It’s time to invest. According to our 21st Annual Quality Spending Survey, respondents are interested in purchasing new equipment, software and services now. Last year at this time, respondents were worried about family members contracting COVID-19 as well as about the current economy. Those fears have declined this year. While respondents plan to invest similar … [Read more...] about Spending is Back: The 21st Annual Quality Spending Survey
Changes in the New ISO/IEC 27001 and ISO/IEC 27002
ISO/IEC 27001 is under revision, and ISO/IEC 27002:2022 – Information Security, Cybersecurity And Privacy Protection – Information Security Controls has been released. The latest revision of ISO/IEC 27002 was published in February 2022, and ISO/IEC 27001 will follow shortly thereafter. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO)/International Electrotechnical … [Read more...] about Changes in the New ISO/IEC 27001 and ISO/IEC 27002
Use a Corrective Action Plan after a Failed Inspect
So, the inspector sent you their report, and you see quality issue(s) that you cannot accept in some of your products. It’s classified as a failed inspection, and you tell the supplier about the issues. This is where a corrective action plan will be helpful to find and eliminate the cause/s of the issues… Quality issues have been found. What next..? You want this batch to … [Read more...] about Use a Corrective Action Plan after a Failed Inspect
ISO 31000:2018 – Risk management
ISO 31000:2018(en)Risk management — Guidelines Organizations of all types and sizes face external and internal factors and influences that make it uncertain whether they will achieve their objectives. Managing risk is iterative and assists organizations in setting strategy, achieving objectives and making informed decisions. Managing risk is part of governance and … [Read more...] about ISO 31000:2018 – Risk management
Definition: High Reliability Organization (HRO)
What is an HRO? Research by a variety of experts, including Karl Weick, Kathleen Sutcliffe, and Karleen Roberts amongst others has driven the evolution of our understanding over 3 decades. Here is a current definition to work from: A High Reliability Organization (HRO) functions with systems and people in place that are exceptionally consistent in accomplishing … [Read more...] about Definition: High Reliability Organization (HRO)
Instilling lifecycle costs into modular product development for improved remanufacturing-product service system enterprise
Highlights Pairwise assessment of modules enables an efficient modular product development.Modular product design enhances PSS-Remanufacturing business initiative.Integrating lifecycle costs into product development improves PSS-Remanufacturing.Analytic-based guidance enhances decision making about product architecture.Multi-objective analysis enhances decision making in … [Read more...] about Instilling lifecycle costs into modular product development for improved remanufacturing-product service system enterprise
Supply chain resilience in the UK during the coronavirus pandemic: A resource orchestration perspective
Highlights This paper investigates the resilience in the UK supply chains during the COVID-19.It shows the antecedents of the supply chain resilience during a severe disruption.Supply chain disruption orientation and alertness contribute to the resilience.Also, resource reconfiguration positively impacts supply chain resilience.Supply chain efficiency was not a priority for … [Read more...] about Supply chain resilience in the UK during the coronavirus pandemic: A resource orchestration perspective
What does “external documents control” mean in ISO 9001?
Can you imagine the possible consequences of selling a product or service that no longer complies with legislation because the seller was not aware of legislative changes? Can you imagine receiving a complaint from a customer because he claims that the product received no longer meets the last version of an ISO standard that your company mentions in the product specification … [Read more...] about What does “external documents control” mean in ISO 9001?
Five Whys Analysis: How to Use It to Improve Business Performance
The five whys method is a simple way to identify root causes. It involves asking "why" five times. This allows you to discover what's causing problems and why they exist. 5 Whys: The Ultimate Root Cause Analysis Tool The 5 Why process is one of the most powerful tools for problem-solving and improving quality. It works by asking "why" five times, which forces people to … [Read more...] about Five Whys Analysis: How to Use It to Improve Business Performance
7 Reasons Why Ignoring Factory Audits Will Hurt Your Business
If you start working with a new supplier that you haven’t visited or audited on-site, do you feel safe about your decision? I have talked to many people in that situation, and they usually haven’t fully realized what they might be missing. So, that’s what I am going to cover in this article. (I am discussing only audits of a factory’s quality system and processes, in the … [Read more...] about 7 Reasons Why Ignoring Factory Audits Will Hurt Your Business
Five Missing Pieces in Your Standardized Work
So, how is your standardized work (SW) implementation going? Responses to that usually paint an ugly picture. Here’s what I frequently hear: “We just don’t have the discipline Toyota has to make SW work.”“We put it in place, but the people don’t follow it.”“We have trouble transferring good SW from one worksite to another.”“We are good at determining the … [Read more...] about Five Missing Pieces in Your Standardized Work
New 2022 Market Guide for Quality Management System Software
This new Gartner® research assesses the QMS software market and summarizes QMS applications and their providers. According to Gartner "As organizations plot their emergence from COVID-19 disruptions, they face a number of new challenges including permanent shifts to remote/hybrid working, disruptive global supply crunches, and changes in demand and consumer profiles. … [Read more...] about New 2022 Market Guide for Quality Management System Software
Quality Plan – What is it, Purpose and Contents
The purpose of a quality plan is to help an organization manage its quality program effectively and efficiently. It also helps the organization maintain consistency throughout its operations. The document should be developed so that it can be easily understood and implemented by all those involved with the product or service being planned. This article will provide you with … [Read more...] about Quality Plan – What is it, Purpose and Contents
ISO 31000:2018-Risk Management: A Practical Guide
Every organization faces risks that could impact its objectives. Organizations that have identified risks and committed to the effective management of those risks will be better prepared to deal with them. This handbook, published jointly by ISO and UNIDO, provides valuable insights into the implementation of ISO 31000 Risk management – Guidelines. Read the full article … [Read more...] about ISO 31000:2018-Risk Management: A Practical Guide
Becoming a Quality Engineer – Roles, Qualifications, Salary and Career Paths
What is a Quality Engineer? The term ‘quality engineer’ has been used in different ways by various industries, but some common definitions include: 1) A person who inspects or tests materials, components, equipment, or parts, including checking for defects, measuring dimensions and tolerances, and performing tests on samples. 2) An individual employed by an … [Read more...] about Becoming a Quality Engineer – Roles, Qualifications, Salary and Career Paths
What is a management system? A brief explanation and introduction
Management systems distinguish professional companies from those in which things happen randomly and on-demand. Different motives underlie the introduction of management systems: Business causes: Companies want to improve their performance and efficiency.Competitive causes: Companies want to be certified to a management system (e.g., ISO 9001:2015).Regulatory … [Read more...] about What is a management system? A brief explanation and introduction
How Smart Leaders Spot Ideas No-One Else Does
Most disruptive ideas arise outside an industry. Leaders need a more open mindset to see early signals of change and respond to disruption. Today’s post is by Kurt Matzler, co-author of Open Strategy: Mastering Disruption from Outside the C-Suite (CLICK HERE to get your copy). In 1938, MIT student Claude Shannon solved one of the most complex problems … [Read more...] about How Smart Leaders Spot Ideas No-One Else Does
Fortify Your Business: Five Practices for Stellar Cybersecurity
The human element remains the weakest link in cybersecurity, as an annual report reveals that 85 percent of all data breaches are in one way or another caused by an employee. As digital technologies become essential in modern organizations, no industry is safe from cybercriminals exploiting their weak spots. “Identifying where the risks lie is a good … [Read more...] about Fortify Your Business: Five Practices for Stellar Cybersecurity
How Small Manufacturers Can Develop Risk Management Strategies for Supply Chains
The COVID-19 pandemic brought to light a stark reality about current supply chains. As Nissan Motor Co.’s Chief Operating Officer Ashwani Gupta points out, “The just-in-time model is designed for supply-chain efficiencies and economies of scale. The repercussions of an unprecedented crisis like COVID highlight the fragility of our supply-chain model.” The U.S. supply chain … [Read more...] about How Small Manufacturers Can Develop Risk Management Strategies for Supply Chains
Fusing High Performance and Manufacturability with SDfM
Simulation technology is continually advancing to model increasingly real-world product behavior; however, many companies lag in its adoption. A recent survey found that only 37 percent of respondents said they applied manufacturing simulation during the product design phase. The vast majority were checking product manufacturability only once the design was … [Read more...] about Fusing High Performance and Manufacturability with SDfM