Abstract

In this study, a quality cost model to measure and control costs of quality (COQ) occurring in marble plants was developed. In the marble industry, most properties associated with quality depend on uncontrolled and mostly immeasurable natural and geological conditions. And because of these nature-related problems, it is difficult to apply commonly used quality cost models to the marble industry and there has not been any application of cost models to the marble industry in literature. For the first time, quality costs occurring in marble production systems are determined, classified and calculated. A computer program containing this model and statistical quality control tools was developed. The software was tested using data from marble plants located in the Diyarbakir (Turkey) Region that has a significant share of the Turkish natural stone industry. It was found that quality costs vary depending on product types in range from 9 to 34% of total production costs for three different stone types.

Key words: Quality, cost of quality, quality cost model, PAF model, marble plant, computer program.