Quality-driven Industry 4.0

Abstract

We are witnessing the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the developments of the digital transformation in the service and manufacturing sectors. The emphasis in manufacturing is on technological developments (CPS, robotics and additive manufacturing) and in the service sector there is a focus on data (AI, data analytics and big data). What is lacking is research on the importance of Quality Management within these developments.Research relating to the relationship between Industry 4.0 and Quality Management is limited, with the two dominant lenses progressing research in different directions. The purpose of this chapter is to explore the need for a more focused approach towards Quality Management in the current technology-driven era of Industry 4.0.The findings are presented in the form of a critical evaluation of the literature identified through a systematic literature review exploring the different perspectives which contribute to the current understanding of the relationship between technology and Quality.The conclusions of the analysis indicate that Total Quality Management (TQM) can be the strategic focus for Industry 4.0. TQM is technology-independent, it encompasses a strategic outlook, a customer focus and consideration of quality tools and techniques. Further, it is suggested that the focus of Industry 4.0 research needs to change to a Quality 4.0-driven strategy in order to achieve its full potential.This chapter advances our understanding of both Quality and Industry 4.0 by going beyond the established boundaries, synthesizing the fields to map out a state-of-the-art knowledge of these important areas.