In the current artificial intelligence (AI) boom, the manufacturing industry is actively harnessing the power of AI to enhance its operations and processes. Manufacturing is crucial in the global economy, contributing to about 11% of America's GDP. Recognizing the potential of AI, manufacturing leaders are exploring ways to achieve significant productivity gains and cost … [Read more...] about 4 Ways Manufacturers Can Drive Business Efficiency With AI
Knowing Your Machine Will Break, and What to Do About it
How many machines do you have on your plant floor past their service life? Often, we specify equipment for a 7- or 10-year usage period but continue to use it long after that has passed. In fact, it isn’t unusual to see operational equipment from the 1970s or earlier! But we are only as strong as our weakest link, and outdated equipment is prone to breakdowns. These unplanned … [Read more...] about Knowing Your Machine Will Break, and What to Do About it
Quality Assurance Checklist: A Quality Management Essential
Quality assurance involves ensuring that all project factors are met and follow expected requirements. This article outlines the differences between quality assurance and quality control as well as best practices. The concept of quality assurance can cover many aspects of various products and services, including design, development, operations, delivery, and more. The … [Read more...] about Quality Assurance Checklist: A Quality Management Essential
The Concept of Quality: Little q VS Big Q.
This article delves into the concept of quality, sketching various aspects of quality that organizations should consider when they relate to their suppliers, who may have different definitions. These aspects include "little quality" and "big quality." For example, little quality (or 'little q') involves whether products that organizations receive are accepted and meet … [Read more...] about The Concept of Quality: Little q VS Big Q.
What if ISO had to explain its changes?
What if ISO had to explain changes to its standards? Should ISO require official documentation explaining the specific value of certain changes to users? This blog post from a quality management expert answers this and similar questions. The author posits whether ISO should require public reasons to the full clauses of its standards and whether ISO should go further in … [Read more...] about What if ISO had to explain its changes?
Rethinking operations and supply chain management in light of the 3D printing revolution
This study looks into operations and supply chain management, given advances in 3D printing. 3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, has been hailed as a revolutionary technology for several decades, with the potential to disrupt traditional manufacturing and supply chain processes. As 3D printing use has grown, organizations have seen greater success, while … [Read more...] about Rethinking operations and supply chain management in light of the 3D printing revolution
Advancing learning in a lean organization
This article outlines how lean organizations, particularly managers and employees, can use different ways of learning depending on how much is known about problems. These stages include the known, known unknown, and unknown "unknown" stages. The author discusses learning in the context of Lean Thinking, a management philosophy focused on maximizing value and minimizing … [Read more...] about Advancing learning in a lean organization
A conceptual framework of quality cost chain in strategic cost management
This study outlines a method employing the concept of quality cost in Strategic Cost Management (SCM). The authors use appraisal, failure, and preventive (AFP) actions to implement SCM as part of their initial analysis of the organizations' internal value chains. The study goes on to relate AFP actions and costs of quality to identify the study's scope. Researchers … [Read more...] about A conceptual framework of quality cost chain in strategic cost management
Risk-Based Thinking and the IATF 16949 Requirements Related to Risk
Risk-based thinking is one of the more significant additions to ISO 9001:2015's list of quality management principles. Risk-based thinking involves incorporating risk analysis in an organizational quality management system, including certain risks' opportunities, probability, and consequences. The goal is to prevent identifiable problems before they happen, evaluating risks … [Read more...] about Risk-Based Thinking and the IATF 16949 Requirements Related to Risk
ISO releases a new version of ISO/IEC 27001
ISO released a 2022 update to its information security management system, ISO 27002. As information security becomes a more prevalent concern, ISO's new standard aims to give additional security oversight tools to companies seeking a better picture of existing risks and needed security actions. The main revisions appear in information security controls that reflect any … [Read more...] about ISO releases a new version of ISO/IEC 27001
Six Sigma in Manufacturing | Advantages & Disadvantages
A strategy that reduces errors and defects in manufacturing is called Six Sigma. Organizations use Six Sigma to increase the quality of their products. Innovations in technology have changed the manufacturing industry. Understanding and adapting to these changes allow Six Sigma to advance towards quality improvement. Lean manufacturing works simultaneously with Six Sigma to … [Read more...] about Six Sigma in Manufacturing | Advantages & Disadvantages
Why Time Study Analysis is Key and How to Conduct One
Organizations can achieve greater efficiency on their production floor through a time study, which observes, records, and evaluates labor work to ensure that qualified employees do specific tasks under specific conditions and at a precise rate. Performing a time study demands attentive preparation and comprehensive planning. This article shows why organizations should consider … [Read more...] about Why Time Study Analysis is Key and How to Conduct One
Closed loop supply chains 4.0: From risks to benefits through advanced technologies. A literature review and research agenda
Industry 4.0, focusing on more interconnective digital technology, has shown promising benefits for manufacturers and supply chains. Specifically, Industry 4.0 technologies could mitigate risks involving closed-loop supply chains, in which organizations rework their waste into new goods or products. This paper outlines two extensive reviews of the current operational risks with … [Read more...] about Closed loop supply chains 4.0: From risks to benefits through advanced technologies. A literature review and research agenda
Workflow Documentation: How to Increase Efficiency, Reduce Error, & Focus On Impactful Tasks
Workflow documentation is more accessible than ever. Rather than having organizations drown in stacks of paper, workflow management software helps companies edit, locate, and store crucial workflow documents. Various workflow management software programs can help automate time-consuming data entry, leaving employees more time to focus on critical business tasks. Further, an … [Read more...] about Workflow Documentation: How to Increase Efficiency, Reduce Error, & Focus On Impactful Tasks
Don’t Follow a Broken Compass: How to Validate Your Data
Lucid's Strategy & Analytics team is responsible for aiding stakeholders in achieving business impact. To do so, they use strategic analyses (recommendations based on data) and data modeling (organizing data to be accessible and useful for the company). Charles Babbage, otherwise known as the “father of the computer” said that “errors using inadequate data are much less … [Read more...] about Don’t Follow a Broken Compass: How to Validate Your Data
Why won’t you leave the process alone? Exploring emotional, motivational and cognitive mechanisms triggering tampering
Although quality professionals aim to improve their products by solving problems, sometimes actions can result in inferior outcomes, a process known as tampering. This paper highlights and analyzes the various mental and behavioral activities that lead quality professionals to tamper as they try to solve problems. Examples include fear of inaction and using past experiences to … [Read more...] about Why won’t you leave the process alone? Exploring emotional, motivational and cognitive mechanisms triggering tampering
A 3-Step Method for Writing LPA Questions
To reduce defects, complaints from customers, and eliminate cost, manufacturers use easy and cost-effective LPAs, or layered process audits. However, to achieve and support plant floor inspections on a regular basis, plants have to overcome their trouble creating LPA questions. What results from a lack of quality LPA questions is people zooming through paperwork with the goal … [Read more...] about A 3-Step Method for Writing LPA Questions
ISO 9001:2015 Certification and Lean Six Sigma
ISO 9001 or Six Sigma? What certification should companies adopt to improve their quality management system? ISO 9001 can help organizations achieve a quality management system to cover their departments, suppliers, and employees. Six Sigma presents a series of mechanisms and methods to streamline business operations and curtail organization-wide waste. Although both … [Read more...] about ISO 9001:2015 Certification and Lean Six Sigma
Why EV Suppliers and Startups Should Implement Layered Process Audits
While the electric vehicle (EV) industry makes momentous gains in wealth, and is expected to quadruple in revenue by 2030, their suppliers typically come from an entrepreneurship or design background.This is where the problem stems from—the best technology does not imply it can be introduced to customers with the best quality. To succeed in the world’s competitive market, there … [Read more...] about Why EV Suppliers and Startups Should Implement Layered Process Audits
5 Ways EHS Professionals Can Support ESG Initiatives
Organizations are making a shift to create a future where environment, health, and safety (EHS) professions are prioritized. They stand to uphold environment, social, and corporate governance (ESG) standards.Public opinion is increasingly interested in environmental and social issues, and businesses have taken interest in ESG as well. Smaller changes are going to be the … [Read more...] about 5 Ways EHS Professionals Can Support ESG Initiatives