Cybersecurity compliance is evolving, with recent EU regulations introducing the potential for personal liability among business leaders. Traditionally, compliance penalties targeted organizations, but under the Network and Information Security Directive (NIS 2) and the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA), regulators can hold CIOs, CISOs, and other executives personally … [Read more...] about Personal liability: A new trend in cybersecurity compliance?
Automated Compliance Evidence Collection and Why You Need It
Evidence collection is a fundamental aspect of regulatory compliance, involving gathering and documenting proof that an organization adheres to specific standards and regulations. This process ensures accountability, identifies potential risks and builds stakeholder trust. Common types of evidence include policies, audit trails, testing reports, and training records. However, … [Read more...] about Automated Compliance Evidence Collection and Why You Need It
110 Compliance Statistics to Know for 2025
The compliance industry is transforming rapidly, driven by heightened cybersecurity threats and regulatory demands. Professionals report a shift from compliance as a mere checkbox exercise to a more strategic function that enhances decision-making and risk management. Over 80% of leaders view compliance as a vital advisory function, with data protection frameworks and vendor … [Read more...] about 110 Compliance Statistics to Know for 2025
CAPA Requirements in ISO 9001:2015
CAPA (Corrective and Preventive Action) is a core element of ISO 9001:2015’s quality management framework, aimed at addressing quality issues and preventing their recurrence or occurrence. Corrective actions react to existing problems by identifying and eliminating root causes, while preventive actions proactively mitigate potential nonconformities. ISO 9001 emphasizes that … [Read more...] about CAPA Requirements in ISO 9001:2015
Exploratory image data analysis for quality improvement
Exploratory Image Data Analysis (EIDA) builds on the principles of exploratory data analysis (EDA) by adapting its framework for image data, allowing for hypothesis generation and quality improvement. The EIDA framework involves four key steps: image processing to enhance and prepare images for analysis, quantitative data analysis to derive actionable insights, identification … [Read more...] about Exploratory image data analysis for quality improvement
5 Places to Use a FMEA in Your Quality Process
Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) is a structured methodology widely used in industries like manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and aerospace to identify potential failure points in products or processes and implement preventive measures. Its seven-step process includes defining potential failures, calculating risk priority numbers (RPN), and implementing controls to … [Read more...] about 5 Places to Use a FMEA in Your Quality Process
Advanced and Supercharged: 7 technological innovations that can change the way you audit
There are seven cutting-edge technologies that have the potential to revolutionize organizational audits, addressing challenges like rising costs, audit fatigue, and persistent fraud. Technologies such as AI and eye-tracking systems are highlighted for their superior ability to detect deception compared to human intuition. At the same time, digital senses and olfactory tools … [Read more...] about Advanced and Supercharged: 7 technological innovations that can change the way you audit
What Does the 2023 ISO Survey Tell Us About ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 Certifications?
The 2023 ISO Survey of Certifications revealed shifts in the number of valid certificates and sites across various ISO management system standards. This year, the absence of data from China's accreditation body significantly impacted the reported numbers, particularly for ISO 9001 and ISO 14001, traditionally dominated by China. Despite this, countries like Italy, Korea, and … [Read more...] about What Does the 2023 ISO Survey Tell Us About ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 Certifications?
Book Review: The Long Journey to Lean Management
A new book emphasizes that:Reviewer Jim Womack explores the evolution of lean management, emphasizing the necessity of a cohesive management system to build sustainable lean enterprises. He reflects on earlier approaches, such as Pascal Dennis’s "Getting the Right Things Done," which focused on strategic alignment through hoshin deployment, and Jim Lancaster’s "The Work of … [Read more...] about Book Review: The Long Journey to Lean Management
Switching Suppliers: Key Signs, Strategies, and Success Stories for a Smooth Transition
Switching suppliers is a critical but challenging decision for manufacturers, often driven by persistent issues like poor quality, communication breakdowns, or delivery delays. This article highlights the importance of precisely recognizing these red flags early and planning transitions. It shares how real-world cases, even involving large manufacturers, demonstrate the … [Read more...] about Switching Suppliers: Key Signs, Strategies, and Success Stories for a Smooth Transition
When ISO 9001 Fails and Upgrading Your ISO Internal Audit Process
ISO 9001 certification is a significant milestone but not a panacea. Effective use of ISO 9001 involves adapting the system to organizational needs, addressing systemic issues, and avoiding pitfalls like ignoring procedures, clinging to outdated processes, or mis-applying the system. Companies must treat ISO 9001 as a dynamic framework to improve over time, focusing on learning … [Read more...] about When ISO 9001 Fails and Upgrading Your ISO Internal Audit Process
Insights into quality professionals’ adoption of Quality 4.0 in the high-tech industry
This study investigates factors impacting the adoption of Quality 4.0 technologies by quality professionals in high-tech industries using the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). The findings highlight that perceived ease of use significantly influences professionals’ attitudes and behavioral intentions toward these technologies, emphasizing the need for confidence-building … [Read more...] about Insights into quality professionals’ adoption of Quality 4.0 in the high-tech industry
6 Alternate Frameworks To Quality Management That Work
Six alternative frameworks for quality management can cater to modern business complexities. Agile emphasizes iterative development, adaptability, and customer collaboration, making it effective for environments requiring quick responses to feedback. Lean focuses on waste elimination and continuous improvement, exemplified by Toyota’s efficient and quality-focused production … [Read more...] about 6 Alternate Frameworks To Quality Management That Work
Podcast: What to Expect during an External Audit
The podcast delves into the importance of proper preparation and engagement during audits, starting with clearly understanding the auditor’s process. Initial steps include preparing comprehensive records that align with the scope of the audit and ensure they are easily retrievable. Companies are advised to conduct an opening meeting to review the schedule, clarify expectations, … [Read more...] about Podcast: What to Expect during an External Audit
Cost of Quality: The Hidden Truth About Your Ultimate Quality Metric
Cost of Quality (CoQ) is a critical metric in manufacturing, often accounting for 15-40% of revenue. This includes the Cost of Poor Quality (CoPQ) related to failures and the Cost of Good Quality (CoGQ) associated with prevention and appraisal. Many manufacturers focus on visible metrics like scrap and rework, overlooking the extensive hidden costs of failures, such as recalls, … [Read more...] about Cost of Quality: The Hidden Truth About Your Ultimate Quality Metric
Changing ISO Registrars
The forum thread discusses the practical and logistical considerations of switching ISO registrars, prompted by one participant’s concern over escalating costs due to limited auditor availability. Several members shared their experiences, highlighting that the process, while involving some costs, is largely administrative and can offer fresh perspectives by bringing in new … [Read more...] about Changing ISO Registrars
A Fresh Approach to Risk Assessment & FMEA
Lean and Six Sigma principles provide structured approaches to improving processes, reducing inefficiencies, and ensuring product and service quality. IDEXX, an organization with a diverse global customer base, illustrates the value of these methodologies, leveraging them to achieve significant growth and innovation. Central to this success is the focus on risk assessment and … [Read more...] about A Fresh Approach to Risk Assessment & FMEA
The Emergence of the Zero Trust Program Manager: A New Role in Cybersecurity
The Zero Trust Program Manager is a critical new role in cybersecurity, created to lead the adoption and oversight of Zero Trust architecture across organizations. Unlike traditional roles, the ZTPM is responsible for managing technology and guiding a cultural shift where no user, device, or application is inherently trusted. Instead, every interaction within the organization … [Read more...] about The Emergence of the Zero Trust Program Manager: A New Role in Cybersecurity
What Is a SOC 2 Bridge Letter?
A SOC 2 Bridge Letter, or gap letter, bridges the compliance gap between SOC 2 audit reports, offering customers continued assurance of a service organization’s adherence to security standards. When an organization’s SOC 2 audit concludes, an interim period may occur before the next report. The bridge letter covers this gap—generally no longer than three months—indicating that … [Read more...] about What Is a SOC 2 Bridge Letter?
Navigating the jungle of cybersecurity regulations
The global cybersecurity regulatory landscape is complicated by multiple, often overlapping, layers of regulations, standards, and industry-specific requirements. National and international rules, such as the GDPR, NIS2, and DORA in the EU, are mandatory, and they form the legal backbone for data protection. These regulations establish high-level principles, demanding companies … [Read more...] about Navigating the jungle of cybersecurity regulations