All Features
Jack Dunigan
Editor’s note: This continues Jack Dunigan’s series about unsung heroes in the workplace, and the 16 traits they all share.
The tasks of evaluation, decision making, and determining action are continually recurring for leaders and managers. We leaders must, from the start of the day to its close…
Artec 3D
Artec scanners were used to create realistic 3D models of Brazilian national football team players for an upcoming multimedia project produced by Globo Internacional, a mass media group in Latin America. Globo has yet to unveil the details of its project, but Artec wanted to share some insightful…
Jim Verzino
Last month we ventured into a new realm of integrated management systems in the article, “Stop Wasting Everyone’s Time with a Disjointed QMS.” What does it take to implement an integrated management system that cuts across traditional silos such as quality, service, production, environmental,…
Shaun Wissner
In the small world of 3D metrology, we all have heard the same questions in various contexts countered with some wildly different answers. This new column will explore these frequently asked questions, and address what is and what is not proper 3D metrology practice. Over the coming months, I will…
Quality Transformation With David Schwinn
I recently ran across a great quote in Quality Progress by Govind Ramu of SunPower Corp. He wrote, “Processes without results are useless, and results without processes are unsustainable.” (“Experts and Answers,” Quality Progress, December, 2012). Ramu is correct, of course, but his quote prompted…
Knowledge at Wharton
When you overhear a person five spots ahead of you at the coffee shop ordering a mocha light decaf, no whip, one pump, it might be enough to make you abandon your place in line and walk out. But what if the context is different and what’s at stake isn’t a hand-crafted drink, but your health—or…
Donald J. Wheeler
Based on some recent inquiries there seems to be some need to review the four capability indexes in common use today. A clear understanding of what each index does, and does not do, is essential to clear thinking and good usage. To see how to use the four indexes, to tell the story contained in…
Jeff Dewar
Not all user conferences are created equal. I’ve been to so many I’ve lost count. Some are simply boring with over-filtered information, and others are pure marketing events. Then there are a few that enchant, delight, and add true value for attendees. And I know why.
As I began writing this…
Jim Frost
Regression analysis generates an equation to describe the statistical relationship between one or more predictor variables and the response variable. After you use Minitab Statistical Software to fit a regression model, and verify the fit by checking the residual plots, you’ll want to interpret…
Dawn Bailey
Picture in your mind the classic Texas burger—juicy, mouth-watering, topped with the perfect fixings (apologies to vegetarians).
Now assume that your key products are hamburgers, and that a picture of the perfect burger is used consistently in your social media activities. It’s simple. It’s…
William A. Levinson
Renaissance engineer and artist Leonardo da Vinci is well known as the intellectual father of the modern tank, submarine, and helicopter. He reputedly introduced a deliberate design flaw into his tank’s locomotion system because he never wanted anybody to actually build this terrible weapon.
The…
Bruce Hamilton
Padding factory performance has become a best practice at one company I visited recently. As I walked the floor with the site manager, I was impressed by the level of improvement activity I saw.
“We’ve been at this for about eight years,” said the site manager. “But it’s only in last couple years…
Alan Nicol
Statistical process control (SPC) is generally a Six Sigma tool. A few people and organizations will use SPC as a stand-alone methodology. Generally, it is not a tool found in the lean toolbox because conducting SPC is considered, by some, to be a nonvalue-added process.
However, there is a…
Steven Weeks
Due to globalization and advancing technology, today’s manufacturing environment is increasingly competitive. Therefore, the accuracy and quality of machined durable goods is extremely important if a company is to stay competitive. Of course, having the necessary equipment to perform the…
Kevin Meyer
Electronic manufacturer Jabil’s website promotes its commitment to lean, especially its report showing the following:
• 13,000 kaizen events so far in 2013 • 322,000 completed in 2012 • 9,500 Lean Bronze practitioners • More than 200 Six Sigma Black Belts
That truly is impressive, and I happen to…
Chad Crisostomo
Editor’s note: FARO is offering a free webinar on portable arms and software on Tuesday, July 16, 2013, at 11 a.m. Pacific. Click here to register.
Articulating arms, also known 3D measurement arms, are portable coordinate measuring machines (CMMs) that determine and record the location of a probe…
Ryan E. Day
They did it again—ruined my scoop. I pride myself on what I consider a natural ability to read between the lines and then find information and facts to fill in that void. Like the void created when companies wax verbose about some altruistic subject like “trust,” but keep mum on their motivation…
Kimberly Egan
What do China, Maine, Connecticut, Chipotle, and Whole Foods have in common? They all think you have a right to know whether the food you are eating contains any genetically modified organisms, known as GMOs.
I like that. Why do I care? Because the genes in GMO plants have been altered in a…
Michael Ray Fincher
For me, a quality professional with 20 years experience in manufacturing—producing everything from garbage bags to luxury ski boats—my transition to the service industry was a shocking experience to say the least. It was not without challenges, I must confess.
When I was asked to join the…
Bruno Scibilia
All processes are affected by various sources of variations over time. Products that are designed based on optimal settings will, in reality, tend to drift away from their ideal settings during the manufacturing process.
Environmental fluctuations and process variability often cause major quality…
Mike Richman
Trend conferences are all the rage these days. For those of you who have never attended one, this is an event in which corporate managers gather together their colleagues, their customers, and assorted media types willing to work the rubber-chicken circuit. During the course of a day or two, you’…
Akhilesh Gulati
Editor’s note: This article continues the series exploring structured innovation using the TRIZ methodology, a problem-solving, analysis, and forecasting tool derived from studying patterns of invention found in global patent data.
Belinda started the My Executive Council (MEC) meeting with the…
Jamie Ambrosi
With summer and family vacations coming up, I feel compelled to publicly reveal a vacation-related personality quirk of mine (one of many, to be completely honest) and then to invite you to play a fun, though slightly geeky, game that will reveal this quirk in action.
First, the revelation: My…
Jack Dunigan
Editor’s note: This continues Jack Dunigan’s series about unsung heroes in the workplace, and the 16 traits they all share.
When I lived in the Virgin Islands, I learned that almost all luxury yachts in the world are finished by women… and the reason is not that they will work for less money.
No…
Bruce Hamilton
Some time ago, while giving a presentation titled “Organizational Obstacles to Lean,” I displayed a slide captioned “It’s not about culture.” My point was that “culture” is a bad analogy because it places the burden for change on the shoulders of employees rather than on management where it…
