November is World Quality Month: How Does Data and Technology Impact Quality Goals?
November is World Quality Month, and November 13th is designated World Quality Day!
The task is to “Think Differently” about how Data and Technology impact Quality. To that end, each department reflected on its strategies and innovations that do exactly that.
First up, Leadership. How does WNP’s Leadership Team prioritize the use of data and technology to reach Quality goals?
Being transparent with KPIs reflects the premium we put on quality. As an ESOP, we are reminded that we succeed or fail as a team because individual contributions impact the whole. In terms of quality, fewer non-conformances means our company’s valuation at the end of each year will trend higher. #GEMBA meetings and refresher training keep everyone focused on our quality and safety goals. At our Q2 KPI meeting, the metrics showed that we achieved nearly 99.8% compliance with our PPM (parts per million) quality target!
Our Customer Order Portal, seamlessly integrated with our ERP system, acts as a digital conduit between our operations and our customers. It delivers real-time order data, streamlines communication, and reinforces our Effortless Experience model. Natasha Watson, Business Development and Customer Service Leader, says, “When customers have open lines of communication with their vendors, confidence follows; and confidence is the foundation of quality service.
From an Operations POV, the hidden cost that hits hardest is the Cost of Poor Quality (COPQ). From reruns, scrap, additional labor to missed deadlines, COPQ isn’t just a line item—it’s a wake-up call. At WNP, we track it and then fix it through “lessons learned” investigations immediately after an incident so it doesn’t become a repeat occurrence.
HR recently launched the CheckWriters app and discovered a surge in employee engagement due to its convenience and accessibility. According to HR Leader, Kitty Ricci, “CheckWriters is a very efficient tool, and it provides an equitable employee experience that reflects the same quality we expect in our products.”
