Which factor does not align with the concept of prevention in Cost of Quality?

The concept of prevention in Cost of Quality emphasizes actions taken to avoid defects before they occur, rather than dealing with them after they have arisen. Training employees, process improvement initiatives, and quality planning activities are all proactive measures that aim to enhance the overall quality of the product or service by providing adequate knowledge, refining processes, and establishing effective quality management strategies.

In contrast, testing products after production falls under the category of appraisal costs. Appraisal costs are associated with measuring and monitoring activities to ensure quality but do not prevent defects from occurring in the first place. Therefore, while testing is important for identifying defects, it does not align with the preventive approach that aims to eliminate issues during the early stages of production.