What distinguishes qualitative metrics from quantitative metrics in quality assessment?

Qualitative metrics focus on descriptive and subjective assessments of quality. They are often used to gather insights that are not easily quantifiable, such as opinions, feelings, or experiences. This type of metric can capture the nuances of a situation or product that quantitative measures might overlook, providing richer context for understanding quality. For example, customer satisfaction surveys with open-ended questions yield qualitative data as they reflect personal experiences and perceptions, helping organizations understand the factors that contribute to quality from a human perspective.

In contrast, quantitative metrics are based on numerical data and objective measurements, such as defect rates or production times. They are useful for tracking performance and drawing comparisons based on statistical analysis. While both types of metrics are vital in quality assessment, the ability of qualitative metrics to provide depth and context is what sets them apart as they bring in a subjective viewpoint that helps to inform overall quality improvement strategies.