What is SAP Quality Management (QM)?

Due to the growing competitive pressure and the constant development of the used technologies, the quality requirements of a company are continuously increasing. The growing customer expectations are also leading companies to aim for a continuous improvement of their processes, whether in the hardware or in the software.

In order for a company to remain competitive in the market, the quality of its products and services must both reach a consistently high level and be continuously and systematically promoted in all operational phases and processes. At this point, the use of Quality Management Software is recommended, providing the necessary functions to ensure quality throughout the entire life cycle. This type of software assists effectively in enhancing and controlling quality and can be integrated with the company's entire management processes.

What is the SAP (QM) Quality Management Module?

Explained briefly, SAP Quality Management (QM) has been developed as a feature of SAP ERP Central Component (ECC), the main ERP product from SAP. Quality Management is designed to support companies in the process of implementing and executing quality control processes. So, for what specifically was this module developed? This module is created to facilitate continuous process improvement, prevent product manufacturing errors and implement sustainable quality control programs. Predictable benefits for companies include compliance with manufacturing quality requirements and standards, decreased operating costs, and improved customer and employee satisfaction.

Functions and Tools of SAP (QM) Quality Management Module

The SAP QM Module is used as a tool in quality planning, quality control (inspection), quality assurance, and quality control as well as a support tool for the implementation and execution of these and other processes.

In SAP QM, the important quality assurance methods can be defined as, example, inspection methods, inspection characteristics, and sampling procedures. The software functions as a fully-fledged quality information system and provides the features for results recording, defects recording, sample management, and test equipment management.

Several tools for many related actions, which can be configured for the company's specific processes, make up SAP QM. Each of these tools includes functions that are specific to that activity.

In the following we will describe the various SAP QM tools and functions in detail:

• Quality Planning (QM-PT): Creation and administration of quality inspection plans. Among other aspects, this determines which goods are to be inspected, how the inspections are to be carried out, the characteristics of the goods to be inspected and the type of equipment to be used to carry out the inspections.
• Quality Inspection (QM-IM): Using the inspection specifications defined in the quality planning, the quality requirements are measured and the associated results of the inspection of the product are documented.
• Quality Certificates (QM-CA): Certification that the goods meet the required quality requirements. In this context, customers can have neutral and also different specific criteria for the quality of their goods, and quality certificates take this into account.
• Quality notifications (QM-QN): Capturing challenges and problems that occur primarily when goods are received from a supplier, or secondly when the goods are in production, or thirdly when they are reported by customers.
• Quality Control (QM-QC-AQC): Managing the quality control process in a controlled way. Thus, for instance, one can use test results to update the quality situation, control charts to control characteristic values and vendor validations for the purchasing procedure.
• Test Equipment Management (QM-IT): Managing information about the test equipment used in the quality tests. Here, the data for each piece of test equipment can be maintained and ensured so that a constant calibration can be continued.

Benefits and Advantages of the SAP (QM) Quality Management Module

SAP Quality Management brings out valuable advantages and benefits during its use. In the following, we will list a selection of the most important benefits for your company that can be achieved by using the SAP QM module on a regular basis.

The most efficient and valuable benefits of the SAP QM module:

• Higher customer satisfaction through improved product quality
• Full integration in procurement and production provides continuous quality assurance
• Certificates of quality as part of the product documentation, confirming the quality of the products manufactured and technologies used
• Monitoring of supplier and customer returns by implementing quality control measures in SAP QM quality notifications
• Quality certificate automation, printed at the time of delivery to the customer
• Audit-Management
• Next to the permanent process monitoring, constant, flexible, and adaptable quality assurance processes are created
• With failure analysis, risk minimization, stability studies, can help reduce failures and delays
• Activation of required corrective actions by SAP QM system's automatic quality notifications
• Total control of all business processes due to smooth integration of quality management methods and measures (SAP QM) into all other business areas and processes including R&D, HR, production and logistics, sales and marketing, finance and controlling, and others
• Providing support for the company's ongoing and continuous quality assurance by integrating the quality methods of individual areas and departments into an overall corporate QM system.

SAP QM Module gives you a competitive edge

Quality contributes greatly to the competitiveness of a company and is also becoming a key factor as the market continues to grow and customers make their purchasing choices as conscious consumers, along with the price-performance ratio.

As part of Product Lifecycle Management (PLM), SAP QM builds a company-wide quality information system for long-term quality control and quality assurance. Moreover, SAP QM is an integral part of the entire SAP ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) system. It is used in companies across a range of sectors and industries.  Thanks to smooth integration with and into other SAP components, the module supports and guarantees companies in their efforts to ensure quality at all levels of the supply chain and in all phases of the PLM cycle. Also, SAP QM is an important tool for audits, as it is used for corporate standardization and quality assurance. The SAP QM module contributes to company standardization and certification in keeping with recognized standards of international quality.

The significance of quality management and therefore the use of professionally managed SAP QM modules is becoming increasingly important for the competitiveness of a company. By using SAP Quality Management Software adapted to your company and with the support of specialized Quality Managers, you can increase your business value without any hurdles.