The first step that is necessary to carry out in order to determine the essence of the quality concept that concerns us now is to establish its etymological origin. In this sense, we have to emphasize that it is found in the Latin word qualĭtas, which in turn comes from the Greek and more specifically from the term ποιόόης.
According to DigoPaul, the typical qualities and particularities of something are highlighted from the concept of quality, a notion that is used when making comparisons between elements belonging to the same species. It should be noted that the definition of quality, due to the subjective nature of its meaning, is not usually precise.
There are many useful perspectives when it comes to approaching the concept of quality. If we refer to a product, the quality aims to achieve a qualitative and quantitative differentiation in relation to some required attribute. As for the user, quality implies meeting their expectations and wishes. This means that the quality of an object or service depends on the way in which it manages to meet the customer’s needs. It can also be said that quality consists of adding value to the consumer or user.
Therefore, starting from the use of quality as a synonym of excellence, we have to determine that nowadays it is common to use the expressions “quality seal” or “quality mark”. With both what is achieved, basically in the field of food ”, is to determine that a series of foods have the best properties that make them exquisite products and that they differ from their competitors precisely because of those.
Thus, for example, we could use a sentence as an example such as the following: “Acorn-fed Iberian ham from Los Pedroches has its seal of quality and is protected by the corresponding designation of origin, which gives it great value.”
Information technologies, for their part, speak of data quality when verifying that the information collected, processed, preserved and delivered is a true reflection of reality.
The good quality of a product or service is conditioned by three basic issues: the technical perspective (which covers the scientific and technological details related to the product in question), the human dimension (which seeks to promote a positive bond between clients and business entities) and the economic dimension (which seeks to reduce costs, both for the company and for the consumer).
Other important aspects in terms of quality are the right quantity of the product that is marketed, the agility in its distribution and its specific price.
To guarantee the quality of a product, there are standards or guidelines that function as rules to follow. Although each company has internal regulations, there are others that are mandatory in accordance with the provisions of the law.
However, it must also be emphasized that the term quality is inherently associated with other words with which it has come to form expressions that are very frequently used in our society. This would be the case, for example, of what is known by the name of “quality of life” that comes to be translated as all that set of devices or actions that ensure that an individual or a community have the necessary requirements to enjoy from a day to day much more pleasant and comfortable.