Industry 4.0, quality management and TQM world. A systematic literature review and a proposed agenda for further research

Abstract

PurposeThe main purpose of this paper is to analyse the current literature situation in terms of relationships between Industry 4.0 and quality management and TQM. The author wanted to understand what topics and issues can be considered the most relevant referring to the so-called Quality 4.0, what the literature is missing opening avenues for further research.Design/methodology/approachThis research employed a systematic literature review. In total, 75 papers from different sources were reviewed using specific inclusion and exclusion criteria.FindingsFour categories of topics emerged, namely: creating value within the company through quality (big) data, analytics and artificial intelligence; developing Quality 4.0 skills and culture for quality people; customer value co-creation; cyber–physical systems and ERP for quality assurance and control. This paper also tried to understand if there is a definition of Quality 4.0 based on determined methods.Research limitations/implicationsSystematic literature review could have introduced some limitations in terms of the number and reliability of reviewed papers. Probably some interesting papers had been not intentionally missed.Practical implicationsConsultants and managers in developing and implementing their own Quality 4.0 models could use many practical and discussed implications concerning I4.0 technologies and quality management.Originality/valueThis is one of the first papers which employed the systematic literature review for researching Industry 4.0, quality management and TQM relationships.

Knowledge management systems in Quality 4.0

“…Quality 4.0 evolved as a natural response to the changes in the manufacturing field, where in 2011, the term Industry 4.0 appeared to define a new way of increasing the competitiveness of the German manufacturing industry [1]. Industry 4.0 is based on digital transformation and has been used to describe the fourth industrial revolution [2].…”

“…In this context, Quality 4.0 aims to meet the requirements of Industry 4.0 companies by including digitalization of quality management systems [3] and practices as well as by adopting digital tools to increase efficiency and product quality [4] [5]. Furthermore, Quality 4.0 supports the digitalization of quality management including not only the products and the technologies but also the processes and the people [2] [1].…”

Transforming Indian Engineering Industries through Industry 4.0: An Integrative Conceptual Analysis

“…Implementing Industry 4.0 will entail organizations to manufacture products and services with close dimensional tolerance and that too without defects [48]. The concept of quality will be built into the product at every stage, as through sensors vital parameters will be monitored [49], therefore the likelihood that defective items going to next stage would be minimised. The data from products usage such as quality failure incidences, product recall data, monitoring dimensional tolerances and quality characterises throughout all the phases of the product life cycle will further improve the product safety in Industry 4.0 era [50].…”

Role of Erp and Total Quality Management in Education

“…However, defining and identifying customer is a challenge in education. Ali and Shastri comment that vagueness in customer identification also creates obstacles in TQM implementation [55]. According to Houston, the definition (customer) prevails in industry or business environment which based on the idea of satisfying customers' needs and expectations, is a problematic one in education [54].…”