There are three main ways to use control. We call these control mechanisms. All three of these control methods are usually in action at the same time. They complement one another. Here, we’ll take a look at:
- feedback control
- feed forward control
- concurrent control.
Diagram 1: Systems of control - [D] Text equivalent
Feed forward control
The explanations here have focused on production, but these controls work for staff, as well. Individual staff members have work plans (feed forward), are organised and led (concurrent) and are corrected if they make mistakes (feedback).
Feed forward control sets the standards before things are done It says what and how things should happen.
Concurrent control
Concurrent control uses the standards to check whether the production is going according to plan.
Feedback control
Feedback control focuses on the outputs of production (the product or the service). It is made up of four steps:
- Review the standards you want to meet.
- Measure actual performance compared with these standards.
- Tell people how well or poorly they are doing.
- Improve things so that standards will be achieved better in future.
This process should be followed regularly, for example every month.
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