“Nobody wants to be in the middle of a tire recall” says Kathryn Houk, Tire & Rubber Industry Leader at Rockwell Automation. “But when a quality or compliance issue occurs and a recall is necessary, having the right Quality Management System in place is game-changing when it comes to limiting the scope of a recall as much as possible, which helps minimize the impact to your business and your company’s reputation.”
A solid QMS software and quality practice is a lifeline in the worst-case-scenario of a tire recall. But what about day-to-day operations? Plex QMS Product Manager Brian Martensen explains, “By providing a single source of data, QMS software enables a team to manage their manufacturing processes with confidence and ensures that data is immediately available for making the best decisions possible. While most recalls may be prevented by a QMS, having the ability to provide immediate containment boundaries minimizes the effects that you and your customers experience in the event of a recall.”
“When we talk about the human element of Quality, these situations can be incredibly stressful for the people handling them. Everyone wants to do a good job and produce a quality product, and in these high-pressure situations, it can be incredibly helpful to guide everyone back to the data contained in the QMS so you can speak confidently from a single source of truth” says Kathryn Houk.
The Plex Quality Management System by Rockwell Automation is uniquely suited for the tire industry, especially manufacturers who are building Original Equipment (OE) tires and need to comply with quality and traceability guidelines published by the Automotive Industry Action Group (AIAG). Plex QMS complies with IATF 16949, which is the current standard used by many Automotive OEMs to drive rigorous quality practices within their supply base.
Like the ISO 9001-based QMS requirements, Plex QMS is based on the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) methodology and is a significant resource to managing and maintaining your quality management system to meet the IATF 16949 and customer specific requirements placed on automotive suppliers. Plex QMS contains the necessary tools for IATF compliance, and these tools are highly configurable for supporting your unique QMS needs.
Implementing a digital QMS software is a cornerstone to any Digital Transformation journey, providing the following features:
- Document Control and Management
- Corrective and Preventive Action (CAPA)
- Built-in Certification and Document Support
- Audit Management
“A stand-alone QMS software can be a great first-step into a manufacturer’s digital transformation journey. We have seen manufacturers use a successful Plex QMS implementation to generate internal momentum to further transform their manufacturing operations by taking on larger projects like a new Manufacturing Execution System” says Kathryn Houk.
When combined with change management to drive adoption and usage of the tools, Plex QMS can change the game when it comes to managing quality in tire manufacturing.
Learn more about how Plex QMS helps tire manufacturers here.
