[Quality Management in Photo Colour Lab]

By

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I am most grateful to my family, friends, colleagues and my instructors without the support of whom; this research would not have been completed.

DECLARATION

I declare that this paper has not been submitted before and presents my own ideas after a thorough examination of the scholarly work and primary research.

ABSTRACT

The aim of this research is to examine the quality control process in photo colour lab. The imaging industry has remained competitive depending on the quality of the results, and this is the reason why implementing comprehensive quality management procedures are imperative. This research employed action research in the form of non structured interview survey. Fifty research participants were selected through a convenience sampling who will be asked about the currently employed quality control practices and the requirement for change. This research facilitated the existing literature on management quality control of the imaging and printing industry since the data upon this industry is scarcely found. It is found that the main quality management requirement of a photo colour lab is to update the quality control processes and ensure innovation in the digital output. This research encourage the management research to expand more on this industry to better understand the issues and opportunities facing the photo colour imaging market.

Table of Contents

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT1

DECLARATION3

ABSTRACT4

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION7

Background7

Problem Statement7

Research Aims and Objectives7

Research Questions8

Research Variables8

Dependant Variable8

Independent Variables8

Significance of the Study8

Nature of the Study9

Scope of the Research9

Key Concepts and Definitions9

Quality Management9

Quality Control10

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW12

Concept of Quality Management12

Theoretical Account12

The optimal Level of Quality in Colour Lab14

Benefits of Acting upon the Quality Management Principles15

CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY17

Research Design17

Data Collection17

Sampling17

Research Instruments18

Ensuring the Validity and Reliability of the Instrument18

Recording Data18

Data Analysis and Interpretations19

CHAPTER 4: FINDINGS AND DATA ANALYSIS21

Question 1: Where do you believe Photo colour lab stands at the moment?21

Question 2: What are the performance standards of this industry?22

Question 3: How well does the company comply with these standards?22

Question 4: What is the role of quality control meeting performance standards?22

Question 5: What quality management strategy is currently followed?23

Question 6: What are the quality control strategies that have been adopted by the organization?23

Question 7: What are the issues that the lab faces currently?24

Question 8: Is there something that the organization is doing to improve on the weaknesses?24

Question 9: What quality principles does the organization follow?24

Question 10: What mandatory Quality procedures are being followed?25

CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION AND DISCUSSION26

Quality Control Processes26

Requirement for Improvement26

Quality Management Strategies27

Recommendations to Improve the Quality Management Process30

Recommendation for the Future Research30

Conclusion31

REFERENCES33

APPENDIX37

Interview Questionnaire37

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

Background

In the colour photo labs high quality is essential as it is one of the main competitive advantage of the organization. The quality of image can be evaluated, described and turned into many practical applications. It can give expression to the real quality of colours as seen by humans, colours on screen, by camera and the colour extended by bar coding. In this regard organizations are trying to be competent in ensuring quality management in the colour labs.

Problem Statement

Currently the quality of the photo colour lab is not as encouraging as it should ...