A Quality Control Improvement Model That Takes into Account the Sustainability Concept and KPIs

Abstract

Nowadays, in addition to quality aspects, social and environmental issues are also a source of competitive advantage, as a result of changing socio-economic conditions and observed trends. The purpose of the study was to create a model for improving quality control in line with the concept of sustainable development. The model captures the microfoundational approach, and allows identifying quality capability with the idea of sustainable development. The proposed method is based on analyses of the characteristic parameters of methods for detecting aluminum casting nonconformities using automated or semi-automated nondestructive methods. The interdisciplinary approach takes into account indicators from the leading areas of sustainable development (economic, environmental and social dimensions) to determine the gradation of detection methods. Verification of the model confirmed its usefulness in foundry companies. As a result, a ranking of the total efficiency of the analyzed detection methods used in the quality control of the studied product was obtained. This enabled the development of energy, emission and cost optimization of the inspection process while maintaining the expected level of quality. Further research directions will concern the expansion of the model with additional key indicators related to the concept of pure quality control and automation of the implementation of analysis.