Automotive wire harnesses are a central component of modern vehicles. Against the backdrop of developments such as the connected car and autonomous driving, the highest possible quality is essential. Since quality assurance is a complex and largely manual manufacturing process, the use of a specialized manufacturing execution system (MES) is important.

Before transitioning to journalism, I worked in manufacturing, production, and high-volume auto repair for decades. When I finally swapped my blue collar for white, I figured my old body would appreciate the switch to something less physically demanding. And it did—for about six months. I learned the hard way that desk work can also result in musculoskeletal injuries.

Because of a growing movement in the health insurance industry toward not reimbursing hospitals for any expenses caused by a system-acquired infection, one health system made efforts to improve its infection rate starting in the last quarter of 2016. In June 2017, a year-over-year graph was presented to show progress to date.

Despite the impressive progress, there was obviously more work to do to eradicate these “should never happen events”:

When a change management system is designed effectively, it defines how strategies, procedures, and technologies will be applied to address changes in the business environment.

The concepts and frameworks behind quality management are evolving. As more companies adopt new technologies, and standards like ISO 9001:2015 begin to shift in focus, there is a concept that is arising out of Industry 4.0, the factory of the future, and the industrial internet of things (IIoT). This concept, known as Quality 4.0 and the digital transformation of quality, combines the elements of technology, process innovation, and risk-based thinking to provide greater visibility and control into quality processes.

In part one of this article, we explored how Woodland Trade Co. (WTC) leveraged high-accuracy portable CMMs to help land tight-tolerance aerospace contracts, and even earn Boeing’s Supplier of the Year award.