With the introduction of big data, companies are better positioned to effectively manage quality. Manufacturers and their suppliers must be held accountable for the integrity of their end products and big data provides the actionable intelligence to ensure it happens.
Information can be exchanged throughout the enterprise and mined from a company’s core business systems using big data. A quality management solution that is fully integrated with a company’s ERP will allow for a single managed data repository with real-time access. Using big data functionality, a complete indentured configuration and product genealogy with all supporting quality records for end item assemblies can be generated within the quality management solution.
Let’s examine how a quality manager in a highly regulated industry could use big data to predict outcomes:
Joseph, a quality manager in the Aerospace & Defense industry, monitors the traceable configuration process including all supporting data. In addition to traceable items either purchased or manufactured, he knows that some sub-assemblies within his configuration are sourced from suppliers with no ready access to their configuration information and quality artifacts. From time to time he receives GIDEP (Government – Industry Data Exchange Program) Alerts and goes through a tedious investigative search to see if his product may contain the suspect item.
To alleviate this issue, Joseph requires his suppliers to use his quality management solution for their receiving, nonconformance, inspection and traceable configuration processes for critical assemblies. When the supplier is ready to deliver, they perform a simple export of the configuration with all supporting data/quality artifacts. As a preference, Joseph has instructed his suppliers to log into his portal and upload the data package against the PO Line Item. At receiving inspection, Joseph has trained his inspectors to import this data package that can be included into his configuration at next assembly. Joseph now has a complete indentured configuration with all supporting data at all levels.
When a GIDEP alert is issued or there is a need to search within a configuration, he can query in real-time. Some of Joseph’s customers also use his quality management solution, so Joseph can provide his fully indentured configuration data package to them as part of the DD250 deliverable.
In this instance, big data brings with it big benefits. Real-time access to critical traceable configuration data provides an exceptional level of detail to quickly review for suspect counterfeit parts that can help preclude equipment/system malfunctions and help eliminate the need for equipment redesign. The ability to identify and trace counterfeit parts to their origin proves invaluable.
Using predictive analysis within the supply chain is an effective way to improve overall supply chain health. Counterfeit parts are an increasing threat to a manufacturers supply chain. Supplier risk can be identified and mitigated through big data analysis. In addition, substantial improvements can be made in demand forecasting, cycle times, delivery times and supplier costs.
TIP Technologies offers an industry-leading quality management solution that enables big data analysis. Its TIPQA Quality Management Solution offers seamless ERP integration, supplier management capability, and data transparency. Get started on the path to better quality management. Contact us today at (262) 544-1211 or visit our website to schedule a demo of our solution.