Our inaugural Industrial Transformation (IX) Event was a refreshing connection for industry executives leading transformation ― from startups to mature journeys, from tissue and drywall to aircraft carriers and submarines. The breadth of IX coverage and insight resonated well among industrial executives and software vendor thought leaders in attendance. Focused roundtable sessions on quality and environment, health, and safety (EHS) packed the room as Quality 4.0 and connected worker topics fostered lively discussions.

NPI Essential for Business Results, Yet Generally Ineffective

New product introduction (NPI) is a linchpin process in most corporations and industries. NPI is key to competitiveness, revenue growth, and customer retention. Given the importance of NPI to overall corporate success, it’s no surprise that manufacturers devote considerable cost and effort to it. According to our most recent data, the median manufacturer involves 25% of personnel in NPI and has a new product cycle that lasts 24 months on average. Despite the substantial investment, NPI often fails to deliver expected outcomes. Forty-four percent of NPIs fail to meet all or even most success criteria.

On Thursday, June 27, LNS Research hosted the webcast, “Enabling Transformation in Life Sciences: Delivering Near- and Long-Term Success with Quality 4.0.” The presentation examined strategies for life sciences organizations to reduce IX program risks and increase the speed of adoption.

Several of my observations have been fairly consistent over the past few decades of working in quality, technology, and as a quality research analyst and thought leader. Four stand out as primary reasons why quality, and often the industrial organization at large isn't able to transform as quickly or successfully as they'd like.

Sparta Systems is an interesting firm. Well known for its on-premise TrackWise product, it had stumbled in recent years as it faced many new cloud-based competitors. Over the past year, it brought on a new leadership team and put its considerable weight behind the development of its Force.com-based TrackWise Digital cloud product. As we look at the Summer 2019 release of TrackWise Digital, has the effort paid off?

The #MondayMusings Industrial Transformation blog series provides insight and analysis for executives from the previous week’s briefings, events, and publications @LNSResearch.

Recently, SAS invited LNS Research to its annual North American analyst event in Naples, Florida. SAS is a leading analytics, BI and data management software provider with several of LNS’ manufacturing clients using the analytics solutions to generate deeper insights into quality. The event was a great opportunity to dig deeper into SAS’ Internet of Things (IoT) and quality solutions, understand the breadth of SAS outside the industrial space, and engage with their executive team.

It’s been several years since an early wave of innovators began investing in digital technologies to improve quality. In fact, quality improvement and improved quality monitoring are one of the top use cases for Industry 4.0. The ranks of digital, IT, operations, product development, and quality leaders focusing their digital energies and resources on quality improvement is quickly growing .

LNS Research was recently briefed on the late-January release of ETQ Reliance 2019. A lot has changed at ETQ since the private equity firm TCV acquired it in August 2017. Much of the management team has changed, with seasoned industry veterans replacing long-time ETQ insiders, exceptions being the former head of ETQ Cloud, Joseph Randazzo, and ETQ co-founder, Morgan Palmer. The new leadership has brought a new philosophy, including a broader perspective on the value, role, and contributors to quality and quality technology.

Another year comes to an end! I hope you attained your personal and professional goals this year. I had an exciting year with LNS Research; we launched research on...

• Successful new product introduction (NPI) in the digital era,
  
  
• Selecting Quality 4.0 technology to drive differentiation, and
  
  
• How to converge safety, risk, quality, operations, and design for reliability.

We also examined the quality and Quality 4.0 trends in pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and automotive industries and developed frameworks and approaches for success. LNS also conducted multiple onsite quality advisory sessions and workshops for technology vendors and manufacturers. Additionally, we launched two new surveys, led two executive roundtables (thank you to the hosts Newell Brands and Whirlpool), and presented at several corporate events including ASQ’ Quality 4.0 Forum.

Ideally, compliance is part of your strategy, but not your entire strategy.  It's not enough to produce a safe product, that works as intended, and meets regulatory requirements.  Today’s quality leadership must contribute to the firm’s reputation, competitive standing, profitability, and growth.  Adding to the burden, your company’s industry, target market, role in the supply chain, size, and so many other factors intensify the pressure.  Yes, it’s a complex web of codes, guidelines, standards, and practices that companies face: