It is __________ for workers to inspect and sort out defective products than to prevent defects from occurring altogether.

The correct answer highlights that it is more costly for workers to inspect and sort out defective products rather than preventing defects from occurring in the first place. Quality management principles emphasize that prevention is a key aspect of minimizing costs associated with defects. When defects are prevented upfront, the associated costs of rework, scrap, and inspection are significantly reduced.

In a quality-focused approach, inspection is often seen as a reactive measure. While inspections can help identify and remove defects, they do not address the root causes of those defects. This can lead to higher operational costs because it requires additional resources, time, and labor to sort through products after they have been made. In contrast, implementing proactive quality control measures during the production process can lead to a significant reduction in the occurrence of defects.

Understanding this concept is foundational in quality management and helps emphasize the importance of building quality into processes rather than relying on inspection as a solution. Efficient quality management ultimately focuses on prevention rather than correction, which leads to long-term cost savings and improved product quality.