FOREP 2017: Quality management between requirements and effectiveness
The Forum Excellence et Performance (FOREP 2017) took place in Yverdon-les-Bains on 2 November. Every year, quality specialists from French-speaking Switzerland meet at this event for a professional exchange. Speeches and workshops offered quite a few inputs for the further development of quality management in the digital age.
Thanks to Pierre Maudet, member of the Geneva government and almost Federal Councillor, the FOREP 2017 conference featured a prominent guest. In his speech, he explored the question of what public administration - i.e. politics - could contribute to the innovative capacity of companies. His presentation gave rise to a lively discussion with the audience. Pierre Maudet also commented on new developments such as blockchain technology, which is also likely to change public administration. He was basically positive about this, but admitted that it was now up to the state to do its extensive homework.
Quality assurance and more
Further presentations before the first break dealt with topics such as the analysis of stakeholders in connection with management systems. According to the first speaker, HES-SO and EPFL lecturer Paolo Barrachini, it is precisely these stakeholders who are the driving force behind a corporate strategy. Six Sigma specialist Bernard Murry from Paris appealed to the practice of continuous improvement and reminded the audience that quality should not only depend on controls.
The next round of presentations dealt with other concrete topics in the field of quality assurance. Damien Chardaire from Sonceboz SA, for example, explained how his company ensures a zero-defect rate for automotive components. Jean-Michel Pou of Deltamu discussed the advantages of "Smart Metrology" and Katia Gutknecht approached the subject of quality assurance from the purchasing side: The quality offered to customers is always dependent on the quality purchased from suppliers. That is why value must always be placed on optimal purchasing processes. Finally, Nathalie Wardé postulated improvements in the traceability of medicines in order to achieve greater safety for patients on the one hand, but also to reduce the costly recalls of pharmaceutical products on the other.
Also a topic at FOREP 2017: Big Data
The power of data was the topic of the joint presentation by Fabrice Jeanningros and Abraham Carama (both from Maison Cartier Horlogerie). Big Data offers the opportunity to bring "more intelligence" to quality assurance, according to one of the speakers. And in connection with the topic of continuous improvement, Myriam Bertrand explored the question of how not to overburden employees in the process. Because often enough a CIP is not carried out equally consistently at all levels. This ultimately creates doubts about the suitability of the instruments and the resulting uncertainty. That is why all improvement processes require continuous support and leadership.
A panel discussion on the conference topic "Quality management between requirement and efficiency" formed the conclusion of the event. In parallel to the above-mentioned presentations, visitors had the opportunity to attend various practice-oriented workshops, for example on the analysis of value chains, leadership or digital QMS. A small exhibition also provided information about specific products and services in the broad field of quality assurance. The conference was organised and held jointly by the SAQ and its French-speaking Swiss sections, the SQS, ARIAQ and other partners. All in all, the approximately 250 participants were offered a highly professional event with many networking opportunities.
