Although quality has a strong impact on costs and customer satisfaction, many companies continue to struggle with basics such as data collection, disparate systems maintenance and the enforcement of standard operating procedures (SOPs).

Top level manufacturing quality doesn't just happen. Instead, it's the result of a company's attention to detail in key areas such as data collection, systems maintenance and SOPs. And as quality rises, those companies are poised for leaner, more efficient operations.

Those are the findings of a report entitled "The Product Quality Benchmark Report: Achieving Quality across the Global Manufacturing Network," from Aberdeen Group.

While many companies establish SOPs, only the most dedicated to quality manufacturing enforce those protocols in the workforce, says Jane Biddle, report author and vice president of global manufacturing research for Aberdeen.

Of those companies interviewed, "almost all cited customer satisfaction and quality as important KPIs (key performance indicators)," she says. "But the way people measure quality differs by industry, by operation… there are several factors."

Fortunately, Biddle mentions, most companies are approaching quality control head on. "People are really on top of the problem," she notes. "Companies are now equipped to drill down into the heart of the issue."

Biddle has found that "leading manufacturers are overcoming challenges by incorporating metrics, implementing corporate education programs, and embedding corrective action programs into daily processes."

Some companies responded to the study saying that installing quality control protocols or purchasing software quality solutions is cost-prohibitive.

"You have to ask yourself: How much does it cost my operation in terms of waste, development and manufacturing to produce low quality?" Biddle says of the naysayer.

Not all companies are pinching pennies when it comes to quality, she notes. According to the report, 24% of those surveyed said they are scheduled to invest in business intelligence solutions in the next 12 months and 25% said they would purchase quality data warehousing software systems in the following year.

"And, 77% have quality and compliance solutions already in place," adds Biddle.