Global Quality is continually changing. For example, steam engines and looms kicked off the mechanization of work during the first industrial revolution in the late 18th century. The vast production of automobiles during the second industrial revolution in the early 20th century contributed to boosting the world economy to unprecedented heights. These changes in the industry also led to a shift in the quality approach, from one that was product-based and focused on checking for quality to one that was process-based and concentrated on quality planning and error-proofing. With the widespread use of computers, CAD/CAM, and other technologies to better design, manufacturing, and automation, the third industrial revolution brought about the Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) and a trend toward digital technology.
The fourth industrial revolution, often known as Industry 4.0, is applied to the field of quality through Quality 4.0. Using technological advancements like the Internet, connected devices, automation, and smart manufacturing to foster human-technology collaboration. These developments will ultimately employ big data to enhance and decentralize decision-making in real-time while also boosting efficiency, cutting expenses, and scaling operations.
Digital transformation and "smart manufacturing," which involves internet-connected devices utilizing human-machine interfaces to communicate with one another, are key components of the fourth industrial revolution. Data are gathered by these systems using cloud technology, which simplifies decision-making and offers real-time insights.
The development of Quality 4.0 and its application to future business will be significantly influenced by Industry 4.0 technology. Appropriate quality 4.0 awareness training can strengthen the capacity to organize strategic quality initiatives, ensure operational quality, and further drive continuous improvement transformations in each of the sectors. Here are mentioned three important characteristics of Successful Quality 4.0 Initiatives:
- Target Areas Where Quality 4.0 Technology Will Improve Performance the Most: In any Quality 4.0 initiative, strategy is always the first step. Start by finding prospective applications for sophisticated analytics, apps, or other connectivity-enhancing technology. Setting reasonable expectations and creating a plan for success will be easier if you evaluate the many sorts of tools available against the specific areas where improvement is required.
- Pay attention to the Quality 4.0 Core Elements that are most essential to business needs: There are 11 key elements, or "axes," of Quality 4.0. Depending on the particular conditions and business needs of your firm, different ways will be used to leverage and sync each aspect with the other Quality 4.0 components. Based on the company's present situation and anticipated future state, examine each of the following crucial elements and combine them into use cases. These evaluations should be done for any Quality 4.0 initiative.
- Targets of the digital transformation should be in line with Quality 4.0 objectives: An organization's overall digital transformation plan must be in line with a Quality 4.0 initiative's goal of improving connectivity and the quality culture across the entire organization. Digital changes within some organizations might not be as advanced as planned or not be enough to meet Quality 4.0 requirements. In such situations, Quality 4.0 initiatives offer a fantastic chance to realign and refocus quality and corporate digitalization strategies and show how new technology can help and synergize them both.
Embracing the future of quality means striving toward greatness via quality. The ability of quality professionals to assist their organizations in making the critical connection between quality excellence and their capacity to thrive in disruption by utilizing quality principles to enable transformation and growth is crucial for the creation and implementation of Quality 4.0. The following factors need to be considered.
- Technology: The ability to perform things that were previously only possible for large organizations is now available to everyone because of technology, which acts as a great balancer. For instance, using a quality management system (QMS) that is integrated throughout the supply chain offers chances to automate demands like the quality 4.0 certification of conformity. Quality specialists must transition from being data analysts to data wranglers by interacting with new technologies, comprehending them and the potential outputs they bring, and choosing how and when to use them.
- Process: As more work is automated, the demand for streamlined processes is as critical as ever. As a result, not only will new tactics and methods be used, but also current practices, making it crucial to train the upcoming workforce in how to do so. In the end, Quality 4.0 is a crucial link that businesses should include in their digital transformation strategy to guarantee long-term sustainability.
- People: Quality 4.0 incorporates much more than just technology. The use of modern digital tools to maintain quality and master their application is a new way for qualified experts. By speaking the digital language and arguing for quality in disruptive environments, quality experts may transition from being enforcers to navigators, successfully guiding businesses through the digital revolution toward excellence.
The advent of internet has fundamentally changed the course of action of almost every industry.
Even though internet has been around for a while, it wasn’t until the emergence of Industry 4.0 that the digital transformation started helping the industries to evolve.
Pharma 4.0 emphasizes on building a single virtual network that connects human, data and machines.
Looking at the past trends of manufacturing, it seems that the technological transformation is much needed for pharma manufacturing as they have been facing challenges such as:
Shift from “one drug that fits all” to personalized therapies
Complex supply chains due to outsourcing activities which results in high cost of drugs
