Quality 4.0 Predictions for 2023

Every year, LNS Research puts forth predictions surrounding the key trends in Industrial Transformation (IX) topics on which we focus our research. As the Quality Specialist at LNS Research, I have the opportunity to make predictions for what to expect in 2023 for the Quality 4.0 space, and here is what I foresee coming...

The rise of the Digital Quality Leader

In our 2021 Quality 4.0 Maturity Survey, only 9% of Quality 4.0 Transformations were led by the Chief Quality Officer title. Even when combined with VPs of Quality, this number doesn’t rise above the percentages led by CIOs or COOs.

Quality 4.0 transformations have been dogged by issues around leadership over the history of our research on the space.

Quality leaders are not engaged in their own Quality 4.0 transformation because:

• • • Too compliance-focused

    • Goals are misaligned with corporate goals

    • Viewed as a policing function

    • Not a trusted business partner in their company

Roles Leading Quality 4.0 Transformation

It is no coincidence that the majority of Quality 4.0 transformations have been underperforming to the stated goals of the program.

Only 8% of Quality 4.0 programs exceeded their goals in our 2021 survey.

The growth in prominence of the Digital Quality Leader in the leadership role for Quality 4.0 transformation will exceed that of CIOs and COOs respectively this year.

As the Digital Quality leader becomes more prominent in the leadership role in Quality 4.0, a course correction will start to build momentum for the true business value of Quality 4.0, enhancing value for the customer.

Seamless front-end experience for factory workers

A Quality Management solution provider will acquire and integrate a Connected Frontline Workforce (CFW) solution into a seamless front-end experience for users working in the factory.

CFW and EQMS coming together

This happens in the Industrial Transformation space. The boundaries between disciplines are porous and there is bleed-over.

Some significant signs we are seeing are:

• • • Lots of questions and discussions with providers that are outside of the Connected Frontline Workforce space to try and understand the value proposition of the Connected Frontline.

    • Development activity that pushes on the boundaries of our definition of a Connected Worker.

    • In our latest Quality 4.0 Maturity research, the Connected Frontline Workforce was a top priority focus to put valuable insights into the hands of the workers who need them

Retaining Labor is the Top Priority

• • • Keeping skilled workers is a top-of-mind priority for the uncertain times that we are in now.

    • Content that resides in an Enterprise Quality Management System (EQMS) is one source of rich context to enable the workforce to act more flexibly and agile.

Agility and flexibility are the watchwords in the future of manufacturing and anything that allows the workforce to become competent quickly, ascend up the expertise learning curve rapidly, and be successful in their day-to-day with maximum flexibility and agility will certainly improve “stickiness” in the new paradigm of industrial work. As EQMS vendors refine content delivery modalities, the overlap with CFW applications will become greater.

Automated batch release will be realized

Automated Batch Release is a long-term goal of Life Sciences manufacturing companies engaged in Quality 4.0 transformations.

Building Blocks for Automated Batch Release

About a third of Life Sciences respondents in our last Quality 4.0 Maturity survey already have some of the building blocks in place for:

• • • Monitoring Critical Parameters contributing to Quality by Design (QbD) criteria.

    • Accumulating Electronic Batch Records for regulatory submissions.

While not easy, it is certainly achievable. All of the puzzle pieces are there.

Vision system applications on robots move beyond the pilot stage

The application will move to broad-scale deployment for visual inspection use cases.

• • • Vision systems mounted on robots are being experimented with and piloted now.

    • A couple of major companies have been testing out the concept this year to great effect.

These combination platforms will achieve significant savings and performance improvement in routine inspection activities typically requiring a person to visually check some aspect of the process or product. See my LNS Research colleague Bob Francis’ report on Maximo World for a case in point.

We will check back in and grade ourselves on these predictions next year.

All entries in this Industrial Transformation blog represent the opinions of the authors based on their industry experience and their view of the information collected using the methods described in our Research Integrity. All product and company names are trademarks™ or registered® trademarks of their respective holders. Use of them does not imply any affiliation with or endorsement by them.