Can a Quality Manager also be a Research and Development Manager?

[Ettore]

Do you think that it is corrected to give the responsibility of research and development to the responsible person of the quality service argue: )

 

[RoxaneB]

Do you think that it is corrected to give the responsibility of research and development to the responsible person of the quality service argue: )

I take this is a debate being held at your organization? In this day and age of lean manufacturing, many of us wear many different hats. Without knowing much about your organization, Cavanna, I don't see a problem with the head of R&D also being the head of Quality.

The only time I see a potential conflict is when the head of Quality reports to the head of Production. Those two often have conflicting priorities....one is to get product out the door and the other is to make good product.

Perhaps you could share with us a summary of the responsibilties that R&D and Quality have? Do you see a possible problem?

 

[dokes]

It is frequently the case that R&D and quality are under the responsibility of the same person in the following situation: 1. The organization is not large enough to require two people for both roles, and 2. The core science/technology of the product is a major factor in quality (e.g., such as with metallurgy or ceramics), and the person holding both roles is an expert in that technology.

 

[Ettore]

I take this is a debate being held at your organization? In this day and age of lean manufacturing, many of us wear many different hats. Without knowing much about your organization, Cavanna, I don't see a problem with the head of R&D also being the head of Quality.

The only time I see a potential conflict is when the head of Quality reports to the head of Production. Those two often have conflicting priorities....one is to get product out the door and the other is to make good product.

Perhaps you could share with us a summary of the responsibilties that R&D and Quality have? Do you see a possible problem?

It is just a point of view. May be wrong, but everywhere i have been when there was a similar situation the Q.a.m spent only few day before the Audit of third part for quality system activity and the rest of the day for r. & d.. By Cavanna (Excuse me for my English)

 

[Arvind]

Juran's definition of Quality includes product development

Juran's quality handbook mentions three significant phases of Quality. First Quality planning which includes new product develpment.
Second phase is Quality control which signifies maintaining status quo and avoiding special causes for defects and
Third phase of Quality improvement which differentiates market leader from others due to higher rate of improvement resulting in bigger market share.
Arvind

 

[howste]

Last year one of the companies I helped with ISO 9001 registration had a similar situation. In that company the quality manager reported directly to the R&D manager.

There was really no conflict of interest. If you look at what they were both trying to accomplish, their basic goal was to determine what customers wanted and make sure that's what they got.

 

[Jim Howe]

Having been deeply involved with both sides of the issue I believe that the two positions are best served seperately. Although it is true that new product development is intimately involved with Quality from the initial quality planning stage through design verification and validation there is an almost overwhealming amount of issues such as design, regulatory, safety and environmental that I don't believe one person can do it justice and still perform adequately as QA manager.

Four years ago my employer did have both functions under the same person. Both functions suffered to the point that a year later a New Product Development manager was declared and the two functions were seperated. As a result the company has forged ahead with 4 new products (one already successfully marketed and recognized as an industry leader), another on the verged of being marketed with the other two still in the verififcation phase. meanwhile a comprehensive Quality Management System has been developed and implemented by another person. I call that success! so I will vote no in the poll!

 

[Ettore]

I'm happy for the decision of your employer.

 

[Govind]

If you can find the right candidate

Do you think that it is corrected to give the responsibility of research and development to the responsible person of the quality service argue: )

Cavana,
Reminds me one of my previous job back home. We had collaboration for a product with an Italian company. At the time, I was recruited for a position called “Senior Engineer-Quality & R &D”. I thought it was new idea at that time. Now it makes sense.
Is this common in Italy to combine these two functions?

Here are my thoughts as to R &D Manager taking Quality Responsibility. I would prefer a Supporting process function joining the core process rather vice versa.
In my opinion, there is no conflict of interest. However, it will be difficult find a person of this combination- R & D experience coupled with strength in Quality Engineering & Management. Traditionally these two are two different breeds of people who happen to think differently.
R & D breed want to rapidly accelerate the project in a short period and get a functioning product out of door so that they can concentrate on the next advancement. Quality breed wants to systematically design the product for Quality, higher reliability and low lifecycle costs.
If a person can be found with the this combination of Solid R & D experience coupled with strength in Quality Engineering & Management, why not, assign both functions? This will help the organization to implements concepts like QFD, DFx, DFMEA right at the product development.
The Quality function typically has to hard sell these concepts to R & D folks. This joint responsibility will make it easier for implementation and obtain better product at low lifecycle cost.
Regards,
Govind.

 

[Ettore]

Please can somebody else vote for it? thank a lot.