// ROBOTICS AND SMART FACTORIES TERM
Control Plan
A document that outlines the methods used to control manufacturing processes and product quality, ensuring consistent output.
TECHNICAL DEFINITION
A Control Plan is a structured document within manufacturing quality management, detailing process control methods, measurement techniques, and reaction plans for process variation to ensure product conformity and prevent defects.
BACKGROUND
The Fourth Industrial Revolution, also known as 4IR, Industry 4.0 or the Intelligence Age, is a neologism describing rapid technological advancement in the 21st century. It follows the Third Industrial Revolution. The term was popularized in 2016 by Klaus Schwab, the World Economic Forum founder and former executive chairman, who asserts that these developments represent a significant shift in industrial capitalism.
READ MORE ON WIKIPEDIASYNONYMS & ALIASES
- Process Control Plan
- Quality Control Plan
- Manufacturing Control Plan
USAGE NOTE
It's a living document updated throughout a product's lifecycle to maintain quality.
DEVELOPERS
Organizations developing technology related to Control Plan.
Develops the Opcenter Quality software, a comprehensive Quality Management System (QMS) that is part of their Xcelerator portfolio. It enables manufacturers to create, manage, and execute control plans by linking them directly to FMEAs and production processes, supporting a closed-loop quality approach.
Offers the Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform, a cloud-based ERP/MES solution with an integrated Quality Management System. The platform facilitates the creation and enforcement of digital control plans, linking quality specifications directly to shop-floor operations and collecting real-time SPC data.
Provides the DELMIA portfolio on its 3DEXPERIENCE platform for manufacturing operations management. It enables the digital definition and execution of quality processes, including control plans, by connecting design, engineering, and shop-floor data to ensure product conformity.
Develops Q-DAS, a leading software suite for Statistical Process Control (SPC) and data analysis. Q-DAS directly supports the execution of control plans by collecting measurement data from various sources, performing statistical analysis, and providing real-time feedback to control manufacturing processes.
Specializes in real-time Statistical Process Control (SPC) and quality intelligence software, such as their Enact platform. Their technology is used to execute control plans on the shop floor by automating data collection, monitoring processes against specifications, and providing instant notifications for deviations.
Provides the ETQ Reliance Quality Management System, a highly adaptable QMS platform. It includes dedicated modules for Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP), allowing companies to centrally create, manage, and version control their FMEAs and Control Plans, linking them to other quality processes like CAPA and document control.
Develops the ThingWorx Industrial IoT platform, which allows manufacturers to connect disparate systems and machinery. This enables the creation of dynamic control plans where real-time operational data can be used to monitor process control parameters, trigger alerts, and provide insights for continuous improvement.