In quality control, what does “tolerancing” refer to?

Tolerancing refers to the acceptable range of variation in dimensions of parts or products during the manufacturing process. This concept is crucial in quality control because it defines the permissible limits within which a component must be produced to ensure it functions correctly in its intended application. Tolerances are established to account for variations due to manufacturing processes, materials used, and operational conditions, ensuring parts fit together properly and perform as expected in a system. By specifying tolerances, manufacturers can maintain quality standards and minimize defects, thereby improving overall reliability and customer satisfaction.