LEXINGTON, MA-IBS, provider of enterprise quality and compliance solutions, announces that manufacturers using its enterprise quality management (EQM) solutions have earned a Best in Class categorization in a ranking by the Aberdeen Group (Boston, MA), provider of research focused on the global technology-driven value chain. The customers were surveyed for a benchmark report, The Cost of Quality Matters: Benchmarking Enterprise Quality Management, published August 2007. The Aberdeen study polled more than 300 manufacturers worldwide representing a range of industries including life science, automotive, high-tech and consumer packaged goods.

Manufacturing executives have traditionally viewed quality assurance as a drain on a company’s time and resources, necessary only to avoid legal liability. The Aberdeen benchmark report showcases the operational performance benefits of adopting enterprise quality management strategies and technologies.

“Manufacturers are focusing on quality management initiatives as a source of competitive advantage,” says Matthew Littlefield, manufacturing research analyst, Aberdeen Group. “Companies who achieve Best in Class performance are gaining control of production processes to increase yields and ultimately improve finished product quality while reducing the cost of quality.”

The manufacturers that ranked Best in Class in the report consistently measured the cost of quality, automated quality processes and used an enterprise-wide quality management system. They also focused on creating real-time interoperability with plant floor automation, manufacturing execution systems and supply chain management.

Aberdeen Group found that IBS customers received high scores in a number of key performance indicators. It was found that IBS customers have a commitment to building compliance into manufacturing processes, automating the collection of quality data and using quality data as actionable intelligence to drive continuous improvement. Customers who performed these activities earned Best in Class rankings by eliminating product defects and achieving higher yields.

“Quality assurance is a critical business asset for manufacturers,” says Matthias Grossmann, CEO, IBS America. “This research from Aberdeen affirms that IBS not only provides the software solutions to streamline quality management processes and foster compliance with regulations, but also helps companies to achieve broader business goals."