How can you manage quality issues across multiple manufacturing locations?

3 Train and empower your staff

Your staff are the key to your quality outcomes. You need to train and empower them to understand and follow your quality policy and QMS. You need to provide them with the necessary skills, knowledge, and tools to perform their quality tasks and responsibilities. You need to encourage them to report and resolve any quality issues they encounter, and to suggest and implement any quality improvements they can. You need to reward and recognize their quality contributions and achievements.

4 Monitor and measure your quality results

You need to monitor and measure your quality results across all your manufacturing locations, using relevant quality indicators, such as defect rates, customer complaints, and customer satisfaction. You need to collect and analyze your quality data, using appropriate quality tools, such as control charts, Pareto charts, and fishbone diagrams. You need to compare and benchmark your quality results against your quality objectives, expectations, and standards. You need to report and share your quality results with your stakeholders, such as managers, customers, and suppliers.

5 Address and prevent your quality issues

You need to address and prevent your quality issues across all your manufacturing locations, using effective quality techniques, such as root cause analysis, corrective and preventive actions, and risk management. You need to identify and eliminate the sources of your quality issues, such as faulty materials, equipment, or processes. You need to implement and verify the solutions to your quality issues, such as repairs, replacements, or adjustments. You need to prevent the recurrence of your quality issues, such as by updating your quality policy or QMS, or by conducting quality audits or reviews.

6 Seek and apply feedback

You need to seek and apply feedback from your internal and external sources, such as your staff, customers, suppliers, and regulators. You need to solicit and listen to their opinions, suggestions, and complaints about your quality performance, processes, and issues. You need to evaluate and act on their feedback, such as by acknowledging their concerns, thanking them for their input, and making the necessary changes or improvements. You need to follow up and communicate with them about the results and impacts of their feedback.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?