It is solely the domain of scholars. Without the intellectual, creative process, the system would not exist. Quality Control is basically the editorial process. Through rigorous peer review, scholars maintain the integrity and worth of scholarship. It is also the sole responsibility of the scholars themselves, as embodied in editorial boards.
Production is chiefly the province of publishers.
Publishers add value through the copy editing process, illustrations, and management of the peer review and editorial processes. Distribution of scholarly communication is handled by both libraries and publishers, with libraries accounting for dissemination to most readers. Libraries add value by providing cataloging, indexing, physical organization, and preservation. Consumption is also the province of scholars, but it extends as well to their students and to non-scholars who might have an interest in their work. Underlying the system is the support provided by institutions such as universities, governments, granting agencies, and, of course, the taxpayer.