Digitalization is finding its way into production and manufacturing companies. Traditional approaches to quality assurance are no longer effective in digital structures in the factory of the future. Big data, machine learning, AI, blockchain and sensor technology enable the manufacture of highly individualized products of exceptional quality with ever shorter lead times.
New requirements are also being placed on quality assurance in order to keep pace with the digital transformation. Automated, data-based, networked quality assurance makes it possible to create consistent quality awareness down to the smallest process step.
In the following article, we have explained 8 reasons why you can use quality assurance software to ensure continuous improvement of your products and services.
The basic function of digital quality assurance is no longer to carry out quality checks exclusively at the end of the process, but to evaluate quality data during the ongoing production process. With corresponding functions such as checklists, error management, task management and analysis methods , potential improvements can be identified early on in the process.
1. digital consistency & complete traceability
Paper-based, error-prone quality assurance has had its day. With the help of a digital quality assurance tool, you can bring time-consuming analog processes into the digital world and create a common basis for digital collaboration. QA software brings everyone involved in quality assurance up to date and acts as a central platform where documentation, supplementary information and evaluations of the equipment being tested can be stored and retrieved. Seamless collaboration is particularly important here, as several people are usually involved in work processes.
For example, if a defect is discovered during quality control, it may be the responsibility of another employee to rectify the defect. Instead of passing on the information manually, the defect is recorded during a digital quality control and the other responsible persons are automatically informed via email or app notifications.
Rules can also be created, such as notifying a group when a defect is recorded for a specific defect category and much more.
With a central platform, inspection process-relevant information is available in real time and the creation of information silos is prevented. Combined with third-party systems, it enables the exchange of quality data without media disruptions. Thanks to networked business processes, seamless product traceability is possible throughout.
2. continuous improvement of your work processes
A good software solution for digital quality assurance enables you to digitally control testing, quality and work processes in order to make them more efficient and resource-saving and to bring more transparency to your processes.
As a result, even the smallest individual processes become visible, you recognize connections and create synergies between the different production areas. You will better recognize where there is potential for process improvement.
In short: with digital quality assurance processes, you can optimize your processes on the entire store floor and thus increase the efficiency of your operational processes enormously.
Customer requirements can be better fulfilled thanks to data transparency regarding product features, production parameters and field data. The data helps to ensure that the product design always meets customer requirements.
A digital tool supports you in the ongoing improvement and optimization of individual processes and helps to identify sources of error at an early stage.
3. more flexibility for new requirements
A software solution offers more flexibility than existing paper processes. Changes can be made within minutes and all employees can be brought up to date.
Digital quality assurance gives you more flexibility to react quickly to influences and changes.
If, for example, new queries are added or queries are dropped, the verification processes can be adjusted within a few minutes.
These fast response times also offer an advantage in the context of internal audits. This is because test data can be accessed immediately without having to search long and hard for the right documentation.
4. audit-proof documentation with less processing effort
You don’t just need a few clicks to create quality control checklists . Updating, providing, searching for and archiving quality-relevant documents such as inspection reports or defect collection cards also takes significantly less time with a digital solution. Relevant information can be quickly documented and easily retrieved.
All the information required for further processing can be collected directly when the data is recorded – for example during a quality check or when recording a defect – using photo documentation or document upload. This context-related recording of information means that you have all the information you need at your fingertips in one central location.
The data can be entered into your existing systems via interfaces to primary and third-party systems. This results in a single point of contact and files only need to be maintained in one place.
In addition to collecting information, detailed reports and test reports can be created directly in the QA software.
5 Automated processes
Complex QA processes can be controlled with a workflow management function. The networking of processes creates digital consistency across several business units or even companies with subcontractors. This enables resource-saving control of previously manual processes.
It is important here that the design of the processes is adapted to the specific situation. Involving everyone involved in the definition and management of workflows is an advantage.
6. insights into previously unknown processes
By recording quality data in a digital tool, all information relating to the quality processes can be clearly displayed. This gives you insights into previously unknown process data. This in turn allows you to identify potential for process improvement.
Even processes that were previously opaque become visible and analyzable. This creates transparency right down to the individual step level.
7. scalability and adaptability
A digital tool can be used to manage end-to-end quality awareness and cross-company quality processes. This ensures product traceability and an optimized improvement process across the entire product value chain.
Many inspection processes occur along the entire value chain. A uniform solution helps you to onboard contractors and subcontractors and achieve a high degree of standardization. It also enables a process for measuring the company’s performance.
In contrast to rigid paper processes, new business requirements such as additional user-defined fields for structured data entry or new test objects can be implemented with just a few clicks.
8. real-time availability and evaluation of data
Benefit from the structured recording of process and quality data, which you can use as a basis for process improvements. Combined with master data from third-party systems, you can create a data-based overall picture of your systems, machines and testing processes. The digital factory or methods such as predictive maintenance are indispensable. You have all the data along your process chain at your fingertips in real time and can continuously monitor your KPIs.
Conclusion
The advantages of digital quality assurance are obvious: greater audit compliance, digital consistency and seamless traceability as well as fewer sources of error due to analog processes.
If you are now planning to introduce digital quality assurance software, the next step is to consider which functions the software solution should have for your use case . Because with a clear picture of your own requirements, you can recognize which tool is the right one for your company.
Testify is the software for digital quality assurance of company processes. Using digital checklists and work instructions, it is possible to transparently control all types of quality and testing processes and make quality measurable at every production step.
