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What is a SQDCM Board?
A SQDCM Board is a visual management tool widely used in manufacturing, that displays daily performance metrics for Safety (S), Quality (Q), Delivery (D), Cost (C), and Morale (M). These boards keep teams aligned by showing real-time KPIs, colour-coded status updates, and clear action points. SQDCM board serves as a central communication hub for teams, providing real-time visibility into performance targets and progress. The board typically includes colour-coded indicators to track accident rates, defect counts, on-time delivery, production costs, and employee satisfaction. This visual management board facilitates continuous improvement efforts by fostering transparency, accountability, and collaboration among team members, ultimately driving operational excellence and productivity.
How do manufacturers benefit from the SQDCM framework?
Manufacturers today must balance quality, cost, safety, and workforce engagement — all without slowing down. The SQDCM Visual Management Framework simplifies this by offering real-time visibility and structured improvement across critical performance areas. Here’s how it delivers tangible results:
Operational excellence
SQDCM board improves safety, quality, and delivery performance simultaneously to ensure seamless operations and meet customer demands efficiently.
Cost efficiency
By monitoring safety and quality metrics, SQDCM management reduces operational costs associated with defects, delays, and workplace incidents.
Employee engagement
SQDCM Visual Management Board boost morale by creating a safer work environment, reducing stress caused by defects or delays, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
Key metrics in the SQDCM framework
SQDCM tracks organisational safety metrics daily, giving teams a clear view of incidents, near misses, and compliance in one place. This helps prioritise risks, fix hazards quickly, and build a safer workplace for everyone.
- Track workplace safety incidents and near-miss events
- Monitor compliance with health and safety regulations
- Take corrective actions to reduce hazards
Example use case::
A manufacturing team notices a recurring near-miss on a packaging line flagged on the SQDCM board. They install a guardrail and update the board with the fix — preventing potential injuries and improving safety compliance.
Manufacturers can use digital SQDCM to analyse quality metrics to gain insights into product quality, process efficiency, and customer satisfaction. Tracking metrics like defect rates, customer complaints, and adherence to standards enhances the overall quality of processes.
- Measure defect rates, rework percentages, and customer complaints.
- Improve quality control processes with real-time visual data.
- Ensure compliance with industry quality standards.
Example use case::
After a spike in defect rates is flagged on the SQDCM board, a production team traces the issue to a misaligned assembly fixture. The board captures the root cause and follow-up actions, leading to a swift fix and fewer reworks.
Delivery metrics within a SQDCM system comprehensively evaluate a manufacturer's supply chain efficiency and reliability. These metrics encompass on-time delivery, lead time, and order fulfilment, offering insights into the timeliness and effectiveness of delivering products to customers.
- Track On-Time Deliveries (OTD) and lead times.
- Optimise warehouse and inventory management.
- Identify bottlenecks in the supply chain and resolve inefficiencies.
Example use case::
The SQDCM board reveals frequent delays in dispatch from the final inspection area. By visualising lead times daily, the team identifies a resource gap during peak hours and adjusts shift allocations — improving OTD by 12% in one month.
Cost is a key metric in the SQDCM dashboard used by organisations to align business activities with their vision and strategy. Cost as a metric in this perspective helps measure and manage the efficiency of business processes, control expenses, and optimise resource allocation. It allows organisations to ensure profitability and sustainability.
- Reduce waste and optimise resource utilisation.
- Monitor production costs, operational expenses, and budget adherence.
- Use cost insights to drive lean manufacturing initiatives.
Example use case::
The SQDCM board highlights rising scrap costs in one production cell. A root cause analysis reveals frequent changeover errors. Standard work instructions are revised, reducing scrap by 18% and saving thousands in monthly material costs.
Morale, as a metric in the digital SQDCM solution, reflects job satisfaction, teamwork, employee retention, and organisational culture. Declines in morale indicators can serve as early warning signs of potential organisational issues, such as leadership challenges, cultural issues, or inadequate support for employee development.
- Track employee satisfaction, retention rates, and productivity metrics.
- Align workforce training programs with business objectives.
- Foster a collaborative and motivated work environment.
Example use case::
The SQDCM board shows a drop in team feedback scores over several weeks. Managers use this insight to hold listening sessions, leading to the introduction of a skills development program — boosting engagement and lowering turnover risk.
Boosting Performance with SQDCM Boards
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improvement in safety
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reduction in delivery lead times
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increase in employee morale
Hear it from our customers
MARC ROBINSON
Director, Global Operational Excellence
“By providing a central location to input, analyse and share our KPIs, 'Data Point' enables site management to more easily focus on the entire business as a team. Its ability to allow automated data entry and trend analysis gives us more time for improvement rather than just reporting numbers. Combined with a disciplined approach within our SQDC meeting process, I believe 'Data Point' will help us continually focus on key issues and drive business excellence in all areas.”
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How to use a SQDCM board?
- Monitor daily metrics for Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, and Morale
- Use green/red indicators to show performance
- Discuss issues as a team and take action
- Drive continuous improvement through regular updates