The ascendance of automated production technology has transformed manufacturing, allowing producers to roll out more material goods at an accelerated pace with fewer resources. However, these tools have complicated the quality assurance equation. As the supply chain churns faster, the risk of error rises. Consequently, modern manufacturing firms invest significant amounts in quality assurance, placing great importance in these activities in the Industry 4.0 era. In fact, almost 60 percent of producers believe quality assurance has increased in significance over the last year, according to the researchers at Quality Magazine. With the inevitable forward movement of automated technology and the expansion of the enterprise internet of things, quality will continue to move up the list of operational priorities. 

Stakeholders in the manufacturing space must seek out solutions that allow them to roll out top-caliber product while maintaining competitive time-to-market metrics. Enterprise resource planning technology is one of these tools. Such platforms give producers the power to systematize quality control practices, which is the key to finding success within today's fast-moving marketplace, according to analysts for McKinsey and Company. Exactly how does ERP technology facilitate this integrated approach to quality control and facilitate the production of top-notch goods? Here are some of the many ways:

Streamlining workflows
Product quality is directly related to process continuity. Manufacturers with strong shop-floor workflows roll out durable, marketable goods, while those reliant on deficient workflows often encounter quality issues. This correlation necessitates the implementation of data-backed process monitoring programs. ERP systems can support such initiatives, leveraging on-the-ground information and easy-to-access dashboard features to put mission-critical workflow insights into the hands of decision-makers, according to IT Toolbox. With this data in play, operational stakeholders can determine workflow quality and pinpoint potential process improvements that might lead to the production of higher level goods.

Additionally, ERP platforms can facilitate transparency across other portions of the supply chain, including sections controlled by third-party collaborators. This can lead to even more transformative process improvement, reducing the likelihood of product damage that can occur when goods leave production facilities.

Bolstering compliance
Compliance is an essential issue for manufacturers responsible for producing food, medical devices, motor vehicles and other highly-regulated goods. For instance, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has the power to prosecute businesses whose lax processes result in products that harm consumers in criminal court. Companies ensnared in such proceedings can incur financial penalties as large as $500,000 per misdemeanor or felony. This is, of course, only part of the noncompliance equation. Manufacturers that bring to market harmful products often experience mass customer attrition, with formerly loyal patrons departing for competitors.

ERP technology prevents such unfortunate events from unfolding through various quality-based platform features, ERP Focus reported. For instance, an ERP system can support raw ingredient testing procedures and leverage automated alerts to remind shop-floor leaders when government-mandated audits and inspections are required. On top of this, ERP technology facilitates top-notch traceability, allowing manufacturers to view historical production data in the event that suboptimal product slips through the cracks and requires immediate quality control action. Finally, these systems simplify the compliance review process by offering up automated reports, which streamline otherwise tedious work that even the most dedicated production leaders are enticed to put off.

Improving customer service
Customer feedback is critical for manufacturers interested in producing goods that truly meet the needs of end users and see success in the market. However, many operational leaders cannot access such responses in real time, despite the prevalence of social media platforms and other web-based tools that connect businesses and consumers. There is no time to monitor the internet when there are production targets to meet. 

ERP solutions give shop-floor leaders the ability to see how the goods they produce are received via complex data-gathering features. These tools can collect information from a variety of internal sources, including the customer service and marketing departments. Production stakeholders are able to access these insights via ERP portals and implement changes that can result in products that better meet consumer expectations. Of course, firms with this technology in place are bound to see the increased customer satisfaction that comes along with ERP-driven process improvement.

These are just a handful of the ways that ERP technology can support quality assurance and ultimately facilitate organizational growth. 

Is your manufacturing enterprise interested in increasing product quality using bleeding-edge ERP software? Connect with Accent Software today. As a certified Microsoft Business Solutions partner, we provide vendor-vetted Microsoft Dynamics NAV implementation services, helping producers of all sizes improve their processes and products via supply chain transparency.