The future of manufacturing is smart, autonomous and digital. A company’s agility and its ability to digitize, automate, integrate, govern and continuously improve in real-time will be what separates successful manufacturers from those that merely survive. Of course, product quality is instrumental in meeting consumer demands and regulatory requirements, but a culture of quality across all departments, plants and organizations can make quality a competitive advantage. To do that, quality systems have to be digital. Digital quality management systems (QMS) can provide error-proofed, data-driven improvements and compliance, and make “Quality” more than just a department.
Quality actually is “a mindset and a culture,” said Anthony Murphy, vice president of product management for PLEX, a Rockwell Automation company. “Quality is in every interaction you have with your customers (how fast do you turn around quotes, or respond to requests for info, or deal with issues), in how you engage with your suppliers, even in how you engage with your employees and your local community. “Customer, industry compliance and quality documents are all paper-based and move around in a manual fashion, such as through fax or email across the business. This is a very document-centric process that is not integrated with the manufacturing moment,” said Murphy.
“The core quality documents are usually printed and filed in binders or file cabinets in the quality office because that is all that is required for most certifications.” Murphy explains why you should care about quality and how it can be a competitive edge for manufacturers of all types and sizes in a webinar titled “Making Product Quality Profitable for Manufacturers.” In it he describes how a digital QMS can improve document information flows, avoid recalls, and otherwise improve profitability. The webinar includes case studies from industrial firms ranging from contract packagers to metal stampers to automotive component manufacturers. “Quality as a mindset comes from operational rigor, governance and control,” said Murphy.
Every layer of your operation has to be covered—from monitoring production, to managing output, to maintaining excellence.” That’s where digital transformation meets smart manufacturing—something else PLEX knows about. Adoption of smart manufacturing technology and automation, including digital quality management systems, is driving the next generation of manufacturing, according to the 7th annual Plex State of Smart Manufacturing Report . More than 83% of respondents to that survey believe smart manufacturing is key to their organization's future success.
