Big data integral to successful quality programmes

Effective and successful

supply chains rely on meaningful metrics and measurements, and require open and honest relationships between suppliers and customers, according to a new report released by American Society for Quality.

Buyers should share their organisation’s mission and vision with suppliers to help suppliers understand the impact defects or delays have on the end customer, according to the report.

“Suppliers will be compelled to think differently – to help eliminate waste, improve efficiency and quality, and have products and services delivered on time,” the report says. “This is critical because when you need the suppliers for exceptions, like spikes or reductions in demand, the suppliers will be more willing to work with you.”

The report offers insights to supply chain measurements from experts around the world, while also offering advice to organisations that don’t yet have metrics in place for their supply chain activities.

The report is one of two reports recently released as part of ASQ’s Global State of Quality 2 Research, which examines the state of quality and continuous improvement worldwide, providing organisations with insights into gaps and opportunities. The latest research expands upon the inaugural 2013 research, which provided the firstever view of quality and continuous improvement on a global scale.

ASQ, the leading global authority on quality in all fields, organisations and industries, celebrating its 70th anniversary in 2016, also released a report on big data, and it’s role in quality, featuring interviews with Elmer Corbin, director and project executive, client success for IBM Watson and Watson Health, and Silvia Veronese, director, big data solutions for Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co.

Corbin and Veronese offer insight into the challenges their organisations faced when implementing big data, the use of big data throughout the entire organisation, and advice for organisations not yet using big data.

“Internal alignment within the organisation is a key factor for success,” Veronese said. “Big data touches everything, literally everything, within an organisation. This is not a project that is undertaken in just one business unit.

“Discussion around big data strategies needs to happen at the C-level, as that is where you have the vision of all the components of the system. Having the buy-in at the corporate level and not falling into the company silos is key for a successful adoption.”

Both reports, and the previously released report on innovation and quality, are available at globalstateofquality.org. The final report, Discoveries 2016, which will provide a quantitative and qualitative view of data collected from nearly 1,700 organisations worldwide, will be available May 16.