This is part two of a two-part series produced by Adam Blomerley in collaboration with Ataccama ahead of an upcoming webinar. Listen to Adam recount the early years of QR_, and its subsequent global expansion on the Climb in Consulting podcast.
Why a practical, collaborative approach to data quality transforms manufacturing
In part one, we uncove red the financial and operational impact of hidden data waste in engineering. Now, let’s move from “why it matters” to “how leaders win”—with proven frameworks, bold leadership, and the right technology. Here’s how you can stop digital waste, reclaim margin, and fuel real innovation, powered by a strong partnership between Quick Release_ and Ataccama.
First time right: the framework for engineering data you can trust
Tackling data quality doesn’t have to be overwhelming. In fact, the most successful organizations use a few simple, powerful steps:
Standard language: Use ISO 8000 as a foundation—everyone should speak the same data quality language, from engineers to executives.
Ownership: Appoint a dedicated Data Governance Council, ideally led by the Chief Engineer. Empower data stewards in every domain, giving each a personal data quality score.
Process gates: Make data quality a non-negotiable. If KPIs fall short, halt signoff—just like you would for a safety issue.
Technology enablers: Platforms like Ataccama ONE and Quick Release_’s expertise bring real-time, rule-based data profiling to every record, so issues are caught at the source, not downstream.
This approach is already delivering massive results for world-class OEMs and manufacturers.
The program director’s playbook: leading with confidence
Here’s how your team can bring engineering data quality into the heart of every program:
1. Declare the aim: Commit to zero-defect data, first time right.
2. Visualize performance: Put a Data Quality Scorecard right alongside your cost, schedule, and risk dashboards.
3. Dedicate data stewards: Make individuals genuinely accountable for data quality—no more rotating responsibility.
4. Root cause like a defect: Use proven problem-solving methods like 5 Whys and A3s to contain, eradicate, and verify.
5. Shorten feedback loops: Enable automated alerts so stewards can act on data issues in minutes, not days.
Early wins here can be dramatic—duplicate parts disappear, inventories deflate, and costly purchase orders are avoided.
Governance that sticks (and doesn’t feel like extra work)
Good governance is about embedding simple, visible KPIs into existing processes. When data stewards have the authority to halt releases or triage issues—just like quality managers can stop the line—everyone takes notice. Celebrate your team’s wins. Achieving 99% BOM completeness? That deserves more than another PowerPoint slide.
Case studies: real value, real savings
Quick Release_ and Ataccama have seen this transformation firsthand:
A global automotive OEM validated every BOM line before each prototype build, slashing material spend by 20%—saving $21 million in a single program.
Astec’s Roadtec division scrubbed their BOM, deleting over a thousand unnecessary parts and reducing manufacturing costs by 21.4%.
Another manufacturer traced a $100,000 inventory write-down to BOM errors—solved by targeted data quality efforts.
With Ataccama ONE, you can automate quality checks, streamline data governance, and ensure audit readiness—all while freeing your engineering teams for higher-value, innovative work.
Overcoming common objections
Worried your PLM is legacy? Data rules sit above the system—Ataccama and Quick Release_ help you profile, clean, and govern data from any source, new or old. Concerned your teams are overloaded? Eliminating the hidden factory is what frees up time. Think savings are “soft”? Ask the plant manager how it feels to stop a launch because of bad data.
Leadership behaviors that build lasting data culture
Real change happens when leaders:
1. Put data quality KPIs next to cost and schedule at every review.
2. Celebrate zero-defect data achievements as enthusiastically as zero-defect builds.
3. Allocate about 5% of engineering resources to stewardship and data analysis—so insights scale with complexity.
The result? Engineers have time to innovate, operators trust the instructions on screen, and program directors sleep easier before launch.
A cultural payoff: innovation, trust, and peace of mind
When trusted data becomes the norm, everything gets easier. Teams stop chasing errors, and start building the future. Quick Release_ and Ataccama are passionate about helping organizations like yours move from spreadsheet firefighting to data-driven storytelling—where every metric means something, and every win is celebrated.
Ready to see your true numbers?
If you want to build a culture of data trust, operational excellence, and future-ready innovation, now’s the time to act.
Join us for the virtual manufacturing roundtable with Quick Release_ and Ataccama on September 25th.
Let’s explore how trusted data fuels confident decisions, compliance, and business growth—together. Secure your spot today!