INDUSTRY NEWS
Why is quality management more important in manufacturing and engineering than ever before ?
Quality and consistency have always been benchmarks of good business in the manufacturing and engineering sectors , but after the turmoil brought by COVID-19 they have become even more crucial .
COVID-19 brought widespread disruption – and the manufacturing and engineering sectors were not immune .
Many businesses within these sectors had to temporarily down tools ; at the height of lockdown , the Engineering Insights Dashboard from Engineering UK revealed that nearly a quarter ( 24 %) of engineering businesses paused their work 1 . This means that many businesses have faced , or are now facing , the reality of re-starting production on machinery that has been out of use with workforces that may still be limited due to ongoing social distancing .
Supply chains have also been badly damaged . According to Engineering UK , one-fifth of engineering businesses who normally export and import products have ceased to do so . This means that many businesses are having to establish new supply chains , which are inevitably struggling with
18 JUNE 2021 demand . This has resulted in higher prices and longer delivery times .
Temporary closures and supply issues are also affecting contractors for both sectors . A backlog of work means contractors are stretched thin and projects are suffering with ongoing delays .
These issues are being compounded by a recent uptick in activity .
According to the latest HIS Markit / CIPS Purchasing Managers ’ Index for April 2021 , the UK ’ s manufacturing activity grew at its fastest rate since 1994 2 , when the index hit a record high .
The results of the latest Manufacturing Barometer carried out by SWMAS and the MGP also shows that two-thirds of SME manufacturers expect to increase sales between now and October , while 48 % of respondents believe that they will return to , or even exceed , their pre-COVID position within the next three months .
With supply chains under pressure , the cost of materials rising , ongoing COVID restrictions in the workplace and a desperate need for more trained staff , ensuring that quality and consistency is maintained is even more important – and even more difficult .
Maintaining quality in a post-COVID world
To combat these issues , manufacturers and engineering companies need the right processes in place to ensure they get it right first time , every time .
With these processes in place , these businesses can ensure that their output remains at a consistent quality , that their suppliers are carefully chosen based on suitability and availability , and that the most talented candidates are attracted to their company to work .
It can even put businesses in the right place to explore new markets and attract new business in the post-COVID world .
One way of ensuring that quality is maintained throughout the business , in every operation , is by implementing a quality management system such as ISO 9001 .
Quality management systems create a robust framework of processes for leadership , planning , support , operation , and monitoring and improvement to maintain and develop quality and customer satisfaction .
This helps businesses to : Reduce errors Improve customer retention Increase efficiency for lower costs Improve supplier relations
Create a more factual approach to decision-making
Boost employee morale
By implementing a renowned quality management system such as ISO 9001 3 , business can also improve the reputation of the company , attracting both new business and the best talent .
The management system can also help to keep your staff safe in a COVID-secure workplace . One of ISO 9001 ’ s requirements focuses on the environment for operations . This means you need to have the right processes in place to keep your staff safe and productive .
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