Quality Controls the Supply Chain
Value chains have been becoming increasingly more complex for some years now. They are developing more and more into a tightly meshed networks of OEMs and suppliers. In order to be able to continue to guarantee high quality, all participants in the supply chain, actually the supply network, must work together as seamlessly as possible. Quality management is becoming increasingly important in this context. It must face up to new challenges - including the rapidly increasing sustainability requirements.
Why is quality management becoming more and more important for production and the supply network?
Under the Obligation to Exercise Due Diligence in the Supply Chain Act , which has been in force since January 01, 2023, German companies above a certain size must check whether overexploitation, environmental destruction or human rights violations occur within the supply network at regular intervals and take appropriate countermeasures should this be the case. In order to clarify questions about the raw materials and supplies used, the place of manufacture, and the method of transport, manufacturing companies must, as part of quality control, provide evidence throughout the entire supply chain that all process participants meet the legal requirements. Establishing a comprehensive, sustainable quality policy whose implementation is based on networking helps here. This means that the relevant strategies, processes, tools and participants are networked. Problems are thus identified more quickly so that errors can be corrected and best practices developed. To meet this challenge, we have developed the material.one platform. It supports quality managers, supply chain managers and manufacturing companies with issues related to requirements management, verification and approval processes as well as in the digitization of standards.
The challenges in quality management are increasingly changing
Establishing quality management is essential for companies in the manufacturing industry. It is necessary to standardize and ensure adherence to internal and external processes sustainably. This also applies to smooth operations within the supply chain. Nevertheless, it represents a major challenge not only due to the increasing complexity of supply networks and legal and regulatory requirements, but International standards and norms also have a significant influence on quality management. These define the processes within supply chains and specify the minimum requirements for a quality management system. Probably the best-known standard is DIN EN ISO 9001.
ISO 9001
ISO 9001 is the most widely used framework in quality management. It specifies the minimum requirements for a quality management system, thereby helping organizations to continuously provide products and services that meet customer and regulatory requirements. It is suitable for any organization, regardless of size or industry, and is used by millions of organizations worldwide. Appropriate certification attests to conformance with ISO 9001.
IATF 16949
Apart from ISO 9001, there are numerous industry-specific quality management standards, such as IATF 16949 in the automotive industry. Developed by the International Automotive Task Force (IATF), it combines overlaps from different national standards such as QS-9000, VDA 6.1, EAQF 94 and AVSQ. IATF 16949 focuses on product safety, risk management with contingency planning, embedded software requirements, supplier management, and change and warranty management. The aim of IATF 16949 is to improve the quality of automotive products worldwide. In ten chapters, it explains the scope of application, normative references, terms and definitions, and the PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) cycle. Certification to IATF 16949 covers the entire value chain of an automotive manufacturer; it specifies corresponding minimum requirements for both manufacturers and suppliers.
EN 9100
EN 9100 is part of the ISO family and is based on the internationally recognized ISO 9001 standard, with additional quality management system requirements developed specifically for the aerospace industry. EN 9100 provides companies worldwide with a standard for improving the quality of their products and services and increasing customer satisfaction.
Test standards
Standardized test procedures are of great importance. Standardized management systems are not enough. For example, in the area of material quality. This is independent of management systems. Material quality is ensured by testing standards. For example, in the area of tensile testing according to DIN EN ISO 6892, there is a large number of testing standards. In addition to the mass of testing standards, there are also the in-house standards of each individual manufacturer.
In-house test standards
For all those who do not focus on quality management: What exactly does in-house standard mean? In-house standards are the result of standardization within a company. The founder of a such a standard can also be an authority or an industry association or other coalition. In-house standards usually only apply within the company and, if applicable, to its suppliers.
Often in-house standards refer back to external standards and are individually extended on their basis.BMW works standard LV 112 and LV 214 for electrical connectors or VW works standard VW 80000 for electrical and electronic components in motor vehicles up to 3.5t - General requirements, test conditions and tests. BMW, VW, AUDI, Porsche and Daimler have cooperated in the development of this standard.
Quality management is a dynamic process
Based on supply chain laws as well as national and international standards, quality management encompasses all strategies and measures that are necessary to achieve the defined quality goals of a company. Rules, responsibilities and processes must be considered with regard to internal and external factors. The entire value chain and supply network must be regularly scrutinized, adjusted and, if necessary, adapted.
Sustainable product quality and trust through networking of processes, norms and standards
Networking makes it easier for OEMs and suppliers to reliably meet high expectations. This ensures even better quality and simplifies processes - also as an antidote to increasing complexity. The reward is the trust of customers who are then also happy to recommend the products to others. High quality, continuous reliability and safety guarantee brand success - so that brand promises from marketing campaigns costing millions of euros do not fall flat.
How does material.one support quality management and supply chain management at the same time?
Due to the Supply Chain Due Diligence Act, manufacturers will have to document and transparently disclose all steps concerning the supply network in the future. The digital platform material.one connects all stakeholders throughout the value chain and reliably supports them in meeting quality criteria. As all data is recorded, it can be viewed and used at any time by managers in the quality, supply chain and production departments. Any defects can thus be quickly identified and communicated to the appropriate parties.
Here you get an overview of the use cases of the platform:
Supply Chain Collaboration
material.one ensures legally compliant communication in the network, standardizes and converts exchange formats and unifies processes for all users and decision-makers involved in the supply network. Learn more hereDigital sampling and material release "Smart Sampling"
material.one simplifies processes for manufacturers, suppliers and laboratories by reducing manual effort and making initial sampling data available digitally.Standards digitization - digital requirements to "smart standards"
Standards digitization aims to make the entire value chain of standards users digital. It is important that standards are not only made available digitally, but also digitally networked. To achieve this goal, material.one has joined the IDiS committee of the German Institute for Standardization (DIN) and the German Commission for Electrical, Electronic & Information Technologies (DKE). Learn more hereDigital product passports
material.one networks all parties involved in the product life cycle. The product passport contains information about the origin, composition, repair and disassembly options, and handling at the end of a product's life. Learn more hereVerification of sustainability key figures "Smart Sustainability"
For example CO2 footprint recording (GHG Scope 3) and recording of recycled content, verification and traceability. Learn more hereIntegration of existing systems, automation and digitalization of collaboration with partners.
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Conclusion: Quality management is the basis for success
No matter which industry - customer satisfaction and the product experience are at the heart of corporate efforts. Positive customer experiences are probably the most important factor for the success of a company. Accordingly, companies seek to provide products and services that not only meet but exceed customer expectations. At the same time, companies are under pressure from national and international supply chain laws, to control costs and product quality, as well as to comply with government regulations. This can only be achieved through careful quality management, which takes into account all processes within the value chain and the supply network. After all, one of the most important goals is to control all elements throughout the value chain in such a way that the best possible quality results lead to satisfied customers, competitive advantages and profit - in short, to essentially secure the company's success.
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Learn more about material.one
With material.one all stakeholders can collaborate a standardized manner in a compliance conforming way based on the "need to know". As an industry cloud platform, material.one provides information on material and material sampling, percentage of recycled material, certificates as well as CO₂ footprint information.