Quality baseline assessment
What it does
Quality is not a discipline that makes itself visible. It usually becomes noticeable only when something goes wrong: through complaints, returns, supplier issues, or launches that take more out of the team than expected. By that point, the cost has already been incurred.
The Baseline Assessment surfaces what would otherwise only become visible through problems. It gives a clear, evidence-based picture of where the organization stands, where the risks are, and which improvements will have the most impact.
The assessment is not an audit against an external standard. It is a structured evaluation of whether current quality practice fits what the company aims to deliver—to its customers, its supply chain, and its own teams.
What gets assessed
The assessment covers seven* core domains. Together they form the quality foundation of a product brand.
- Quality leadership
- Product launch process
- Product development
- Supplier quality
- Quality control
- Non-conformance handling
- In-market quality
*For companies with in-house assembly or production, an additional domain “In-house production” covers process control, in-process inspection, operator capability, and production documentation. This domain is included when relevant to the company’s setup.
How it works
The assessment follows a structured rhythm: preparation, on-site work, and reporting. The exact duration depends on the size and complexity of the organization — typically completed within one to two weeks for smaller scale-ups, extending to several weeks for larger or more complex companies. A closing session follows to walk through the findings together.
What you receive
A professional report containing:
- An overall maturity profile with a radar chart across all assessed domains
- Findings per domain: observations, strengths, and areas for development
- Strategic priorities for what matters most
- A roadmap with three time horizons: immediate actions, strategic scaling, and long-term anchoring
Plus the closing session to walk through the report together.
For whom
The Quality Baseline Assessment is built for product brands that take quality seriously without fitting the standard playbook. Typically:
- Hardware, electronics, and consumer product companies
- Start-ups, scale-ups, and growing brands
- Operating outside heavily regulated industries
- Working with external manufacturing partners, in-house assembly, or a combination
- Companies preparing for growth, a major launch, or a new supplier transition—or simply looking for a clear-eyed view of where they stand
It is less suited for organizations with established quality departments, for software businesses without a physical product, or for companies looking for a quick fix without willingness to engage with structural development.
Investment and how to start
The Quality Baseline Assessment is shaped around the size and complexity of the organization. As a guideline:
- For smaller scale-ups, the work typically spans one to two weeks, with investment in the range of €3,500 to €6,500.
- For mid-sized organizations, the assessment extends to two to four weeks, with investment in the range of €7,500 to €15,000.
- For larger or more complex organizations, the scope expands accordingly, with investment shaped to the situation.
The exact scope and investment are determined during the first conversation, based on the company’s size, complexity, and specific questions.
Every engagement begins with a conversation to understand the situation, the question behind the question, and whether the Baseline Assessment is the right next step. No obligation to proceed.