Improving quality while decreasing costs typically involves which of the following approaches?

Improving quality while decreasing costs is effectively achieved by reducing process variation. This approach focuses on minimizing the inconsistencies and defects in a process, which directly enhances the quality of the output. By standardizing processes and employing tools such as Six Sigma methodologies, organizations can streamline operations, reduce waste, and improve efficiency.

When process variation is reduced, products and services become more consistent, leading to higher customer satisfaction and potentially lower costs due to less rework and lower defect rates. This focus on quality control helps ensure that the resources used are optimized, which aligns with cost reduction goals.

In contrast, increasing workforce size may lead to higher operational costs without guaranteeing improvements in quality. Offering more services can often increase complexity and costs, potentially detracting from the core services and their quality. Eliminating all errors is an idealistic goal and may not be practical or cost-effective, as some level of variation is often inherent in any process. Thus, reducing process variation offers a realistic and effective strategy to achieve both quality improvement and cost reduction.