From inspection to prediction: Quality management keeps evolving
Quality management looks very different today than it did a few decades ago. In the past, the focus was largely on finding defects. Today, it is more about continuous improvement, identifying risks early and preventing problems before they occur.
Sari Pirhonen has worked at Okmetic since 1986 and has been Senior Manager, Quality since 2009. Over the years, she has seen how quality management has changed, moving from inspection-based practices to an approach that involves the entire company.
“At one time, quality was inspected. Today, quality is managed. In the future, quality will be predicted,” she says.
This also changes how companies approach their work. Processes in different departments are closely linked, so a change in one area can affect other functions and, ultimately, the customer experience.
Quality professionals use methods such as root cause analysis and the “5 Whys” technique to understand why issues occur. Rather than focusing only on correcting a problem, the goal is to identify underlying causes and prevent similar issues from recurring.
This preventive approach has also changed how companies define quality and who is responsible for it.
Quality Across the Organization
The definition of quality has expanded over the years. Customers still expect products to perform as intended, but quality involves much more than the product itself. Reliable deliveries, information security, sustainability, consistency and smooth day-to-day collaboration all play a part.
At Okmetic, quality is not owned by a single team. It involves everyone in the company, from production and support functions to office personnel staff. Continuous improvement relies on employees identifying opportunities for improvement and understanding how changes in one process may affect others.
According to Minna Kukkonen, Senior Quality Engineer at Okmetic, quality is most effective when employees throughout the organization contribute observations and ideas for improvement.
“No one can read minds. We rely on people throughout the company to raise observations and identify opportunities for improvement. Quality is truly a team effort.”
The Next Phase: Quality in the Age of AI
Artificial intelligence is opening up new possibilities for quality management. It can help organizations analyze large amounts of data, identify potential risks, and assess how changes to processes might affect other areas. As these tools develop, they may also help companies predict problems earlier and make better-informed decisions.
However, the role of people will remain essential.
“AI can help identify signals and trends, but people provide the context, understand the causes, and make the decisions,” says Pirhonen.
At Okmetic, quality is viewed as a company-wide effort focused on creating value for customers. Technology is changing the way quality is managed, but success will continue to rely on experienced people, strong teamwork, and a culture that encourages continuous improvement.
