Evaluation of selected instruments, concepts, techniques, methods, tools and principles of quality management in the context of their use in the conditions of Industry 4.0

Purpose: The purpose of the publication is to evaluate the effectiveness of selected instruments, concepts, methods, techniques, tools and principles of quality management in the context of their use in the conditions of Industry 4.0, based on the opinions of experts representing the scientific and industrial community. Design/methodology/approach: The research used quantitative expert analysis. Thirty-three experts participated, of which 26 were selected for the final analysis (13 representing industry and 13 the scientific community). The selection of experts was based on a competence factor, taking into account self-assessment of familiarity with the subject matter and the quality of argumentation. Forty-two quality management tools and methods were evaluated using descriptive statistics and Spearman rank correlation analysis. Findings: The results of the survey indicate that industrial practitioners and researchers differ in their preferences for the tools they use - the former focus on practical and implementation solutions, while the latter focus on analytical and conceptual tools. Despite these differences, a number of tools highly rated by both groups were also identified. Spearman correlation analysis revealed strong relationships between some methods (e.g., Scatter Diagram and Workflow, QFD and Gantt chart), suggesting the possibility of their complementary use. The results confirm the need to integrate quality management tools in an Industry 4.0 environment. Research limitations/implications: The selection of experts, based on recommendations and self-assessment, carries a risk of subjectivity despite objective criteria. The analysis covered only 42 tools, not fully reflecting the diversity of quality management methods. The absence of strong correlations may stem from the adopted methodology and the complexity of the studied relationships. Future research should involve a broader, more diverse sample, consider industry specifics, and analyze a wider range of tools. Originality/value: The publication provides a detailed analysis of the evaluation of the effectiveness of quality management tools under the conditions of Industry 4.0 and indicates the relationship between them. The results of the study can provide a basis for building integrated quality management systems adapted to the challenges of digital transformation. Keywords: quality management, Industry 4.0, expert analysis, quality tools, Spearman rank correlation, digitization, innovation implementation. Category of the paper: Research paper.