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Fit for purpose is a product, service or experience that suits the goals and preferences of the customer. This is a common way to think about quality whereby quality occurs where a product is well suited to its useful purpose. The following are illustrative examples.
A small, light kettle for hiking and camping. | A waterproof raincoat. | A smartphone with long battery life. | An electric car with a long range. | A durable bicycle. | An efficient and effective air conditioner. | A safe child seat. | A stylish and personalized hair cut. | Food that is healthy and tasty. | A bank account with fair terms and low fees. | A mobile service with accurate and clear bills. | A secure email service. | An accurate thermometer. | A movie that’s entertaining. | A nightclub that’s loud and stimulating. | A library that’s quiet. | A dessert that’s just the right size. | A beverage that’s refreshing. | A pen with just the right thickness at the tip. | Sandals that are eye-catching and stylish. | A new house that doesn't require any major maintenance for 30 years. |
Fit for purpose is specific to the customer including their needs and perceptions. It is common for a negative trait for one product to be fit for purpose for some other product. For example, you wouldn't want a noisy air conditioner but people do want a sports car engine to make a sound indicative of power.Fit for purpose includes the idea that more isn't always better. For example, if you serve customers a cake that is too large they may regret their meal in the end or feel guilty for not being able to finish.More examples:CoffeeCoffee that's fresh, free of harmful chemicals, produced without harming quality of life in its country of origin that tastes good in the eyes of the customer.Mobile DeviceA mobile device that's fast, always connected, aesthetically pleasing, easy to use, light, free of annoying features with a wide array of optional apps.ElevatorsElevators that are fast, energy efficient, safe, comfortable, accessible with ample capacity relative to the pedestrian traffic in a given building.CarsCars that are safe, energy efficient, reliable, comfortable and fun to drive.Paper ClipA paper clip that provides just enough tension to hold papers together firmly.SummaryFit for purpose is a way to define quality by how well a product, service, process, experience or activity fulfills its purpose or function. This is often situational and defined in terms of customer perceptions. Fit for purpose can also be defined in terms of objective measures such as a figure of merit.|
Area | | Definition | Quality that's ideal for a given use, situation and group of customers. | Related Concepts | | Next: High Quality
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