Quality Management Strategy: 5 Must Have Features for EQMS

In a very short amount of time, the quality management software market has matured. Vendors have gone from offering targeted solutions for targeted problems to delivering packaged suites with considerably strong out of the box functionalities. This is a significant step forward, as companies have traditionally used disconnected manual and paper-based processes to monitor and improve operations.

Automated, standardized, and centralized processes that may have once seemed futuristic are now becoming the status quo for quality management. The driver of these advancements, Enterprise Quality Management Software (EQMS), is creating a platform for cross-functional communication and collaboration. Market leading companies are already taking advantage of these EQMS capabilities.

As companies move away from disparate, homegrown, and manual processes, it’s important to find a new solution with the right quality management strategy. In this blog we discuss five functionalities that your EQMS system must have.

Non-Conformances / Corrective and Preventive Action (NC/CAPA)

There are two pieces to NC/CAPA. First, companies use CAPA processes to correct nonconformances that occur during production. An investigation is conducted to find the root cause and resolve the issue. Second, actions are taken to prevent that nonconformance from reoccurring.

Compliance/Audit Management

With the growing number of regulations and compliance issues surrounding manufacturing, automation has become increasingly useful. Preconfigured Compliance/Audit Management functionalities allow companies to streamline compliance processes. This information is all available in one central location, easily shared with auditors through on-demand reporting tools.

Risk Management

Internal and external factors can have significant effects on business performance. Having a quality management system in place that mitigates these risks helps companies to stay proactive in achieving strategic objectives. Risk Management applications aim to streamline processes, monitor compliance issues, modernize enterprises with electronic documents and signatures, and communicate equipment/process changes.

Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA)

In engineering and operating processes, there will undoubtedly be issues that arise. FMEA applications aim to identify and mitigate the failure modes that emerge during these processes. By aligning design and manufacturing, potential failure modes can be quickly investigated and resolved with a platform for cross-functional communication.

Statistical Process Control (SPC)

Companies strive to create as little waste and downtime as possible in processes. SPC applications measure and control the underutilization of resources with advanced data modeling tools. This allows for intelligence-backed decision-making in equipment issues or process control rather than relying solely on subjective analysis. SPC can also be used as a preventative measure.

Implementing EQMS into Your Operation

Many of these processes can be used to streamline the delivery of high quality products, saving organizations time and money. If an EQMS implementation is in the works for your company, it will be important to find the right mix of features to support your operations. Below is a more complete list of EQMS functionalities:

• Non-Conformances / Corrective and Preventive Action
• Compliance/Audit Management
• Supplier Quality Management
• Risk Management
• Statistical Process Control
• Failure Mode and Effects Analysis
• Complaint Handling
• Advanced Product Quality Planning
• Environment, Health, and Safety
• Hazard Analysis & Critical Control Points
• Production Part Approval Process
  

Enterprise Quality Management Software offers the ability to make data-backed decisions based in real-time. From plant managers to executives such as the Chief Quality Officer, the more knowledgeable and educated people are on the topic of quality management technologies, the more beneficial the implementation will be.

We recently published our EQMS Best Practices Guide, which is available in the Research Library. It offers extesive information on the EQMS functionalities and IT architecture needed for a successful implementation. It also discusses building EQMS into your Operational Excellence model.

You might also be interested in:

EQMS: Refining IBS's Quality Management Strategy

Does your Company Need a Chief Quality Officer?

Building EQMS into your IT Architecture