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In the world of manufacturing, the perfect part is essential to accurate and timely order fulfillment. Businesses that receive parts in time and according to their specifications are able to then turn around and deliver their product to their customers accurately and affordably.

One of the most influential twentieth century quality control and statistical process control experts was W. Edwards Deming. This post gives an overview of some of the most practical tips from his 14 Points For The Transformation of Management and relates them to the practice of designing and procuring parts.

Supply Chain Partnerships

A significant part of Deming’s fourth point states: “Move toward a single supplier for any one item, on a long-term relationship of loyalty and trust.”

In Deming’s management principles, controlling relationships for quality and long-term cost maintains more importance than rewarding a business based upon price alone. Each part in a system is essential to the quality of the finished product Manufacturers who understand this and are willing to invest in building strategic partnerships with their suppliers will improve overall quality and costs.

Build Success-Oriented Business Systems

Throughout Deming’s 14 points, he emphasizes that leadership is responsible for the business systems within an organization. If there are problems or weaknesses in process, the first place a statistically minded organization will look is the system put in place by leadership. When it comes to manufacturing the perfect parts for your project, it is important that your leaders and strategic partners understand and use systematic statistical control. Additionally, any parts and final manufacturing you do needs to followthe same rigorous systematic controls.

Quality Design

All business systems are complex, and manufacturing is no exception. A quality design process is one complexity that many businesses do not want to invest the time and energy into perfecting. However, design is the foundation of manufacturing perfect parts. High-quality design includes working with manufacturers that understand your unique needs, using design and engineering teams that understand the machines and processes your business uses, and considering the source materials available for use in each part.

Quality Materials

Quality sourcing is an important part of statistical control. Because any manufactured good is only as good as its weakest part, the quality of materials involved dramatically affects the entire product chain. Purchasing and returns affect a business’s vendors and customers, as well. Using high-quality materials reduces the costs associated with returns and reworks. Low-quality materials, on the other hand, can add exponential costs incurred by disgruntled customers and poor reviews.

Statistical Analysis of Parts

The manufacturing of each part should only be performed by reliable and experienced leaders in the industry. This is because they understand the numbers behind their parts. For example, a car manufacturer may produce the best engines for their cars in-house, but the plastic pieces
involved in the electric window motors constantly break, driving down the value of their new vehicles. This is an instance where the specialist in the realm of performance engines should find a more experienced partner in statistically analyzing and controlling the quality of plastic manufacturing.

Create Long-Term Manufacturing Cycles

By using statistical process controls to select parts, materials, and business systems for more than just their cost, businesses can focus on building long-term relationships with both customers and vendors. This gives the business an opportunity to continue statistical control at various levels and perfect the systematic production of each piece of inventory.

Although many businesses use varying amounts of Deming’s teachings on quality and business leadership, these six tips are especially helpful to businesses looking to gain more value from their manufacturing systems. Quality production, sourcing, and design may not seem to reduce costs up front, but when you consider it in terms of your economy of scale and reduction of errors, quality control can empower your manufacturing business to be the best.