Quality management has always been an essential aspect of ensuring that products and services meet customer expectations. However, with the onset of Industry 4.0, traditional quality management approaches are no longer sufficient to meet the demands of the digital era. This is where Quality 4.0 comes in, a principle that aims to harmonize quality management activities with Industry 4.0's capabilities. By leveraging technology, organizations can transform their culture, collaboration, competency, and leadership development to improve their quality management systems.
One progressive approach to achieving this is through the use of closed-loop quality management systems. This approach involves connecting quality process or performance data from one area to another, with the goal of improving quality earlier in the process. The closed-loop approach is becoming increasingly popular as it is a suitable way for organizations to transition towards a more future-ready quality management system.
However, a study conducted in 2021 on Czech production companies revealed that while they had some level of awareness and understanding of closed-loop quality management systems, their readiness for implementation was relatively low. The study found that nearly 50% of companies did not consider implementing closed-loop quality management systems in the future. The main barriers to implementation included a lack of resources, insufficient knowledge and skills, and resistance to change.
Despite these challenges, the study also revealed that Czech production companies in the automotive supply chain had achieved a higher level of readiness for closed-loop quality management system implementation relative to other companies. The study suggests that to improve readiness for closed-loop quality management systems, companies need to declare, implement, and develop a vision focused on closed-loop quality management systems. Companies also need to determine and release the necessary resources for establishing, maintaining, and continuously improving closed-loop quality management systems. Lastly, companies need to acquire new skills for all relevant roles and provide massive support for mutual cooperation between quality and information technology professionals.
In conclusion, quality management is a critical aspect of ensuring customer satisfaction, and organizations must adapt their approaches to meet the demands of the digital era. Closed-loop quality management systems are a progressive approach to achieving this, but companies need to overcome challenges such as lack of resources and insufficient knowledge and skills to implement them successfully. By investing in digital technologies and training programs, organizations can overcome these challenges and improve their readiness for closed-loop quality management system implementation, resulting in improved quality and economic impact.
Authors
Vykydal, D., & Nenadál, J. (2022). Closed-Loop Quality Management Systems: Are Czech Companies Ready?. Quality Innovation Prosperity, 26(2), 72-87. https://doi.org/10.12776/QIP.V26I2.1710