Having difficulty managing quality and quality-related data? You’re not alone. Many manufacturers struggle with this these issues due to paper-based or other disparate systems being used to track, manage, and report on quality events. Walk about a production room floor, and there’s a good chance you’ll see a few three-ring binders or folders stuffed with handwritten, quality-related worksheets and forms.

Some manufacturing companies may also use email, spreadsheets, or homegrown software systems to capture quality events. But even then, gathering and consolidating information for audits and reporting can be a nightmare. And the problem is exacerbated by the number of external partners, regulatory bodies, and diverse reporting requirements from country to country.

But beyond the inefficiencies, there are some serious risks associated with these manual and paper-based methods of managing quality, for companies and consumers alike. A lack of visibility into quality events could mean a harmful product makes it out to market, leaving manufacturers to deal with product recalls, and risk to brand reputation and stock price value.

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