Survey Reveals 55% of Automotive Manufacturers Still Rely on Spreadsheets for Quality Management

FAIRFAX, Va. – May 6, 2021 – InfinityQS® International, Inc. (InfinityQS), the global authority on data-driven enterprise quality solutions, announced the results of its latest manufacturing industry survey, which revealed that 55 percent of manufacturers in the automotive sector are still reliant on manual, outdated processes for critical quality management tasks.

A poll of 215 tier one and tier two automotive suppliers found that 55 percent are still conducting capability studies in Excel to satisfy the statistical process control (SPC) requirements of IATF 16949:2016, a technical specification for automotive sector Quality Management Systems. According to the research, less than a third (30 percent) are using real-time SPC software, with 12 percent running SPC software checks manually, either every week, month, or quarter.

Jason Chester, Director of Global Channel Programs, InfinityQS, commented, “For many years, the manufacturing sector has been steadily improving its level of digital maturity by moving away from outdated manual processes and legacy technologies. COVID-19 has significantly accelerated this pace of transformation, with many turning to cloud-based SPC tools as a cost-effective solution for staff to monitor the production line in real-time from the safety of their homes, or any location with an internet connection.”

InfinityQS works closely with many of the most capable partners in the world who support and drive forward their manufacturing clients’ digital transformation objectives. In response to the pandemic, demand for the company’s cloud-based SPC solutions has increased dramatically, as end-users seek new ways to maintain business performance and continuity, as well as ensuring staff can work safely while adhering to government guidelines on social distancing.

In response to the survey findings, Jason stated, “It is surprising that despite the recent widespread adoption of Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solutions across the manufacturing sector, such a high number of automotive manufacturers from tier one and two suppliers are still using an inefficient method of manually inputting SPC data into Excel spreadsheets for capability studies. While it is good to see around 30 percent of respondents actively deploying real-time SaaS solutions to satisfy the SPC requirements of IATF 16949:2016, as this is the most effective and efficient approach, it does show that the industry at large still has a long way to go. We also expect that the 12 percent who are still reliant on manually deploying SPC software will soon migrate to the cloud as a way to overcome the many logistical and economic challenges currently impacting this sector.”

Jason concluded, “Cloud-based SPC tools have become a key component of the modern manufacturer’s digital ecosystem as they can help to drive down costs, increase agility, and enhance competitive edge. Without the right technologies in place, manufacturers are missing out on the full benefits of digital transformation and those in the automotive sector should be looking to invest in real-time SPC solutions as a priority, to future-proof their operations and ensure they are as resilient and efficient as possible.”

About InfinityQS International, Inc.
For over 30 years, InfinityQS has been the leading global provider of Manufacturing Quality Intelligence software and services. Powered by a robust Statistical Process Control (SPC) analytics engine, the company’s solutions—Enact® and ProFicient™—deliver unparalleled visibility and strategic insight across the enterprise, from the shop floor to the boardroom. This extensive deep-dive capability enables manufacturers to improve product quality; decrease cost and risk; improve compliance; and make strategic, data-driven business decisions. Headquartered near Washington, D.C. and with offices in Seattle, London, Beijing, and Delhi, InfinityQS has thousands of customers around the world, including Ball Corporation, Boston Scientific, Graham Packaging, and Medtronic. For more information, visit www.infinityqs.com.