Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) is an essential operational strategy organizations use to manage governance, enterprise risk, and regulatory compliance efforts. Developed by the Open Compliance and Ethics Group (OCEG) in 2002, GRC aims to achieve “Principled Performance” by aligning a company's activities with its business goals. It encompasses three core principles: … [Read more...] about What is GRC: A Guide to Leveraging GRC for Effective ESG Strategy
Book Review: FMEA Essentials: A Handbook for Beginners and Practitioners
"FMEA Essentials: A Handbook for Beginners and Practitioners" by Stephen Cole is a comprehensive and accessible guide that demystifies the complexities of Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA). Whether you are new to FMEA or a seasoned practitioner, this handbook provides a step-by-step approach to effectively understanding and implementing the FMEA process. Cole’s extensive … [Read more...] about Book Review: FMEA Essentials: A Handbook for Beginners and Practitioners
A Systematic Literature Review of Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA) Implementation in Industries
Failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) is a risk assessment tool developed in the 1960s by the aerospace industry. It is intended to identify and prevent potential failures in systems, processes, designs, or services before they reach the customer. It is extensively applied across various sectors, including automotive, aerospace, nuclear, and electronics. The primary … [Read more...] about A Systematic Literature Review of Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA) Implementation in Industries
ISO 9001 Clause 7.5.3. What are the Required Work Instructions?
The forum discussion revolves around the necessity and interpretation of Clause 7.5.3 regarding required work instructions (WIs) in quality management systems. A key point raised is that while Clause 7.5.3 discusses the need for documented information, Clause 7.5.1 provides flexibility. This clause states that the organization’s quality management system should include only the … [Read more...] about ISO 9001 Clause 7.5.3. What are the Required Work Instructions?
How to write work instructions
Clear, effective work instructions can significantly reduce workplace accidents and enhance operational efficiency. The guide emphasizes that well-written work instructions, or Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), can prevent costly errors and improve safety and productivity. It provides a detailed roadmap for crafting these instructions to ensure they are clear, accessible, … [Read more...] about How to write work instructions
The Guide to Better Work Instructions
Improving work instructions should focus on creating clear, accessible, and effective work instructions to enhance employee performance in modern manufacturing. Traditional methods, such as using Excel or PowerPoint, often fall short in supporting employee performance and meeting the industry's complex needs. This guide provides practical advice on capturing expert knowledge, … [Read more...] about The Guide to Better Work Instructions
Machine learning applications on IoT data in manufacturing operations and their interpretability implications
The integration of Internet-of-Things (IoT) data with machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) models has the potential to transform manufacturing operations by providing real-time insights and predictions. Industry 4.0, characterized by advanced technologies like IoT and AI, aims to enhance manufacturing efficiency and operational excellence. However, despite the abundance … [Read more...] about Machine learning applications on IoT data in manufacturing operations and their interpretability implications
The Meaning of Statistical Confidence
Statistical confidence refers to the probability that a statistical method correctly infers something about a population based on a sample. This concept is often misunderstood. Confidence is not a guarantee but a long-run probability that the technique will capture the proper population parameter if repeated many times. Typical confidence levels, such as 95%, imply a 5% risk of … [Read more...] about The Meaning of Statistical Confidence
Risk Management In Manufacturing Processes To Reduce The Total Cost Of Quality
The Pipes and Puddles framework aims to decentralize standards from a central authority to individual process owners, facilitating continuous improvement and reducing the total cost of quality. Traditional centralized standards create a burden of chore tasks that hinder improvement efforts. This new framework integrates Lean principles, the PDCA cycle, and risk analysis, … [Read more...] about Risk Management In Manufacturing Processes To Reduce The Total Cost Of Quality
Report: Adopting Digitization Within Supply Chains and Its Impact on Skills
The conflict between Russia and Ukraine and the COVID-19 pandemic have severely disrupted global supply chains, leading to shortages and economic challenges, particularly in Alberta's energy sector. This study explores the evolution of digital skills in Alberta's supply chains, examining the current state, enablers, barriers to digitization, and the emerging skills required for … [Read more...] about Report: Adopting Digitization Within Supply Chains and Its Impact on Skills
Impact of uncertainty ascribed to defective products on supply chains
Traditional inventory management primarily addresses the uncertainty of demand, but the uncertainty in the supply, mainly due to defective products, is equally crucial. Including defective products introduces variability in supply chains, affecting order quantities and leading to overstock or shortages. This paper formulates a supply chain model incorporating defective products … [Read more...] about Impact of uncertainty ascribed to defective products on supply chains
Quality Can Be The Turning Point In ESG Initiatives
ESG has become a prominent concern for businesses due to increasing demands from customers and investors for transparent ESG reporting. The European Union's Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) has made such reporting a legal obligation for large organizations, indicating a trend towards mandatory compliance similar to that seen with ISO 9001 certifications.The … [Read more...] about Quality Can Be The Turning Point In ESG Initiatives
What is SOC 2 Compliance Audit?
SOC 2 Compliance Audit is crucial in ensuring businesses protect vast client information in today’s interconnected digital world. SOC 2, for System and Organization Controls 2, is an auditing procedure developed by the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA). It provides a framework to assess an organization’s controls for security, availability, processing integrity, … [Read more...] about What is SOC 2 Compliance Audit?
An Audit Handbook for Segregation of Duties
Ineffective segregation of duties (SoD) in enterprise applications can lead to operational losses, financial misstatements, and fraud. The rapid addition of users to enterprise applications increases the risk of SoD violations, especially when default roles are not well-configured to prevent such violations. Business managers often struggle to obtain accurate security … [Read more...] about An Audit Handbook for Segregation of Duties
Organizations unready for AI pose increasing security risks
Implementing generative AI technologies in business presents significant cybersecurity risks often overshadowed by the enthusiasm to stay competitive. While generative AI offers benefits like enhanced productivity and improved performance in various sectors, the rapid adoption without adequate safety measures can expose companies to data breaches and malicious attacks. The hype … [Read more...] about Organizations unready for AI pose increasing security risks
Mastering Configuration Management Across the Modern Enterprise
Security Configuration Management (SCM) is an essential cybersecurity practice for ensuring systems are configured correctly to meet security and compliance standards. SCM helps reduce cyber risks by securing configurations, which involves detecting and remediating misconfigurations across both on-premises and cloud environments. Effective SCM minimizes an organization's attack … [Read more...] about Mastering Configuration Management Across the Modern Enterprise
4 use cases for AI in cyber security
Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly integrated into various facets of life, including cybersecurity. AI's ability to simulate human intelligence through pattern recognition, learning, and problem-solving makes it a powerful tool for enhancing product security. In cybersecurity, AI is employed to automate, analyze, and improve processes such as log analysis, threat … [Read more...] about 4 use cases for AI in cyber security
The Fundamentals of Cyber Risk Management
Effective cyber risk management is essential for regulatory compliance and minimizing the impact and frequency of cyber incidents. Many organizations are still not actively managing their cybersecurity postures, which involves continuous monitoring and adjustment rather than a "set and forget" approach.Cyber risk management uses business processes and technical controls to … [Read more...] about The Fundamentals of Cyber Risk Management
NIST cybersecurity framework 2.0 self-scoring tool
Expel's NIST CSF 2.0 self-scoring spreadsheet is designed to help organizations quickly assess their cybersecurity posture according to the latest NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) standards. As a leading Managed Detection and Response (MDR) provider, Expel offers this tool to simplify translating complex NIST CSF standards into actionable insights, including the recent 2.0 … [Read more...] about NIST cybersecurity framework 2.0 self-scoring tool
The NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) 2.0
The "NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) 2.0," published by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), provides a comprehensive guide for organizations to manage and mitigate cybersecurity risks. This framework is designed to be applicable across various industries, government sectors, and organizations of all sizes and maturity levels. It outlines a taxonomy of … [Read more...] about The NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) 2.0