IBM Proprinter Case Study - Quality Assurance

Standard testing cycles at IBM consisted of four sequential test cycles that took years to complete. Furthermore, certain lengthy tests had to be successfully executed before any manufacturing could begin. This process was clearly in conflict with concurrent engineering guidelines and the Proprinter team's time to market requirements.

The Proprinter team worked with an independent team from product assurance who concentrated on quality. Together they compressed the testing cycles so that they overlapped and didn't hold up manufacturing. Vendors were required to send process variables via modem to the assembly plant before shipments of parts could be made. This allowed IBM to monitor the production process of parts and eliminated the need to inspect parts upon arrival which minimized part inventories.e All of these efforts were done in order to meet the time to market goals of the Proprinter team.

The concept of built-in quality


The concept of built-in quality

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Last Updated: October 26, 1998, NEEDS Staff
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