An integrated quality assurance information system for the design‐to‐order manufacturing environment

Purpose – As one of the major goals in modern industry, quality assurance concerns the whole life cycle of both product and process covering all quality‐based functions. It is also clear that, in order to design and manufacture the right products for customers, there is a strong need for an information system to support all the quality‐based functions from the pre‐production stage through to post‐production. Despite the research studies on integrated quality systems (IQS) in recent years, there remains no model for the implementation of IQS. This study aims to address this issue. Design/methodology/approach – In considering quality assurance as a system within an organisation which itself has other sub‐systems, and referring to the definitions of integration, it is clear that the concept of integration can be applied to this area. The objective of integrated quality assurance information system is to integrate all phases from initial identification to final realisation of requirements and customer expectations in order to achieve maximum effectiveness and full customer quality satisfaction. Findings – In this paper a schematic model of those essential quality‐based functions that need to take place within any design‐to‐order manufacturing environment are presented. The model collects, distributes, co‐ordinates and analyses information and data throughout all the sub‐sections. To validate the model a prototype test has also been carried out. Originality/value – This paper is one of the first to provide information and model on all the quality‐based functions from the pre‐production through to post‐production stage.