In 1986, the NASA Shuttle Challenger exploded just minutes after take-off, killing all seven astronauts on board. An investigation found the failure of a solid rocket booster O-ring caused the explosion of the shuttle as it was leaving the Earth’s atmosphere. However, a breakdown in quality assurance and quality management was also cited as a factor in the doomed mission. Despite concerns from engineers regarding the O-ring’s performance in cold weather (it was unusually cold the day of the launch), NASA officials still ratified the launch, thus sealing the fates of the astronauts on board.

Toyota, Exxon, Apple, BP — each of these companies have been victims of poor quality management. A breakdown in quality management not only leaves a company vulnerable to liability and lost customers, but it can also have deadly consequences. In the case of BP, an explosion at its Deepwater Horizon rig in 2010 killed 11 workers and caused a catastrophic oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The overarching cause of the explosion was a quality management failure. The explosion and consequential oil spill remains one of the worst man-made environmental disasters in U.S. history.

These cases are extreme, but they highlight the importance of having an effective quality management plan for your business. Whether you are operating a Fortune 500 company or opening a franchise, quality management is an essential part of owning a business. Here are four reasons why you need quality management:

1. Ensure that your business, products, and services align with your goals and vision.
2. Set benchmarks to meet product expectations and requirements of your customers.
3. Attract and retain the confidence of customers and other stakeholders (i.e. vendors, investors).
4. Establish a checks and balance system to keep your employees safe at the workplace.

Quality management is more than a process — it’s a culture. As a business owner, it is important for you to reiterate the magnitude of quality management to your employees. If you are just starting your business, you should focus on four key areas when creating your quality management strategy:

• Quality planning
• Quality assurance
• Quality control
• Quality improvement

Audits, assessments, and inspections are all part of quality assurance. But how can you efficiently track all of this information? Spreadsheets and paper are options, but in reality these documents can get lost and it’s difficult and time-consuming to gather actionable data manually.

The good news is that there are existing digital tools that can help you create a thorough and successful quality management plan. Software such as RizePoint can help protect your company from issues related to quality management and safety by providing real-time information. When you create a plan, the software will use it as a guide to immediately alert you to obstacles or problems so you can act quickly. This process not only protects your company, but it also strengthens and protects your brand — the very heart and soul of your company.