New manufacturing technologies are revolutionizing companies throughout the world. These methods of improving productivity - from the ordering of raw materials to the shipping of finished products - are inextricably tied to computer technology.

There is little doubt that the Quality professional - in order to make a meaningful contribution - must be prepared to meet this emerging technology head-on. Otherwise, the train will pull out of the station and he will wonder why he was left behind.

Computer-integrated manufacturing, which offers unprecedented control to management.

Computer-aided design and manufacturing systems linked to computer-driven machines on the shopfloor.

Robots, which are becoming commonplace in the automated factory.

Manufacturing resource planning, which creates a framework for factory management.

Process knowledge and control.

The typical Quality department's role is rapidly changing. Emphasis is up-front, with focus on manufacturing planning and design assurance, not merely after-the-fact inspection assessment and control. As an "in-house consultant", the Quality professional must help develop a greater awareness of the need to understand processes and assist in determining levels of process control and capability.

Statistical Process Control methodology - also referred to as Statistical Quality Control and Manufacturing Process Control - is paving the way for more sophisticated and powerful tools of experimental design for process improvement.

In the "Factory of the Future", depending on mass inspection will not be acceptable. The inspection function will literally work itself out of a job. There are many kinds and various levels of inspection (e.g. first-piece, in-process, final, receiving or incoming, audit verification, sorting, 100%, sampling, etc.). Mass inspection does not help produce a better quality product, nor does it increase productivity. It is not even 100% effective in identifying non-conforming products. If processes are not stable (out of control), and incapable of meeting design specifications, there is no alternative left other than to sort or continue 100% mass inspection. The solution is process control. Massive inspection will typically increase costs and render products less competitive. Excessive inspection is a way for management to appear to be trying to improve quality while not taking appropriate action. To be successful, the dependence on mass inspection, which is so prevalent today, must be eliminated. The move away from inspection is happening already.

Managing quality today requires attention at every stage of product development, from design to sales. Adopting this changed perspective may not be easy, but it is necessary. The management of product quality can no longer be merely an afterthought; it is a major determinant of success. Managers have at last recognized the importance of upstream design decisions. Many companies are now demanding overall responsibility for quality from their General Managers. The Quality professional should spend more time and energy with counterparts in Engineering, Manufacturing, and General Management. In some cases, a language barrier is a constraint. Towards this end, the highly structured and logical language of Statistical Process Control is the solution.