- plm
- Quality Management
- CLOSED LOOP QUALITY TOOL
CIMdata’s Closed-Loop Quality (CLQ) Tool
Get specific recommendations on capabilities that will help you meet your quality management initiatives.
Instructions for Users:
This tool presents you with six (6) quality related issues and asks you to identify the level of improvement your company is hoping to realize by using PLM for closed-loop quality (CLQ) – high, medium or low.
As you progress throughout the tool, you will receive abbreviated recommendations on where to get started in addressing that specific issue. At the end of the experience, you will have the opportunity to download a personalized report containing more robust and detailed recommendations from CIMdata on the capabilities your organization should implement – or areas you should focus on – to best achieve your quality improvement goals.
Get started
Scrap and Rework:
You indicated that you have low expectations for reducing scrap and rework. CIMdata’s abbreviated recommendation is to further reduce scrap and rework by standardizing product development, embracing document management best practices, and implementing an ISO 9001 quality governance process. You can also use a standard closed-loop CAPA process and provide R&D with real-time visibility into product performance and design issues.
You indicated that you have low expectations for reducing scrap and rework. At this level, you may not believe that CLQ can help. However, our experience with other companies shows this is not the case. While you may not immediately see much room for improvement in these areas, there is always room for improvement so look to:
You indicated that you have medium expectations for reducing scrap and rework. CIMdata’s abbreviated recommendation is to look at CLQ to automate quality processes and incorporate predictive quality, risk and reliability into engineering. Identify and predict potential product failures and impacts and make real-world failures in manufacturing and the field immediately visible.
You indicated that you have medium expectations for reducing scrap and rework. At this level, you most likely have change control procedures in place and, perhaps, even a way of managing "standard" parts and reusing previously designed parts. You should look at CLQ to:
You indicated that you have high expectations for reducing scrap and rework. The best way to accomplish CLQ is to have all the core product development and quality management processes embedded into one system. To do so, you should:
Field Rejections, Returns, and/or Allowances:
You indicated that you have low expectations for reducing product returns and/or in-field fixes. CIMdata’s abbreviated recommendation is to assure post-manufacturing data is brought back to the product design organization by automatically recording changes and issues that arise in manufacturing and the field. Capture both as-built and as-maintained BOMs in your PLM environment, and Implement FMEA and Failure Reporting, Analysis and Corrective Action System (FRACAS) capabilities.
You indicated that you have low expectations for reducing product returns and/or in-field fixes, your product development-to-manufacturing data flow is likely streamlined. Consider concentrating on the reverse--assuring that post-manufacturing data is brought back to the product design organization. Look at:
You indicated that you have medium expectations for reducing product returns and/or in-field fixes. CIMdata’s abbreviated recommendation is to improve the quality of information flow to and from manufacturing by integrating comprehensive change management across product development and manufacturing. Assure complete BOMs, enable BOM variations to be easily transmitted, and provide manufacturing engineers with an early view into product design, along with supplier access to product definitions and quality processes.
You indicated that you have medium expectations for reducing product returns and/or in-field fixes. At this level, you probably transfer basic product design information to manufacturing in a reasonable way, but activities such as change control and BOM transfer may not be as complete as you’d like. Look at the following areas to improve the quality of information flow to and from manufacturing:
You indicated that you have high expectations for reducing product returns and/or in-field fixes. CIMdata’s abbreviated recommendation is to improve your product lifecycle management environment by controlling product design data, and granting manufacturing personnel direct, online access to all design data. You can also enable all manufacturing and field errors to be reported, and take measures to anticipate and mitigate failures before production.
You indicated that you have high expectations for reducing product returns and/or in-field fixes. When you experience major problems related to product failures in the field, you are likely struggling with delivering high-quality data into the manufacturing environment. Consider making the following improvements in to your product lifecycle management environment:
Regulatory Approval Time, Time to Audit Response:
You indicated that you have low expectations for decreasing the cost and amount of time it takes to gain regulatory approval and/or submit a response to an audit. At this level, CIMdata’s abbreviated recommendation is that you use PLM to manage regulatory conformance documents and link them directly to data sources that help maintain data in reports. Automatically link to and update governing regulations and make them available online, while linking regulations to product data and processes, and requirements to regulations, product elements and product testing.
You indicated that you have low expectations for decreasing the cost and amount of time it takes to gain regulatory approval and/or submit a response to an audit. At this level, you may not believe that CLQ can help -- or you may not see much room for improvement in these areas. However, our experience with other companies shows this is not the case. There is always room for improvement, so look to:
You indicated that you have medium expectations for decreasing the cost and amount of time it takes to gain regulatory approval and/or submit a response to an audit. CIMdata’s abbreviated recommendation is to consider linking product requirements to conformance reports, automatically downloading the newest governing regulations, and making regulation documents available online.
You indicated that you have medium expectations for decreasing the cost and amount of time it takes to gain regulatory approval and/or submit a response to an audit. At this level, you most likely call upon some CLQ and PLM capabilities to help support regulatory compliance. Some additional support elements to consider are:
You indicated that you have high expectations for decreasing the cost and amount of time it takes to gain regulatory approval and/or submit a response to an audit. CIMdata’s abbreviated recommendation is to use CLQ to manage conformance documents and link them directly to data sources that help maintain data in reports. Create and track nonconformance reports and link them to product design data and items, or manufacturing processes, and manage product data in a common repository.
You indicated that you have high expectations for decreasing the cost and amount of time it takes to gain regulatory approval and/or submit a response to an audit. If you expect a high benefit in this area, you operate in a regulated environment but likely find it difficult to, or fail to, report accurate, up-to-date information. You may be responding to regulators using extremely manual discovery and reporting processes. CLQ supported by PLM can streamline the process and assure accurate, defensible reporting and audit responses. Use CLQ to:
Errors in Manufacturing:
You indicated that you have low expectations for reducing manufacturing errors. CIMdata’s abbreviated recommendation is that you enable cross-functional collaboration to create a product development team enabled by a common data repository and common processes. Connect manufacturing information with the PLM environment, enable non-conformances to be created directly from the factory floor, and allow suppliers to directly see appropriate data in your PLM and quality systems.
You indicated that you have low expectations for reducing manufacturing errors. At this level, you most likely have improved communications between manufacturing and engineering. Concentrate now on enabling a true CLQ process to assure that errors are mitigated and documented on both the engineering and manufacturing sides of the organization, and with the supply chain. You should also call upon IIoT to monitor what is happening in your manufacturing environment so you can more quickly and proactively resolve issues as they arise. Some concrete steps your organization can take:
You indicated that you have medium expectations for reducing manufacturing errors. Given that, CIMdata’s abbreviated recommendation is that you ensure communication between manufacturing and engineering happens earlier and is bi-directional by automating connections between manufacturing solutions, and enabling data sharing in a controlled setting. In addition, allow supplier information to be brought into internal systems, and facilitate the creation of accurate and complete problem/issue reports. You can also measure/reduce the amount of rework, engineering change follow-up documentation, re-engineering work after design freeze, and resources needed to finish development projects.
You indicated that you have medium expectations for reducing manufacturing errors. Companies with medium improvement expectations usually have some level of access and automated process communication between manufacturing and engineering. This can be improved by assuring that communication happens earlier and is bi-directional. To that end:
You indicated that you have high expectations for reducing manufacturing errors. At this level, CIMdata’s abbreviated recommendation is that you provide cross-functional teams with easy access to real-time product data, implement a proper change management process, and promote closed-loop change approval and design approval processes. Measure/reduce the amount of rework, engineering change follow-up documentation, re-engineering work after design freeze, and resources needed to finish development projects.
You indicated that you have high expectations for reducing manufacturing errors. Companies with high expectations for benefits often separate manufacturing information from design information. This is one of the root causes of errors in manufacturing and of late identification of problems in the factory. Integration, connectivity, and visibility of all product information early in the design process helps manufacturing engineers influence the design in ways that can dramatically reduce errors and improve manufacturing quality. Recommendations at this stage are to:
First Sample Approval in Manufacturing:
You indicated you have low expectations for reducing the cost of not achieving first sample approval for production. Based on this, CIMdata’s abbreviated recommendation is that you ensure bi-directional data transfers and processes between manufacturing and product engineering, and enable a strong change management and approval process after production release. Also involve manufacturing engineering from the start of the product design process.
You indicated you have low expectations for reducing the cost of not achieving first sample approval for production. Even if you don’t anticipate many quality issues, continue to refine the critical interactions between product engineering and manufacturing. This will help ensure that the product is designed to be built and that issues are resolved as quickly and completely as possible. You can achieve this by tightly linking manufacturing and engineering systems and processes to improve communication and remove the chance for human error. Specifically:
You indicated you have medium expectations for reducing the cost of not achieving first sample approval for production. CIMdata’s abbreviated recommendation is to improve integration, connectivity, and visibility of product information by automating data movement from product engineering to manufacturing systems as much as is practical. You can also use IIoT capabilities to track early manufacturing issues and allow exploration of root causes.
You indicated you have medium expectations for reducing the cost of not achieving first sample approval for production. When you expect a medium level of benefit, your first-time sample approval rate is likely "not good enough" to satisfy quality standards. Focus on enabling improved integration, connectivity, and visibility of product information, both to and from manufacturing. To that end:
You indicated you have high expectations for reducing the cost of not achieving first sample approval for production. At this level, CIMdata’s abbreviated recommendation is to improve your first-time sample approval yield by using a PLM workflow to support the processes used to move information bi-directionally between design and manufacturing. You can also automate as much data sharing as possible, automate change management enterprise-wide, and assure required reviews and approvals occur before production.
You indicated you have high expectations for reducing the cost of not achieving first sample approval for production. This implies that your first-time yield is not nearly as robust as you would like. You can improve this yield through properly developed and maintained work processes and the data those processes use, change, and control. Specifically:
Design Errors:
You indicated you have low expectations for reducing the cost and number of design errors. CIMdata’s abbreviated recommendation for further reducing the cost and number of design errors is to create both fast- and normal-track change workflows, link requirements to design elements, and place requirements under change control and approval. You can also link requirements to testing and assure that issues found in products in the field are resolved in product designs.
You indicated you have low expectations for reducing the cost and number of design errors. At this level you probably control your data and processes in PLM. Look at advanced areas for further improvement:
You indicated you have medium expectations for reducing the cost and number of design errors. CIMdata’s abbreviated recommendation is to address requirements and changes that arise during the design cycle, manage and validate requirements in the PLM environment as part of the product record, close the loop on change management, and implement configuration management.
You indicated you have medium expectations for reducing the cost and number of design errors. At this level, you may already be using PLM to manage product design data, but how are you managing requirements and changes that naturally arise during the design cycle? Be sure to:
You indicated you have high expectations for reducing the cost and number of design errors. CIMdata’s abbreviated recommendation is to reduce design errors by managing design data and processes in PLM, creating and managing formal change processes in PLM workflows, and linking product data to simulation, analysis, and physical testing.
You indicated you have high expectations for reducing the cost and number of design errors. This points to problems with data management, control, and linking. In environments where uncontrolled data may be changed without prior approval and validation testing, the change can result in an undesirable outcome. To greatly reduce design errors:
Once you complete and submit the below form, you will be emailed a personalized report containing more robust and detailed recommendations from CIMdata on the capabilities your organization should implement – or areas you should focus on – to best achieve your quality improvement goals.
Thank you for your submission. Your personalized report will be emailed to you shortly.