What is Quality 4.0?

The term “Quality 4.0” has been making the rounds these last few years and I’ve always wondered what it was about. Thankfully, the October 2019 edition of Quality Progress, the monthly newsletter of American Society Quality, carried a great article on the subject. Here is a summary of the key points of Quality 4.0 from the article.
  1. Linked to the fourth industrial revolution; builds on the third (digital) and integrates various technologies to make our lives even simpler. 
  2. It comprises the use of one or more of the following to make quality products and services:
    • 3D printing
    • Internet of things
    • Cloud computing 
    • Machine learning
    • Artificial intelligence 
    • Blockchain technology
  3. Enterprise Quality Management System (EQMS) software is a tool that manages content and business processes for quality and compliance throughout the supply chain. Entreprise Resource Planning (ERP) software is a tool for managing procurement processes and inventory. Enterprise Quality Management System is responsible for consistent delivery of quality products whereas Enterprise Resource Planning is responsible for ensuring that the supply chain processes are efficiently managed for maximum value. 
  4. For businesses to optimize their operations in the era of Quality 4.0 there is a need to integrate EQMS and ERP softwares. 
  5. The following six steps are required to integrate EQMS and ERP:
i. Define corporate goals for digitalization. Where does the organization want to be in the short medium and long term, and what digital tools are needed to get it there?
ii. Digitalization of purchasing and quality processes.. 
iii. Integration of digitalized purchasing and quality processes. Quality managers must shift the focus of high-value staff away from the mechanics of execution and toward innovation and improvement of the quality processes. 
iv. Implementation of the digitalized ecosystem
v. Visibility and transparency... makes it easier to identify root cause of product defects and can lead to better quality control in end-products 
vi. Measure quality improvements and redefine goals... based on comparison with initial set corporate goals in step 1. Redefining goals ensures a culture of continuous improvement.

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