What is the primary focus of demerit charts in quality control?

Demerit charts are primarily used in quality control to assess the cost of quality failures. This tool enables organizations to visualize and quantify the impact of defects and non-conformities over time. By highlighting various types of defects and their associated costs, demerit charts provide insight into where improvements can be made and help to prioritize areas that require attention to reduce expenses linked to poor quality.

The focus on cost is crucial because it directly ties quality performance to financial implications. For instance, by identifying which defects are most costly, organizations can strategically address those areas to minimize waste and improve overall product quality. This approach aligns well with the principles of continuous improvement and is essential for understanding the trade-offs between quality and cost.

While counting defective items and tracking product performance are relevant to quality control, they do not capture the financial aspect as effectively as demerit charts do. Monitoring variable processes is important in its own right but is more aligned with process control and capability assessments rather than directly linking to the assessment of quality costs.