It’s rare that managers, or even most quality auditors, discuss how closely tied the findings of manufacturing audits are to the long-term ability of their companies to compete in this highly competitive market.
Occasionally someone will publish a detailed study of audit effectiveness. A few of the more enlightened studies discuss how effective quality audits deliver a set of competitive priorities and strengths for companies. Some companies have made the commitment to engrain manufacturing process workflows beyond the factory floor to engineering, service, management and even to sales and marketing.