The future of quality: CQI’s recent survey reveals key insights

The CQI’s recent ‘pulse’ survey, aimed at seeking member views on factors affecting the future of the profession and the value it can deliver, shows that auditing and quality professionals are committed to helping businesses deliver their environmental, social and governance (ESG) goals.

Over 500 members who are working in quality management and audit in the UK and Japan took part in the survey that will help inform the CQI’s future research programme.

According to the survey, 86% of members agree that quality and auditing professionals can help their business to deliver ESG goals.

The survey also revealed that 75% of members agree that, unless quality management professionals understand and acquire new knowledge, skills and behaviours, the effects of digital transformation on the way businesses are run could threaten the future existence of the profession.

Only 38% of the organisations with or in which our respondents worked had a strategy for evaluating their awareness of ESG factors.

Despite this view from the profession, organisations seem to be lagging in their development of strategic plans for how quality should be better managed in an increasingly digital age.

Our survey found that only 23% of the organisations with or in which our respondents worked had a strategy for how quality management will change with increased digital enablement (termed Quality 4.0).

Further, only 38% of the organisations with or in which our respondents worked had a strategy for evaluating their awareness of ESG factors.

Given this, the CQI’s research programme of 2020-2023 is focused on identifying how quality professionals can contribute to the development of strategies for digital transformation and ESG.