The Fourth Industrial Revolution, also known as Industry 4.0, has brought about significant advancements in technology and has revolutionized the way organizations operate. With the emergence of groundbreaking technologies such as Autonomous Robots, Internet of Things, Cloud Computing, and Big Data, there has been a need to integrate these technologies into traditional Quality Management practices. This integration has led to the emergence of a new concept called Quality 4.0.
Quality 4.0, or Q4.0, focuses on how Quality Management needs to be adopted in the digital era. It aims to bring numerous benefits to organizations, including reduced costs of quality, improved operational efficiencies, increased value proposition, and transparent data-based partnerships. However, despite the potential benefits, there is a low level of readiness or maturity in organizations when it comes to Q4.0 adoption.
While there have been numerous studies on the readiness and maturity levels of organizations in relation to Industry 4.0, there is limited research on Q4.0 readiness. Therefore, a recent study focused on examining the Q4.0 readiness of organizations in the Visegrad countries - Poland, Czech Republic, and Slovakia. These countries are among the most industrialized in the European Union.
The study aimed to identify factors that may impact Q4.0 readiness, such as organization size, industry sector, certified management systems, and country of origin. The research also focused on understanding the benefits and barriers of Q4.0 implementation as perceived by organizations.
The findings of the study revealed that there is a significant relationship between organization size and Q4.0 readiness. Larger organizations tend to be more prepared for Q4.0 implementation compared to small and medium-sized organizations. Additionally, organizations operating in the automotive industry showed a higher level of Q4.0 readiness.
The study also confirmed a significant relationship between Q4.0 readiness and the presence of a certified quality management system (QMS) in organizations. Organizations with a certified QMS were found to have higher levels of Q4.0 readiness.
Furthermore, the study highlighted the main barriers to Q4.0 implementation, including time and investment requirements, lack of financial resources, and the absence of a long-term quality management strategy. On the other hand, the main benefits perceived by organizations in implementing Q4.0 were long-term competitiveness, interconnection of processes and levels, and improved process performance.
Overall, the study contributes to the existing body of knowledge on Q4.0 readiness levels and factors affecting implementation. The findings can help organizations understand the current state of transformation initiatives in this field and provide valuable insights for practitioners.
It is worth noting that the study is preliminary, and further research is needed to explore other factors and dependencies related to Q4.0 readiness. Nonetheless, the findings shed light on the challenges and support needed for organizations in their journey towards adopting Q4.0. This research can serve as a foundation for future studies and initiatives aimed at supporting organizations, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises, in their digital transformation efforts.
Reference
Wawak S.; Sütőová A.; Vykydal D.; Halfarová P. (2023). Factors affecting Quality 4.0 implementation in Czech, Slovak and Polish organizations: Preliminary research. Advances in Production Engineering And Management, 18(3), 345-356, DOI: 10.14743/apem2023.3.477.