Best Practices: PLM and QMS Integration for your organization

The impact quality can have on corporate performance is often misunderstood and underestimated by manufacturing organizations. If we examine the design-make-deliver processes, there are a number of workflows where the incorporation of a closed loop quality management initiative would yield tangible benefits. Largely, it has been observed by InfoVerto that manufacturers that have implemented a PLM and quality management interoperability solution, are better able to manufacture products and subsequently get them to market quicker and at a higher quality, all while streamlining operations across the design, make, and deliver process. To present it with facts, organizations with PLM and Quality Management Interoperability had 83% overall equipment effectiveness (OEE), 80% successful new product introductions (NPI) and 90% on-time and complete shipments whereas organizations without PLM and Quality Management Interoperability had 81% overall equipment effectiveness (OEE), 75% successful new product introductions (NPI) 88% on-time and complete shipments. This data bring two facts – 1st that PLM & QMS interoperability makes organizations more efficient and 2nd that there are some best practices that if followed can make your organization better equipped. To go a little further, in fact, across the board, these manufacturers are able to achieve an 83% OEE rate, which shows that these companies are better utilizing their assets because of improved quality capabilities, as well as, enjoy 6% more successful new product introductions. In the case of certain industries, even a 1% or 2% increase can have a significant impact; a 6% advantage can translate into millions of dollars of business. In addition, these manufactures were also able to achieve 90% on-time and complete shipment rate. Companies that have yet to implement system interoperability between and QMS software can use this research to understand the best practices implemented by those companies that have, and use this information in their strategic as well as tactical actions.

Up until this point, we've addressed the importance of having PLM and QMS software interoperability. And while this interoperability is a key enabler, achieving Closed Loop Quality Management takes more than a technology implementation. It takes an enterprise-wide commitment to quality, a culture of operational excellence, and providing employees with the right quality information, at the right time, and in the right context. When looked at in their entirety, this set of business processes enables the incorporation of quality management into the complete lifecycle of products and processes across engineering and manufacturing.

In a nutshell, the best practices that will help companies achieve closed loop quality management and are associated with improvements in a number of key performance indicators are:

• Standardize processes for responding to adverse events across the enterprise
• Executive sponsorship for closed loop quality management
• Perform quality planning early
• Invest in PLM and QMS software interoperability