Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology IPTResearch Project "Qbility"
The digital transformation of production presents small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with the task of keeping pace with increasingly rapid technological developments with limited financial and human resources. The FQS-funded research project "Qbility" is therefore dedicated to the digitalization of quality management with the aim of supporting SMEs in the selection of suitable Quality 4.0 technologies and thereby supporting the digitalization of their production.
Determining the individual Quality 4.0 maturity level of SMEs
In order to expand quality management with digital technologies, companies must first be able to assess their individual maturity level regarding Quality 4.0. Therefore, a Quality 4.0 maturity model will be developed which allows SMEs the assessment of their Quality 4.0 maturity level. The model takes into account the individual requirements of all relevant areas of the company. In this way, recommendations for action can be derived for each area and used in the form of a development roadmap that supports the company in achieving its goals.
From a roadmap to specific recommended actions
To develop the model, a Quality 4.0 roadmap is first created, which outlines an ideal and maximum Quality 4.0 solution and additionally contains information on the costs and benefits of the technologies that can be implemented. Checklists are then created for each area to help determine the need for Quality 4.0 solutions and the status quo of users. This step also takes into account the areas of the company in which Quality 4.0 solutions are to be applied and the goals they serve. Based on the developed model, the Fraunhofer IPT builds a web-based software tool that determines the maturity level of the company. The maturity model is finally validated in collaboration with the project-accompanying committee with regard to the assessed maturity level and the derived recommended actions.
Opportunities for SMEs
The results of the "Qbility" research project enable SMEs to meet the challenges of global competition with Quality 4.0. In this way, companies can profitably exploit the opportunities associated with the digitalization of quality management.
Tabbed contents
Project Committee
Research Institutions:
- Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology IPT
- South Westphalia University of Applied Sciences, Location Hagen, Faculty Technical Business Management
The following companies are part of the project committee:
- Babtec Informationssysteme GmbH
- CAQ AG Factory Systems
- ERCO GmbH
- gbo datacomp GmbH
- Invenio GmbH Engineering Services
- Mannesmann Line Pipe GmbH
- Maschinen- und Metallbau Claaßen GmbH
- Modell Aachen Gmbh
- MPDV Mikrolab Gmbh
- Rudolf Rafflenbeul Stahlwarenfabrik GmbH & Co. KG
- Schoeller Werk GmbH & Co. KG
- Viega Supply Chain GmbH & Co. KG
- Kompetenzzentrum Mittelstand 4.0 Rheinland
Dates
- 7 July 2020 – Project-Kick-off
Member Area
As a project partner, you can access the results of the individual working meetings here. The login data for the internal area were sent to the participants via e-mail.
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Funding Information
The IGF project "Qbility - Quality 4.0 Capability Determination Model (IGF 21232 N)" of the research association FQS Forschungsgemeinschaft Qualität e.V. (FQS Research Association) was funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action via the AiF within the framework of the program for the promotion of Industrial Collective Research ("Industrielle Gemeinschaftsforschung", IGF) based on a resolution of the German Bundestag.