Content by William A. Levinson
Needed: A Few Good Men and WomenManufacturers do better with high-wage workers
Thu, 10/12/2023 - 12:03
Valuable American manufacturing jobs were sent offshore under the dysfunctional belief that low-wage labor would result in lower product costs and higher profits. Although it may seem counterintuitive, manufacturers do better with high-wage workers…
When Assignable Cause Masquerades as Common CauseDeciding whether you need CAPA or a bigger boat
Wed, 09/27/2023 - 12:03
The difference between common (or random) cause and special (or assignable) cause variation is the foundation of statistical process control (SPC). An SPC chart prevents tampering or overadjustment by assuming that the process is in control, i.e.,…
Quality and Productivity vs. InflationQuality and manufacturing professionals are in the best position to eradicate inflationary waste
Mon, 09/18/2023 - 12:03
Inflation is a serious national issue. Credit agency Fitch Ratings just downgraded the U.S. credit rating—as in the “full faith and credit of the United States”—from AAA to AA+.1 This doubtlessly reflects the fact that our national debt exceeds $31…
Starbucks’ AI Coffee Makers: A Productivity Case StudyAutomation <em>could</em> allow baristas to be paid more and still net higher profits for company
Tue, 08/29/2023 - 12:03
Starbucks’ implementation of artificial intelligence coffee makers1 offers a simple and ideal case study that can illustrate the synergy between efficiency, wages, profits, and inflation. Even if we don’t know the actual cost figures, we can use…
What Are the Real Risks of Artificial Intelligence?The same risks have always been with us
Mon, 07/17/2023 - 12:03
‘Tech leaders issue warning: AI raises risk of extinction”1 comes across as another version of science fiction stories that have been around for decades about humans creating something greater than themselves that finally destroys them. Although it’…
Introduction to Time Value of MoneyThese concepts play a central role in many practical and vital applications
Tue, 06/13/2023 - 12:03
Time value of money calculations, including net present value analysis, is important when selecting projects and investments. The calculations are part of the body of knowledge for some of ASQ’s certification exams. They also go a long way toward…
Silicon Valley Bank: Another ESG FailureAll is not gold that glitters
Tue, 04/11/2023 - 00:03
I wrote previously1 that environmental, social, and governance (ESG) metrics are often dysfunctional because they prioritize the wrong things and thus deliver the wrong results. The recent failure of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) despite SVB Financial…
ESG: A Dysfunctional MetricThe quality profession already offers solutions to promote environmental and social responsibility
Wed, 02/22/2023 - 12:03
Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) is growing in popularity as a metric to guide investment decisions. What does ESG have to do with productivity, quality, or stakeholders, aka relevant interested parties? The answer is—with the exception…
CAPA, FMEA, and the Process ApproachThe AIAG offers a clearly defined and powerful synergy between the three
Mon, 12/19/2022 - 12:03
Corrective action and preventive action (CAPA) is probably the most important process in any quality management system because so much else depends on it. This includes not only its traditional role as a response to defects, nonconformances,…
Many See, Few ObserveWe must train ourselves to recognize the waste around us
Thu, 11/03/2022 - 12:03
‘You see, but you do not observe,” Sherlock Holmes told Dr. Watson in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s (1891) A Scandal in Bohemia. Taiichi Ohno, who developed Henry Ford’s lean production system into the Toyota Production System, told managers to stand in…