Learning from Pandemic: 

Better ways to manage Quality........

Risk management is essential part of Quality management. We know how it is integrated in to Quality management through FMEA / Risk assessment and mitigation, etc. 

But, what we did not plan was "Managing Quality in Pandemic Times"......!! Well we did not anticipate this at first and the magnitude of the problem was so challenging.....

I had an opportunity to work along the pandemic period of 12-15 months; almost 80% of the time and rest through work from home. It did teach us, new rules of the game for Quality management. 

At first, I can say, ageing of materials which can rotten / shelf life materials is the biggest risk we recognized during this phase.

We really understood what is start up verification after prolonged shut downs. The challenges we faced due to unplanned shut downs. Good or Bad, Govts announced unplanned sudden lock-in!! They too had little experience to understand the magnitude of the issue and how many months it will prolong.

We can have nicely written shut down verification process. Then, how do we ensure this process is followed, when unplanned lock down comes in to picture? We may need to relook at risk mitigation actions to tackle such scenarios. Recognizing the waste it generated during the lock-in, we can set in new path to business. How do you cut on the unwanted inventory, how to prevent accumulation of excess materials in process and how do we shorten the inventory of material which can go bad over time.... These all help in building processes which mitigate these risks and also, the whole process re-assures adoption of LEAN as a model to minimize these risks!!

Secondly, Managing quality at suppliers / vendors. How do you ensure, compliance to systems and processes at your supply partner? Especially, when rules are set "No Travel" or "No Visitors"!

Well, there are always solutions. Virtual audits are playing a key role, even though it can replace the physically witnessing the supplier's processes. In a risky situations like pandemic or others, virtual audits / Virtual gemba assessment evolved successfully for managing remotely. Well, when possible, some documents/information can be collected in advance to ensure virtual audits go successfully. Document every learning from these activities and make it part of your systems. Create infrastructure which can support such processes and builds skills of your team to do this efficiently and effectively. 

Apart from this, you can also plan additional risk mitigation actions  within your organization, like, may be increasing the checks / sampling on supplier lots where it is essential and critical.