Focus on quality gets a boost from an enterprise view
Enterprise approach to quality management can reduce total cost of quality, says Apriso and AberdeenGroup.
Uncertain demand, growing use of global contract manufacturers, shorter product lifecycles and ever increasing process and supply chain complexity are making it difficult – if not impossible – to meet rising customer expectations while reducing the total cost of quality for manufacturers, according to John Fishell, director of product management at Apriso, a maker of global manufacturing operations management (MOM) software. But, manufacturers who take an enterprise approach and standardize quality processes across their manufacturing operations can achieve and maintain high customer satisfaction for a lower total cost of quality.
Fishell cited research conducted by AberdeenGroup that indicates the top 5 market pressures driving a focus on quality. These are:
1. Ensure consumer satisfaction
2. Reduce the ‘cost of quality’
3. Adhere with government regulatory requirements
4. Improve New Product Introduction performance
5. Manage risk due to adverse events.
Building quality processes into the design-manufacture-distribute production cycle improves a manufacturer’s profitability, customer satisfaction and cash flow by removing variability, building products right the first time, and containing any nonconforming materials should an adverse quality event occur, said Fishell. Using Apriso’s FlexNet as an integral component of production and quality operations, however, manufacturers gain a common technology platform that integrates quality with PLM, ERP and other enterprise and shop floor applications.
By synchronizing the execution of quality processes with warehouse, maintenance and production operations, said Fishell, users gain a collaborative approach to quality management that spans the entire production lifecycle. One manufacturer that has already achieved results based on Apriso’s enterprise approach to quality is L’Oreal, he said.
"Apriso offers an enterprise MOM solution with interlocking tracking and traceability across manufacturing operations activities, with real-time containment capabilities should a quality issue arise. This minimizes disruptions and the potential for eroding customer satisfaction," Fishell added.
– Edited by Renee M. Robbins, managing editor, MBT www.mbtmag.com
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