Reducing the cost of quality through test data management

One of the best ways to improve the productivity of a manufacturing operation is through a systematic approach to quality management. This approach emphasizes fault prevention rather than fault detection. By shifting to a prevention-oriented view of quality management, the costs associated with providing a quality product are reduced. This paper evaluates the factors that influence the cost of quality, identifies the major areas that provide the leverage of improvement, and illustrates how better management of test data translates into measurable improvement in process quality, resulting in lower cost-of-goods-sold.