Quality-Quality Management

The importance of big data has been widely discussed, but not every business needs vast amounts of data to make effective decisions. The focus should be on collecting reliable data, even if it’s not in massive quantities. Reliable data is crucial for making informed decisions that improve business processes, and this can be achieved by ensuring that the data collected is … [Read more...] about What’s the Big Deal with Big Data?

Investing in classic and recommended books on quality management is an excellent way to deepen your understanding of quality principles and best practices. Whether you prefer hard copies or electronic books, these resources can provide extensive knowledge on quality tools and methodologies, which can be applied in various organizational settings to enhance performance and … [Read more...] about 8 Books on Quality Management That Are Well Worth Reading

Quality Management Systems (QMS) Awareness Training is often perceived as a mere compliance activity designed to satisfy auditors and tick boxes. However, practical QMS training should lay the foundation for a quality-centric culture within an organization. Rather than overwhelming employees with detailed slides and dry lectures, training should be engaging, interactive, and … [Read more...] about What does your QMS Awareness Training look like?

The Pareto Chart is a bar graph tool for prioritizing issues based on their frequency or impact. Invented by Vilfredo Pareto, it is combined with a line graph representing the cumulative total. The Pareto Principle, or the 80/20 rule, states that roughly 80% of effects come from 20% of causes. Dr. Joseph M. Juran popularized the Pareto chart in quality management, emphasizing … [Read more...] about How to Use a Pareto Chart for Quality Management

Quality management has evolved beyond product quality and manufacturing processes to encompass the entire lifecycle of a product or its "quality biography." Today's quality criteria include high product quality, environmental protection, and fair cooperation. This shift in focus requires companies to act credibly and responsibly, making quality management a top task. … [Read more...] about A New Quality: Handbook on Rethinking Quality Management

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

Quality management (QM) is evolving beyond traditional product-focused methods to embrace comprehensive customer experiences and service integration, reflecting the dynamic nature of customer needs in various industries, including mobility. The study, in collaboration with TU Berlin, highlights the importance of developing QM organizations that are proactive and tailored to … [Read more...] about Quality of the Future

Boeing has faced significant scrutiny over its manufacturing practices, which have recently been linked to several quality and reliability issues, including the high-profile 737 Max series air crashes and a near-disaster involving an Alaska Airlines Max 9. Key factors contributing to these incidents include accepting substandard parts from suppliers, deferred problem-solving to … [Read more...] about What are Boeing’s Bad Manufacturing Habits Leading to Quality and Reliability Risks?

Fishbone diagrams, also known as Ishikawa diagrams or cause-and-effect diagrams, are visual tools used to systematically identify potential factors causing an overall effect, particularly in troubleshooting and quality improvement sessions. The diagram looks like the skeleton of a fish, where the problem or effect is the fish's head, and the bones branching off the spine … [Read more...] about What is a Fishbone Diagram?

Jim Morgan and Matthew Savas delve into the transformative GD3 method in product development, a methodology pioneered by Toyota to elevate product quality and customer satisfaction while minimizing costs and avoiding failures. The GD3 approach, standing for "good discussion, good dissection, good design," revolutionizes the traditional approach to addressing quality issues by … [Read more...] about From Concept to Perfection: Toyota’s GD3 Method Sets a New Standard in Product Quality

The all-time bestseller in quality tools, "The Quality Toolbox," has been extensively updated and expanded, incorporating several new technology-focused tools, making it an invaluable resource for anyone facing the intricate challenges of today's business environment. This updated edition is not just for quality professionals, who have traditionally depended on it as a crucial … [Read more...] about Book Review: The Quality Toolbox, Third Edition

In the evolving manufacturing landscape, robotic assistance emerges as a critical solution to meeting the heightened demands of modern quality control. Traditionally, manufacturers have leaned heavily on manual systems for quality checks despite their understanding and adoption of automation in production processes. However, the detailed and repetitive nature of quality control … [Read more...] about Meeting the Demands of Modern Quality Control With Robotic Assistance

LEAN management, originally derived from Toyota's operational efficiency system, has seen a fluctuation in faith from professionals engaged with its methodologies for extended periods. While new adopters continue to enter the LEAN sphere, keeping its principles in circulation, veterans often find themselves disillusioned. This disenchantment stems from a dissonance between the … [Read more...] about Losing Faith in LEAN

Manufacturers are collecting information from an ever-broadening network of sources. Whether it’s time-series data from traditional physical sensors, real-time video streams, or unstructured and manually entered reports, data are at the core of day-to-day operational decision making. What are the nuances of Data Quality (DQ) and Data Enrichment? Highlighting their critical … [Read more...] about Data Quality vs. Data Enrichment

The article addresses the evolving requirements in part quality assessments within manufacturing processes, emphasizing the need for precise geometric dimension checks and comprehensive documentation. It introduces a critical decision-making process for acquiring new 3D measuring systems—choosing between tactile and optical measurement technologies. Tactile 3D systems, which … [Read more...] about Differentiating Between Tactile and Optical Measurement Technology for Dimensional Inspection

Choosing the right factory audit is crucial for importers to evaluate potential suppliers' reliability, capabilities, and risks. Given the variety of factory audits available, making the right selection depends on several factors, including the possibility of conducting an on-site audit, the supplier's willingness to be audited, and the specific aspects the buyer wishes to … [Read more...] about How To Choose Which Factory Audit You Need?

Benjamin Taylor's article outlines the essence of Operational Excellence (OpEx) and its reliance on people-centric approaches. The piece humorously begins by depicting managers' selective attention to OpEx principles, often overlooking the crucial chapter on Respect For People. However, Taylor emphasizes that at the Operational Excellence Summit in Hamburg, a resounding theme … [Read more...] about Five core practices for Operational Excellence (OpEx)

Boeing has experienced challenging incidents over the past year, highlighting potential weaknesses within its Quality system. Various issues, ranging from lost wheels and cracked cockpit windows to engine fires across different flights and aircraft models, including the 737 MAX series, have raised concerns about the effectiveness of Boeing's quality management and safety … [Read more...] about Can You Still Fail With a Quality System?

This article by Genevieve Diesing is the second of a 2-part article on auditing and highlights the transformative impact of technology and data analytics on auditing. Traditional auditing methods are replaced by more efficient techniques facilitated by data analytics and advanced information technology. This shift has made many conventional auditing practices obsolete, allowing … [Read more...] about How Technology and Data Analytics are Revolutionizing Auditing

This article by Genevieve Diesing is the first of a 2-part article on the crucial role of auditing in a quality management system (QMS). Auditing validates that a company's activities align with its declared commitment to quality, as outlined in its QMS, and drives continuous improvement.An audit acts as a health check for business processes, assessing their alignment with the … [Read more...] about Auditing 101: Understanding Audits and Tips to Prepare