The Importance of Effective Quality Planning For Your Next Project: QMS Series Part 1 of 4
Our team refers to the term “quality” quite often. In many social media posts and insights, we use the terminology “high-quality” when referring to the services we provide, the products we produce, and even when discussing our suppliers. We do not take the word “quality” lightly and believe that if you do use this word, there ought to be supporting evidence to ensure your product IS manufactured with total quality management, including an outlay of procedures that can verify these quality procedures and quality systems.
June 6, 2023
Why is Having a Quality Management System Important?
Cost control. Happy Consumers. Businesses are always looking to cut costs while ensuring their consumers receive a product they value. A proper Quality Management system allows businesses to create Product Control Plans (PCPs) for their product before manufacturing to ensure it is produced correctly and functions as intended. A proper Quality Management system includes product testing, pre-shipment inspections, and opportunities for product evaluation to observe areas of concern before the product hits the water or gets into consumers’ hands.
Quality doesn’t necessarily mean perfect. Within Quality Management systems are scales and tolerances in which products must stay within a particular range. In establishing a Quality Management System, Quality Teams will randomly assess and test products before their ship date to ensure they are functional, aesthetically appropriate, and measured within their proper tolerances. If a product fails inspection for any particular reason, it is addressed through a Corrective Action Process as detailed in the PCP.
Quality Management Systems allow our team, customers, and suppliers an opportunity to “be on the same page.” There is zero guessing about having a QMS; transparent communication is imperative. Before mass production, our customers must approve product drawings, FA samples, specifications, control procedures, and product inspections.
Taking The First Step: Quality Planning
Ready to dive in? Start with Quality Planning. This first stage in Quality Management is the initial step that sets your product up for success. Quality Planning establishes what is most important and includes every measurable detail your product needs for production and testing. This step in Quality Management includes product drawings, product descriptions, product control procedures (PCPs), product specifications, and product testing requirements.
One of the most critical aspects of Quality Planning is understanding the flexibility of this stage. It is an ongoing stage that receives continuous attention and revisions. Nothing is set ‘in stone,’ and to succeed in the final deliverable, this stage must include constant, transparent communication from all stakeholders, product drawings drafts, specifications revisions, and product testing requirements.
What Separates HBI’s Quality Planning From Other QMS Teams?
We’re a certified, hands-on, Quality Team working with highly qualified international suppliers. Our Quality team continuously educates themselves to ensure our knowledge of quality systems remains relevant and competitive and provides our customers with the highest quality services and products. Our mission has remained the same throughout our twenty-plus years: to facilitate global sourcing and deliver high-quality products at a competitive cost.
Our Quality team, located throughout SE Asia, conducts rigorous testing to qualify our suppliers and conduct in-person supplier audits and pre-shipment inspections. We appreciate the opportunity that we have to be able to travel to our suppliers and provide our customers with frequent product updates, quality reports, and annual supplier audits.
Ready to Start a Project With Us?
As HBI expands into new industries and diversifies our product categories, our team continues to grow and adapt. We anxiously await new opportunities for our customers to become more competitive in their respective industries. Our team assists your global sourcing needs, whether identifying a new supplier, incorporating a Quality Management System into your business, or looking to start a new project.
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