Managing quality by design for sustainable performance in the process industry

This research is intended to examine the adoption of the Quality by Design (QbD) approach within a process industry setting, thereby leading to sustainable performance. Specifically, the purpose of this study is to explore the systematic integration of QbD principles into the design and control of distillation column controllers to improve product quality, operating efficiency, and sustainability. The study analyzes process variables and develops a robust system by leveraging statistical methods, quality management tools, and chemical and control engineering expertise. It is found that effective deployment of QbD methodology in process engineering requires a robust and systematic approach. Additionally, we determined that Quality Target Product Profile (QTPP) and Critical Quality Attributes (CQA) are important components for effective deployment and sustainment of QbD to achieve Sustainable Development Goals for the industries. Moreover, it is observed that including noise and control parameters is essential during the project’s design phase. This study offers a systematic approach to implementing QM in industrial process design. The study highlights the potential of QbD in control engineering to enhance industrial processes and contribute to sustainability.