Design and Technology – Quality systems | e-Consult

Here are three quality control checks that could be performed on the finished wooden chair:

• Weight-bearing Capacity Check:

  Purpose: To verify that the chair can support the specified minimum weight of 100kg. This is a critical safety check.

  How it's carried out: A calibrated weighing scale is used to gradually add weight to the chair's seat, simulating a person sitting on it. The weight is increased in increments (e.g., 10kg) until the 100kg mark is reached. The chair must remain structurally sound and not show any signs of deformation, cracking, or failure. The process should be documented with the weight increments and observations.

• Surface Smoothness Check:

  Purpose: To ensure the chair's surface is free from splinters and has a smooth, comfortable finish. This is important for user safety and comfort.

  How it's carried out: A magnifying glass is used to visually inspect the entire surface of the chair, paying particular attention to edges, corners, and areas where joints are present. A gloved hand is carefully dragged across the surface to feel for any sharp edges or splinters. A standard surface roughness tester could also be used to quantify the smoothness.

• Joint Strength Check:

  Purpose: To verify the strength and integrity of the joints that hold the chair together. Weak joints could lead to structural failure.

  How it's carried out: A manual joint test is performed by applying a controlled amount of force to the joints (e.g., attempting to flex or twist the chair). Visual inspection of the joints is also carried out to check for gaps, loose connections, or signs of weakness. A torque wrench could be used to measure the tightness of screws or bolts, if applicable. The joints should not show any signs of movement or give way under moderate stress.