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Why Quality is Important in Manufacturing

Learn why implementing quality in manufacturing is crucial for product creation, risk management, and more.

Quality in manufacturing depends on effective quality control (QC), a set of procedures used to measure and test products for compliance. The main function of QC is to ensure that all goods are free of defects, meet client expectations, and adhere to industry best practices.

Products have the potential either to increase customer satisfaction or to create legal and financial complications if deficiencies are found. In the current era where consumers are increasingly conscious of product safety and quality, it is paramount that manufacturers are doing all they can to ensure products meet all quality standards. Quality goods can affect a business’s success and advance its credibility to the public. They can also lead to fewer production costs and increases in profit.

With emerging digital technologies such as AI and connected worker solutions, manufacturers can improve quality control, decrease defects, and more. AI-powered connected worker platforms allow manufacturers to standardize quality control, resulting in fewer errors, reduced defects, and streamlined quality processes that are faster and more accurate.

Explore the following content to get a better idea of why quality is crucial and ways to improve it:

quality in manufacturing

Defining quality on industrial frontlines

Quality in the manufacturing realm is all about following procedures to meet product and compliance specifications. Once the standard for quality is set, the rest is about meeting product expectations through standardized procedures.

Quality in production can be broken down into three factors: design, quality control, and quality management.

Design: A product can be significantly improved by design. For example, goods should be made with the right materials to ensure functionality and a longer shelf life.

Quality control: The level of quality is improved when waste and product defects are reduced during the QC process.

Quality management: Completing production processes that follow regulatory standards is at the core of quality management.

Pro Tip

By digitizing quality control and quality assurance procedures, manufacturers can ensure a standardized approach towards inspections and quality data collection and improve overall compliance with quality standards.

Quality affects every facet of manufacturing

Production quality is more than just distributing products that people will trust and buy. Though that may be a key factor, quality affects every aspect of manufacturing, from workplace risk management to machine upkeep and inspection.

Quality affects many aspects of production. Examples include the following:

  • Risk management ensures products are safe to use by customers and follow safety protocols. Smart, connected worker solutions are able to improve risk management through standardization and optimization of quality checks.
  • Regulatory compliance is a key component of quality and can help prevent delays in production and fines. With digitized processes in place, manufacturers are able to ensure workers have access to the correct procedures and that tasks are performed in a standardized manner to avoid errors and promote improved compliance.
  • Waste reduction is possible when material resources are conserved and used accordingly in production processes. AI-powered analytics in conjunction with smart, connected worker solutions allow for improved, streamlined processes that are able to reduce waste and improve yield through optimized production.
  • Errors and defects are reduced when procedures are standardized using efficient QC processes to troubleshoot problems. With connected worker solutions and digitized quality control processes such as layered process audits, mistakes can be identified as they happen, protecting the production process.
  • Machine upkeep and inspection can be strengthened when industry best practices are implemented. Digitizing machine inspection standards and upkeep notifications and connecting frontline workers via smart, connected worker platforms gives operators the ability to practice preventative and autonomous maintenance and improves overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) and reduces unplanned downtime.

How to Improve Quality in Manufacturing

Quality improvement in manufacturing is vital to ensure a business is performing at its best. Here are some ways to boost quality with real-world examples:

Step 1: Practice lean manufacturing.

Lean manufacturing is the practice of reducing waste in production processes. Waste is defined as anything that does not bring value to the customer. This method requires an examination of your current practices to see which work and which leads to greater waste. The rise of digital technology is making it easier and more practical for manufacturers to connect and digitize their operations and drive further improvements and enhance lean manufacturing strategies.

Real-world application: An injection molding machine was found clogged with mold and was producing products with damaged seams. After resolving this issue by cleaning the machine, the company had less wasted plastic and fewer product malfunctions. With digitized notifications, real-time collaboration, and smart, connected worker solutions, situations like the above can be solved quickly and with reduced impact on production.

standardize and digitize quality assurance procedures

Step 2: Implement total productive maintenance.

Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) focuses on the idea that every employee should do their part to maximize equipment effectiveness. The objective is to create a culture where every worker adjusts and maintains machinery over the course of each shift. Through a combination of digital work instructions and real-time collaboration tools, manufacturers can better implement and improve TPM initiatives. This allows operators to independently complete maintenance tasks at peak performance and improve overall equipment effectiveness (OEE).

Real-world application: Both operators and maintenance staff can perform routine maintenance to check for errors or deficiencies. By implementing connected worker solutions organizations can improve the quality, transparency, and efficiency of maintenance and repair procedures and minimize machine downtime and reduce overall maintenance costs and impact.

Step 3: Embrace statistical process control.

This method involves detecting production issues by studying data anomalies to get rid of root causes before they ruin entire assembly lines. With connected frontline worker solutions that are integrated with enterprise quality management systems, organizations can improve statistical process control by optimizing data collection and inspection procedures through their frontline workforce. This essentially transforms frontline workers into quality sensors that further enhance and empower overall quality efforts.

Real-world application: Tracking the number of defective goods on each production line can help with identifying the root of any issue and taking corrective action. Smart, connected worker technology improves tracking ability, optimizes data collection, and identifies issues faster, reducing the risk of product recalls, and preserving consumer trust.

Digitizing Quality in Manufacturing with Augmentir

Companies are adopting innovative new technologies, processes, and methods to improve quality, productivity, and collaboration efforts across the industrial arena. Guaranteeing quality in manufacturing boils down to standardizing processes. Every procedure should contribute to product value and be carried out in a unified way. Implementing smart, connected solutions and coupling them with AI-powered analytics opens new paths for manufacturers to step forward and improve how they approach quality in the production process and beyond.

By digitizing analog paper practices, you enable better quality control and standardization of inspection procedures which, in turn, strengthens your overall manufacturing operations. Augmentir can help with the digitization and transformation process. We understand the need for effective quality control, and we have demonstrated success in helping manufacturers improve quality on the production floor.

Check out our quality use cases, and request a live demo today to learn for yourself why companies are choosing Augmentir to help standardize and digitize quality control procedures.

 

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Why You Should Digitize and Standardize QA and Inspection Procedures

Learn how to digitize quality assurance, its benefits, and how digital inspection procedures reduce errors in manufacturing.

Quality assurance (QA) and inspection procedures work hand in hand to ensure customers receive quality products free of deficiencies. But what do the terms mean exactly?

QA is a systematic process that manufacturers use to ensure that a product or service meets the requirements for distribution. QA inspections are a subset of that process, checking products before they go off the line. Inspections are a crucial part in troubleshooting and fixing product defects, making improvements, and maintaining compliance. 

standardize digitize quality assurance manufacturing

These inspection procedures should be standardized and digitized to create a quality assurance system that ensures workers have access to the correct procedures and that tasks are performed in a standard manner to avoid errors on the production floor. This results in reduced defects, optimizes quality data collection, and decreases the need for rework.

Explore the following topics to learn how to decrease mistakes on the shop floor when you digitize and standardize quality assurance procedures:

Standardization and digitization explained

Standardization and digitization work in tandem. Let’s break down the two concepts to get a better idea of how they work.

Standardizing means developing a set of rules for how tasks should be completed. It boils down to this: When you standardize tasks, you’re giving your employees an established, time-tested process to use.

When done right, standardization decreases ambiguity, enhances productivity, boosts quality, and increases worker morale.

Digitization, on the other hand, involves converting information into a digital format. Keep in mind that it’s the information you are digitizing, not the processes or procedures. Automating your work processes using a single system, like a connected worker platform, makes everyday operations much faster and easier to accomplish. Enhancing this further with AI-driven analytics and process optimization empowers manufacturers and frontline personnel with the right tools for quality data collection and inspection procedures.

 

standardize and digitize quality assurance procedures

How standardizing QA and inspection procedures reduces errors

According to LNS Research, to digitize quality assurance processes, manufacturing leaders must leverage emerging technologies. This allows them to achieve step-change improvements across operations. When you standardize quality assurance procedures, you’re ensuring processes are completed using best practices and proven methods.

Think of it this way: When workers complete tasks using their own choice of tools, platforms, or reporting mechanisms, it’s harder to measure and evaluate which procedures are bringing value and which ones are not. It also leaves a lot of room for human error and inefficiency.

QA and inspection procedures should be standardized so that a worker’s way of doing things aligns with the company’s overarching objectives. If you don’t standardize inspection procedures, you’ll have a more difficult time pinpointing product deficiencies and worker errors.

Smart, connected worker platforms and AI-based software allow manufacturers to standardize processes across all units, creating a single source of truth for a truly optimized procedure that can be audited and verified, resulting in fewer errors, reduced defects, and more expedited inspections overall. Every procedure, regardless of how often it’s performed, can have guidelines that define the scope and methods for how to perform it. This in turn ensures a higher quality result every time.

How digitizing quality assurance procedures minimizes mistakes

Converting your paper-based QA procedures to a digital format is one of the smartest things a manufacturer can do. From there, you can set up a unified system to improve QA assurance processes.

Workers are only human, and quality assurance systems safeguard the production process. It identifies mistakes as they happen and uses communication tools to reduce the risk of error. Other strategies such as a “first time quality” (FTQ) or first time right plan enhance standards, practices, and resources to ensure all processes on the production floor are performed correctly the first time.

Deploying an integrated system makes it easier to:

  • Gradually improve your production processes
  • Standardize your QA methods
  • Digitize manufacturing processes

 

Connectivity and connected worker technology empowers all workers to do their jobs better and in a timelier manner. It also gives managers the opportunity to track how well employees are carrying out standardized QA procedures and inspections. When coupled with AI-driven analytics that can process the massive amounts of data connected workers generate, manufacturers are able to derive better insights, faster, and with higher reliability. This essentially transforms frontline workers into quality assurance sensors that further enhance and empower quality inspections.

If you’re still using paper checklists to track procedures, you’ll never see beyond what’s in front of you. By digitizing analog paper practices you are enabling better quality data collection and inspection procedures and strengthening your overall manufacturing operations. 

Thankfully, Augmentir’s connected worker solution gives real-time visibility into all operational processes, from anywhere. Industrial companies use our breakthrough system to standardize and digitize quality assurance procedures.

 

 

If you are interested in learning for yourself why companies are choosing Augmentir to help standardize and digitize their quality assurance procedures – reach out to book a demo.

 

See Augmentir in Action
Get in Touch for a Personalized Demo

 

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How to Improve Quality Control and Quality Assurance in the Food Industry

Learn how to improve quality control and assurance in the food industry with digital solutions from Augmentir.

Following quality control (QC) and quality assurance procedures in the food industry is imperative to ensure product quality and consumer satisfaction. Today’s consumers demand safe, reliable goods that meet all quality inspection protocols. The last thing you want is for a product to get recalled because of potential health concerns.

According to Food Manufacturing, quality control is one of the most important aspects of the food and beverage industry. Manufacturers who perform routine inspections of products during each stage of the production process significantly increase their chances of delivering items that are free of health hazards and liabilities. But beyond avoiding these concerns, standardizing and digitizing quality procedures benefits the entire operation.

Ultimately, preventing and catching quality issues can boost product quality, reduce waste, raise profits, increase brand reputation, and avoid media or food safety disasters. Learn more about QC and assurance in the food industry and how to improve it as we discuss:

quality control food industry

Types of quality control measures to take

There are certain QC measures you can take to ensure that all goods meet quality standards, from regular machine inspections to worker training. They fall into two general categories: preventative and reactive.

Preventative (proactive) quality control: Minimizing the number of deficiencies begins with implementing preventative QC solutions. When workers can catch mistakes before they even happen, they prevent product defects. Preventative QC measures should be practiced on a routine basis and can range from inspecting machines and equipment to offering employee training opportunities. By providing workers with real-time information and guidance through mobile, connected worker solutions, manufacturers enable them to make better decisions about product quality, reducing the risk of errors and identifying potential quality issues before products are shipped to customers, reducing the risk of product recalls, and preserving consumer trust.

Reactive quality control: Catching every defect on the production floor is nearly impossible, even if the most fool-proof strategies are taken. That’s why creating a plan of action ahead of a crisis can help solve quality issues as they happen.

What to put in your plan will depend on the potential problems. For example, you can include specific instructions on what to do if machinery breaks down or stops unexpectedly. It’s vital to collect any data at this stage. Analyzing this data can help you improve preventative quality control in the future to make sure the same problems don’t happen again.

Pro Tip

By utilizing AI and modern, digital technologies, companies can connect, engage, and empower frontline workers to drive quality improvements, resolve quality issues faster, and share timely insights with teams across the value chain.

A

Keep in mind that practicing quality control in the food industry should be part of every manufacturing process, from product ideation and development to production and delivery. Problems can develop at any time, so it’s crucial to follow protocols at every stage of production to prevent even the slightest of mistakes.

All workers should also uphold QC and assurance protocols in their everyday tasks to ensure continuous product improvement.

Better organization of equipment can also help workers understand how the action of one affects the other to solve any potential problems. This is another benefit of integrating your asset hierarchy with a connected worker solution. In a nutshell, strong hierarchies are a solid foundation for proper maintenance management and reliability.

How to improve QC and assurance procedures in food production

Effective quality control and assurance procedures prevent defective food products from making their way into grocery stores and homes. That’s why manufacturers should document the quality of their goods at every stage of the operational process. Strategies like first time quality (FTQ), or first time right, plans coupled with smart, connected solutions help decrease product deficiencies and increase customer satisfaction.

Manufacturing firms in the food industry must follow specific requirements set by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) system, and the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP). The guidelines set by these regulatory bodies can give businesses a better idea of how their processes should look and what data they need to collect and report.

Data should be collected for real-time production processes. These vary by product but may range from product chilling and thermal processing to testing raw materials for metal toxins and other chemical deposits.

The following steps provide a roadmap for how to improve quality control in the food industry.

Step 1: Source the correct ingredients

A successful assembly line run begins with finding and using the correct ingredients. Some things to think about when deciding which ingredients to choose: where the raw material was sourced, when, and its condition.

Step 2: Include an approved supplier list

Make sure that each ingredient has an approved supplier list. A good rule of thumb is to include three vendors per ingredient and record the ingredient with each supplier’s name, address, and code number on the list. The more information you include, the better. Having an approved vendor list ensures that all parties are properly vetted by the manufacturing firm and meet its requirements for quality and distribution.

Step 3: Document product and recipe creation

Documenting how each food item is made and its recipe helps set the quality standards for finished goods. This documentation can also be useful when improving product development in the future. Your document should include the types of ingredients used, their codes, batch yield, percentage formula, and more.

Step 4: Catalog production procedures

It’s also critical to log all the details of a production process, including how materials should be delivered, the appropriate conditions for storing food, what order each ingredient should be added to the batch, what tools are needed, and who is in charge of each task.

Note that this step is different from documenting product and recipe development because it includes the actual instructions for carrying out each procedure. For example, a worker may be asked to preheat the oven to a certain temperature as part of ensuring the food is ready for customer distribution.

Step 4: Record real-time processes

Machine operators should record in real-time every detail of how goods are created during actual production. This can include factors like product size, weight, expiration date, equipment conditions, and more.

Step 5: Digitize assurance and inspection processes

AI and smart, connected worker systems help digitize and link inspections and other quality control procedures. This creates an additional layer of defense, protecting customers and preventing quality issues before they can impact production.

How Augmentir helps with quality control and assurance

Augmentir offers a smarter way to improve quality control in the food industry by effectively standardizing and optimizing quality assurance and inspection procedures for all frontline workers. With our smart, connected solutions coupled with AI-powered software, food manufacturers have improved quality control and assurance by:

  • Tracking and analyzing data to identify trends and opportunities for improvements
  • Reducing human error in inspections by standardizing and improving training procedures and processes
  • Transforming connected workers into human sensors who can proactively address quality and safety events that surface during manufacturing operations

standardize and digitize quality assurance procedures

 

Our AI-powered connected worker solutions, provide digital work instructions to help employees better perform inspection checks and reduce the number of production errors and rework.

These customized solutions also include:

  • Digital standard operating procedures (SOPs) for how to complete assembly line tasks. These step-by-step instructions can greatly improve workflow efficiency, increase regulatory compliance, and reduce mistakes on the shop floor.
  • Digital workflows that convert your paper-based processes to digital work instructions and personalize them to the needs of each worker.
  • Enhanced product traceability to decrease equipment setup time, reduce process inconsistencies, and better meet customer expectations. Our digital instructions help you to easily track materials from the supply chain, inventory, and across every production process.

If you are interested in learning why companies are choosing Augmentir to help improve their quality control and assurance processes, check out our quality use cases – or reach out to schedule a live demo.

 

See Augmentir in Action
Get in Touch for a Personalized Demo

 

Book A Demo

How to Standardize Quality Assurance Procedures in Manufacturing

Learn how to standardize quality assurance procedures in manufacturing to improve overall quality and reduce errors.

It takes implementing just one wrong procedure for a product to end up defective and nowhere near ready for customer delivery. That’s why it’s important to standardize quality assurance (QA) procedures to ensure conformity on the shop floor and prevent product malfunctions.

But what is quality assurance? According to TechTarget, it is a process used to determine whether a product or service meets necessary requirements, in manufacturing specifically these are required standards for distribution. In a nutshell, QA procedures ensure customers receive quality products that are free of defects.

quality assurance procedures manufacturing

Learn how to standardize quality assurance procedures in manufacturing by exploring the following content:

What are quality assurance procedures?

QA procedures are a systematic process of establishing and maintaining set requirements for manufacturing reliable products and services. These procedures should be standardized by setting up a quality assurance system for workers to access. There, they can see how to complete certain tasks to avoid errors on the production floor.

Quality assurance methods can be categorized into three types, which we explain in the table below.

 

Type of QA methodDescriptionExample
Failure testingThis is the process of testing a product to see if it can withstand stress. The purpose is to identify any deficiencies.Manufacturers may place a product under heat, pressure, or vibration to test outcomes.
Statistical process control (SPC)SPC is an industry-standard practice for measuring and controlling product quality during the production process. Data is collected by measuring process inputs (dependent variables) in real time. This data is then transferred onto a graph with predetermined control limits based on how a type of product is expected to perform.A manufacturing line would apply statistical and analytical tools to monitor input variables and look for excesses or waste.
Total quality management (TQM)TQM is the idea that every employee, from assembly line workers to leadership, is committed to improving processes, products, and services.TQM may be implemented to raise overall productivity and make a manufacturer more competitive.

 

How to standardize quality assurance procedures

Quality assurance procedures help manufacturers develop products and services that meet customers’ needs and expectations. If implemented successfully, QA can catch any defects before they arise and substantially increase product quality.

It’s also vital to implement a quality assurance system to improve efficiency. Developing a unified system makes it easier to incrementally improve your production processes, and it’s essential for standardizing your quality assurance procedures.

Read on about the seven steps for successful QA implementation:

Step 1: Define Organizational Goals

Successful manufacturing QA begins by identifying how workers’ jobs are tied to an organization’s goals. It’s crucial for workers to know their company’s mission and how they fit into it. When employees understand how their individual goals relate to the organization’s goals, it can boost worker confidence — and in turn, production efficiency.

Step 2: Pinpoint Necessary Success Factors

It’s important to list the factors that make your quality assurance process successful. For instance, factors can include production processes, technical or customer support, and other things that make your organization great. Creating a list of major factors that contribute to company achievements will make it easier to update and manage those factors later on.

Step 3: Identify Your Customer Base

It’s vital to define your client case. If you know your customer, you’re more likely to create products and services that they would value.

Step 4: Gather Customer Feedback

Once you’ve established your customer base, it’s vital to incorporate what they think about your products and services. Frequent customer feedback can keep your quality assurance on track since it helps you identify and resolve product issues before they become critical problems. Reports can be gathered though surveys, email, phone, focus groups, or other methods. The goal is to achieve continuous feedback regardless of which methods you choose.

Step 5: Strive for Continuous Improvement

Quality assurance goes hand in hand with continuous improvement. The information you’ve gathered from customer surveys or other methods can now be used to implement any needed changes to your quality assurance process.

Continuous improvement can also be in the form of customer service training, changes to production processes, improvements to products or services, or anything that adds value to your organization.

Whatever you do, it’s crucial to study customer comments and use them to enhance operational procedures to ensure you’re delivering products that bring value and sell.

Step 6: Find QA Management Software

Once you’ve established the above steps, it’s time to start thinking about which quality QA software, or system, will help you better implement QA procedures. Picking the right software will aid with maintaining and improving production processes.

Step 7: Assess Results

Lastly, it’s important to measure your results. Your main goal is to ensure that your business meets the needs of each customer. Create measurable objectives for employees so that everyone knows what needs to be accomplished in a timely manner. If goals aren’t met, make sure workers are clear about what actions need to be taken to meet client satisfaction.

Take note: If your manufacturing firm does not reach its goals, it is hard to show a positive ROI to stakeholders. That’s why taking corrective action to meet company targets is more imperative than ever before.

Benefits of Implementing QA Procedures in Manufacturing

Quality assurance in manufacturing can offer a wide variety of benefits if management makes it a priority.

Some benefits of standardizing QA procedures include:

Cost-effectiveness: When done right, QA can prevent quality product issues before hitting the market. For instance, manufacturers won’t have to worry about scrapped parts, product returns, or other expenses due to poor-quality goods.

Greater workplace efficiency: Manufacturers will be able to better allot resources like time, money, and warehouse space if fewer product deficiencies exist. It boils down to this: it takes fewer resources to develop quality items if processes are in place to support the feat of QA procedures.

Enhanced Customer satisfaction: Customers will almost surely receive quality products in a timely manner if workers employ quality assurance techniques. If fewer product malfunctions exist, customers are more likely to keep coming back for more. In the end, it’s a win-win situation for both businesses and clients alike.

Industrial companies use Augmentir’s breakthrough system to standardize and optimize quality assurance procedures in manufacturing. With Augmentir, you will experience fewer errors and reduced product defect rates with our connected worker solution. Learn more about our quality use cases.

Contact us for a live demo to start optimizing your frontline operations today!