The Fourth Industrial Revolution, is also known as Industry 4.0, and it is transforming the way companies operate. This revolution is about integrating new technologies into production processes, and it has significant implications for the way companies are organized and managed, as well as the functions of their employees. Along with this revolution has emerged Quality 4.0, a new approach to quality management in response to Industry 4.0.
Quality 4.0 is a data-oriented discipline that combines quality management with new technologies such as Big Data and Artificial Intelligence. It is an approach that emphasizes the strategic advantage of quality in modern products and the importance of service quality for business differentiation and competitiveness. The focus now shifts from the product to data, and companies must adapt to new data processing and analysis techniques.
However, there are challenges in adapting to these new technologies and restructuring traditional concepts of quality. One of the most significant challenges is the need to develop new standards, and companies must adapt to new data processing and analysis techniques. The integration of new technologies must also be considered in service quality to stay competitive in the market.
To improve customer satisfaction, companies must integrate traditional quality tools such as Six Sigma, TQM, and Total Productive Maintenance with new technologies such as Big Data, AI, and Augmented Reality. The focus is now on data-driven decision making, real-time monitoring, and optimization of production and logistics processes. The integration of lean methodologies and quality tools into Industry 4.0 will significantly improve organizational results in terms of quality and productivity.
The implementation of Industry 4.0 technologies such as ERP, IoT, and CPS, along with digital quality management systems, will enable companies to receive, process, and analyze information in real-time, optimize functional and organizational structures, and guarantee the quality control of production processes and finished products. Quality management tests will not be done on a separate metrology segment, but on the real-time manufacturing line.
Quality 4.0 professionals will need to adapt to this new era by mastering knowledge and skills in interpreting large amounts of data, using new tools, and developing digital skills while building access to lifelong learning. It requires a new culture of quality that is increasingly based on the collection and processing of data, using modeling and simulation techniques.
The characteristics of a smart factory involve using Information Technologies for fast production of personalized products. Supplier involvement in company processes can provide valuable insights into customer needs and competitor activities. Therefore, companies must be aware of trends in the market and reduce financial costs while preserving and entering into new contracts.
The authors suggest that there is a need for more research in this area as the literature does not yet provide answers to some important questions. It is a new area of quality management, and companies and professionals must be willing to update and integrate existing technologies to fully realize the benefits of these technologies.
Authors
Oliveira D., Rosa M.J., Alvelos H. (2022), Quality 4.0: An exploratory literature review and avenues for future research, International Conference on Quality Engineering and Management. https://publicacoes.riqual.org/icqem-22-353-369/