esters, aromatic compounds, humic acids, carbohydrates, amines, proteins, amino acids. When carrying out their quantitative determination, indirect indicators are used: the total content of ions, permanganate oxidizability of water, biochemical oxygen consumption.
- Toxic pollutants. These are heavy metals, organochlorines, petroleum products, synthetic surfactants, phenols.
These parameters are taken into account when water quality indicators are considered.
Practical water quality assessment
To assess quality of life indicators, it is important to have a complete understanding of the composition of the water consumed by the population. To carry out such studies,certain characteristics:
- Content of s alts in water (in terms of the content of calcium bicarbonate). For example, water is considered fresh if its salinity does not exceed 0.1%.
- Alkalinity. A similar parameter is determined by the ability of natural water to neutralize hydrogen cations. It is determined by titrating samples with a strong acid (hydrochloric acid) in the presence of the indicator phenolphthalein.
- Oxidation. For surface and drinking water, it should not exceed 100 mg O2/l. When determining the indicator, the permanganate method is used.
- Water hardness. The indicator is divided into two groups: carbonate (temporary) and non-carbonate (permanent) value. Temporary hardness is due to the content of acidic s alts (bicarbonates) of magnesium and calcium in water. The constant value is determined by the presence in it of chlorides and sulfates of magnesium and calcium. The units of measurement are mmol/l.
Water hardness
Depending on the field of application, certain indicators of water quality (hardness) are distinguished:
- soft water is used for industrial purposes (total hardness up to 3.5 mmol/l);
- medium hardness water (from 7 to 10 mmol/l) is suitable for drinking.
Among the serious environmental problems that significantly reduce the quality of drinking water is the pollution of ecosystems with oil products. As they enter the aquatic environment, hydrocarbons spread over its surface in a monomolecular thin layer. As a result, an oil slick is formed in the reservoir. Depending on the volume of emissionsit is capable of capturing a space of hundreds and thousands of kilometers.
In just a few days, about a quarter of the oil slick disappears due to evaporation and dissolution of fractions of low molecular weight. Heavy hydrocarbons do not dissolve and do not settle at the bottom of the reservoir. They form strong emulsions that last for 50 years. It is these organic compounds that negatively affect the existence of living organisms.
As environmental problems of our century, which lead to the "blooming" of some fresh water bodies, their pollution with biogenic elements is one of them. Their main sources are nitrogen and phosphate fertilizers from agricultural fields, as well as with wastewater.
Negative consequences can also be observed due to the reduction of water exchange during the construction of dams, the appearance of stagnant zones. The greatest danger is blue-green algae, which in two months can give offspring of the order of 1020 offspring.
Indicator performance
They determine the beneficial effect obtained from the operation or consumption of products, as well as the progressiveness of the technical solutions that are embedded in the products. For technical objects, the following operational parameters are distinguished:
- indicator of the performance of the device, which determines the amount of products made on it for a specific period;
- Indicator of the speed and accuracy of the measuring instrument, the accuracy of the fabric for the garment industry;
- specific heat capacityelectric fireplace, which is determined by the energy consumption per unit of heat generated by the heater;
- food calories;
- Waterproof coefficient of rubber products.
Quality performance indicators allow you to evaluate the main areas of application of products, the demand for consumer goods.
Design indicators allow you to evaluate design techniques, ease of installation, installation, the possibility of interchangeability of individual parts (assemblies). These include:
- dimensional parameters;
- presence of additional devices.
Among the indicators used in assessing the structure and composition of chemical elements, there are:
- mass fraction of the component (alloying components) in steel;
- concentration of various impurities in acids;
- mass fraction of ash and sulfur in coke;
- Percentage of s alt and sugar in foods.
Indicators of the economical use of materials, raw materials, energy and fuel characterize the properties of a particular product, which reflect technical excellence in terms of the degree or level of raw materials, energy, fuel and materials used.
Similar indicators in the operation and manufacture of products, for example, include:
- specific consumption of the leading options for raw materials, energy;
- the ratio of the use of material resources is the ratio of useful use to the cost of manufacturing one unita certain type of product;
- efficiency.
Reliability is considered one of the main indicators of industrial products. The intensity and complexity of the operating modes of various products is constantly increasing, the responsibility of the functions being produced is increasing. The higher it is, the higher the requirements for product reliability.
If it is insignificant, then for the normal operation and performance of machines and mechanisms, serious time and material costs will be required.
The reliability of the product is affected by its operating conditions:
- air humidity,
- temperature,
- pressure,
- mechanical loads,
- radiation.
Products, elements, systems, machines, devices and assemblies are considered as technical objects.
Reliability characterizes the ability of an object to maintain the values of the main parameters throughout the entire period of operation, to perform the main functions in certain modes and conditions. This concept also includes reliability, maintainability, durability and shelf life of the product.
Depending on the object and the conditions of its operation, this property has a different significance. For example, for objects unsuitable for repair, their reliability is considered as the main property.
In conclusion
Product quality is an important indicator of enterprises. If different indicators of the quality of services are used in the social sphere, then inindustry, the efficiency of mechanisms and machines matters.
For example, among the parameters that characterize the ability to perform the necessary functions, they distinguish dynamic and kinematic, as well as performance indicators, operation accuracy and speed.
As you use these characteristics may change. To quantify the reliability of an object, indicators are used taking into account the specifics, operating conditions, and the consequences of decommissioning the mechanism.
Among the non-waste indicators, we note the average time to decommissioning and the probability of operation without repair.
Among the main economic indicators are:
- cost,
- ergonomics,
- operational life,
- product price.
For example, among the parameters that are important for industrial products, they distinguish the level of noise, overloads, vibration, magnetic and electromagnetic fields.
When evaluating the aesthetics of a product, its information expressiveness, the integrity of the composition, the rationality of the form, and the appearance are used.
The informational expressiveness of the product is characterized by the following single quality indicators: originality, sign, compliance with fashion trends, originality of style.
It is precisely by the presence of originality in the form of a product that one can distinguish it from products of a similar type.
If the product does not meet certain qualities, it will not be claimedconsumers. Consequently, the manufacturer will not be able to make the desired profit and cover the cost of manufacturing the product.
