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
Quality-Continuous Improvement
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
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
The benefits of process discovery automation and how it helps achieve process excellence
An automated process discovery system can help your organization discover ways to improve workflow and reduce costs throughout an organization's business processes. This automation helps businesses make better decisions and take advantage of new opportunities. Rather than using a manual process, companies can collect data from audits, transactions, messages, and other sources … [Read more...] about The benefits of process discovery automation and how it helps achieve process excellence
PFMEA: Learn How to Remove Error From a System With This 10 Step Guide
What is PFMEA? Process Failure Mode Effect Analysis explainedProcess Failure Mode Effect Analysis (PFMEA) is a Six Sigma methodology designed to identify risk and rate critical failure modes of a given process.PFMEA is traditionally applied to operating processes within the manufacturing industry and was developed with the notion that such processes are rarely … [Read more...] about PFMEA: Learn How to Remove Error From a System With This 10 Step Guide
Unleashing the potential of internal audits: a review and research agenda
Research on internal audits of quality management systems is scarce, and no clear study exists that could guide practitioners in improving the auditing practice and help researchers advance existing knowledge. Thus, the aim of this paper is to review empirical research on internal audits of ISO 9001 to synthesise advice for increasing the value of internal audits and to … [Read more...] about Unleashing the potential of internal audits: a review and research agenda
How To Manage Multiple And Diverse Customer Needs?
As a business owner, you will likely face the challenge of resolving conflicting customer requirements. Managing a diverse customer base and their unique needs can be challenging simultaneously.Types of DiversityThere are many types of diversity. Some examples include:• Diversity in gender, race, age, religion, sexual orientation, etc.• Diversity between products and services• … [Read more...] about How To Manage Multiple And Diverse Customer Needs?
Unleashing the potential of internal audits: a review and research agenda
Research on internal audits of quality management systems is scarce, and no clear study exists that could guide practitioners in improving the auditing practice and help researchers advance existing knowledge. Thus, the aim of this paper is to review empirical research on internal audits of ISO 9001 to synthesise advice for increasing the value of internal audits and to … [Read more...] about Unleashing the potential of internal audits: a review and research agenda
Quality Metrics Reporting that Leads to the Best Behaviors
Quality metrics reporting includes reporting organizational costs, on-time delivery, non-conformance rates, lead times, cycle times, and profit.Organizations benefit when quality metric reporting occurs at the executive, operational, and supplier levels so that the best organizational actions or non-actions happen; however, this often does not occur.Commonplace reporting … [Read more...] about Quality Metrics Reporting that Leads to the Best Behaviors
Face of Quality: KPI Fundamentals
Peter Drucker, the famed author, educator, and management consultant, said “Efficiency is doing things right, effectiveness is doing the right things.” Whether individually or organizationally, the key to short and long-term success is to focus on the most important issues.The problem confronting many organizations is determining where to focus their efforts and how to measure … [Read more...] about Face of Quality: KPI Fundamentals
How to Measure Success with Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)?
Key performance indicators or KPIs are the important metrics for any organization to measure its success. They are used to evaluate the effectiveness of a company's strategy and operations. These indicators provide a clear picture of how well the company performs against its goals.A key performance indicator dashboard helps managers and employees understand the current state of … [Read more...] about How to Measure Success with Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)?
What is a Business Process Improvement Methodology?
Business process improvement is a management practice that helps leaders leverage several tools and techniques to analyze their processes and uncover areas where improvement in accuracy, quality, and efficiency can be achieved. The leaders then work with process operators to redesign those processes to improve productivity and gain the expected improvements. Business process … [Read more...] about What is a Business Process Improvement Methodology?
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 be … [Read more...] about Use a Corrective Action Plan after a Failed Inspect
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 ToolThe 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 consider … [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 context … [Read more...] about 7 Reasons Why Ignoring Factory Audits Will Hurt Your Business