What is Quality 4.0? An exploratory sequential mixed methods study of Italian manufacturing companies

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the scientific debate on Quality 4.0 by exploring the main theoretical themes underpinning the Quality 4.0 model and how the model may be developed. An exploratory sequential mixed methods design was employed to study two different samples of Italian manufacturing companies over two phases. For each sample, a different questionnaire was distributed to the companies’ quality managers. As a result, eleven themes were elicited and tested. These themes are related to model development, top management, process mapping, data collection and integration with the enterprise resource planning system, use of artificial intelligence software, machine-to-machine data communication, product identification and traceability, document control and digital skills for quality control staff. A theoretical model for Q4.0 is proposed that encapsulates eleven themes of Q4.0 across three categories- people, process, and technology. Results could be particularly helpful for practitioners who may use them as a guideline for implementing and developing Quality 4.0 in a typical Industry 4.0 environment.

KEYWORDS:

• Quality 4.0
• Industry 4.0
• quality management
• manufacturing companies
• exploratory sequential mixed method design

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Andrea Chiarini

Andrea Chiarini is Senior Lecturer of Operations Management at the University of Verona – Italy. He has been a consultant and trainer to a range of manufacturing and service firms on TQM, Lean Six Sigma and Industry 4.0. Along with other partners he set up in Italy Chiarini & Associati a consulting firm dedicated to Lean Production, Six Sigma, IATF 16949, Industry 4.0 and Management Accounting. He has taught in many Post-Graduate courses and short courses for Executives. Senior Member of the American Society for Quality (ASQ), he serves in the editorial boards of Business Strategy and the Environment, Leadership in Healthcare, the Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management and the TQM Journal.

Maneesh Kumar

Maneesh Kumar is a Professor of Service Operations at Cardiff Business School, Cardiff University. He conducts cross-disciplinary research in the area of Operational Excellence including topics such as Lean Six Sigma (LSS), Process/Service Innovation, Industry 4.0, Circular Economy and Knowledge Management within SMEs, Automotive Industry, Service Industries and Public Sector organisations. This has resulted in publications of over 120 journals and conferences papers, edited books, and conference proceedings. He is an active member of EUROMA. He has initiated a first practice based forum on Lean Green and Innovation (iLEGO) that brings practitioner community together to have engaged discussion on synergies and misalignments between the three topics and promote cross learning between different industries. He has been involved in delivering LSS training up to Black Belt level and delivered several workshops on LSS application in different type and size of industries including Kwik-Fit Insurance Services, Standard Life, Admiral, Principality, Bakkavor Group, Norbert Dentressangle, Norgine Ltd., Celsa Steel, NHS Grampian, NHS Sheltand, Edinburgh City Council, Aberdeenshire Council, and Tata Motors. He is also a regular speaker at International Conferences and Seminars on Operations Management, LSS & Operations Excellence.