In an increasingly competitive global economy, India's manufacturers may find it more challenging than ever to manage quality improvement initiatives especially with ever-changing risks, and customers who are more informed and more demanding than ever. However, a new study provides a path that Indian manufacturers and service organisations can take to improve their performance and aim for world-class status.

According to a new Global State of Quality 2 Research: Discoveries 2016 report and compared to a similar study in 2013 that examined quality improvements in manufacturers worldwide, fewer organisations in 2016 view quality as simply a compliance activity. Both the 2016 and 2013 studies were conducted by ASQ. This research surveyed nearly 1,700 companies from 20 countries including India.

The latest data shows that more manufacturers now see quality as an opportunity to gain a competitive edge vs. just a ‘check in the box' compliance activity. In fact, the research shows 45 percent of all Indian organisations who responded say their company views quality as a strategic asset.

The ASQ research also finds that manufacturers who are identified as ‘world-class' have the strongest end-to-end quality practices: with visibility into investment, cost and resulting performance. They also view their suppliers as a source of strategic value. World-class manufacturers instill quality as part of their culture and use its practices to directly increase profitability through five major drivers:

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