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I loved my Honda. Is it OK to cling to that emotion, even after a car takes its final drive and lands in a dissection yard to be pulled to pieces so other old Hondas can stay on the road? Are there counselors out there specializing in car grief who might advise? ’Tis the Christmas season, so I can…
Among the most significant qualities demonstrated by effective leaders is the ability to make meaning of their experiences by interpreting the deeper insights that can be gained from daily interactions in the workplace, especially when times are challenging.
This reflective quality is like a…
For the last 30 years, NIST and the Department of Commerce, together with the President of the United States, have been recognizing the nation’s most outstanding organizations with the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award.
It was my privilege on Nov. 15, 2017, to join Secretary of Commerce…
What would you say about a system that improves performance but is disliked by a significant percentage of those participating in it? Conventional organizational hierarchy may be just such a system. Yet plenty of theorists—including, at times, ourselves—have concentrated on explaining the…
People are always asking us for help with ways to prioritize. Almost everyone believes prioritization to be an action in and of itself. They ask, “What mechanisms do you use to prioritize?” However, we find most often that prioritization issues, like trust issues, are a symptom of deeper problems…
As leaders face the most volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous business conditions ever, one thing is clear: Talent is an organization’s most powerful and sustainable competitive advantage.
As a result, improving the talent pipeline by attracting, developing, and retaining the best possible…
Corrective and preventive action (CAPA) is an important process for your medical device company. In fact, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) states in its Quality System Inspection Technique (QSIT) guide, “One of the most important quality system elements is the corrective and preventive…
Start a social media conversation thread about mentoring, and the replies from those in the working world will get your attention. At the summary level, the responses are remarkably similar across geographies, types of business, professions, genders, age, and years of experience.
Professionals…
I was leading an innovation workshop recently with a company that invited some of its customers to talk about the future. We were interested in getting feedback from key B2B customers about the future of the industry, where things were heading, and what strategies and programs my customer should…
Last Friday’s episode of QDL was our final show of the year, and we’re leaving 2017 on a high note! We brought you two great interviews and a terrific Tech Corner, not to mention some advice on increasing your productivity in 2018. Let’s take a look:
“AIAG and VDA Release Draft of Harmonized FMEA…
ISO 9001:2015, Clause 6.1—“Actions to address risks and opportunities,” relates to Clause 4.1—“Understanding the organization and its context.” The external context includes the social environment, which in turn includes social networking, a potentially devastating vehicle for the delivery of “…
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Datum Metrology LLC (DM) is a metrology service provider specializing in jig building and bond tooling for various industries, including automotive, aerospace, naval, and nuclear energy. With decades of combined experience in multiple skilled-trade backgrounds, the DM team…
The recent spate of natural disasters that devastated parts of North America included a violent variety of events. There were three major hurricanes—Harvey, Irma, and Maria—wildfires in California, an earthquake in Mexico, and tornadoes in Oklahoma.
One thing these calamities have in common: They…
Each Friday, Mike Richman and Dirk Dusharme co-host Quality Digest Live, a 30-minute web TV show. On QDL they offer up news and commentary about the issues facing quality professionals and their organizations.
Often the topics covered on the show and in our editorial content are somewhat divisive…
I recently read Jordan Ellenberg’s wonderful book, How Not To Be Wrong: The Power of Mathematical Thinking (Penguin Books, 2014). I found the book to be enlightening and a great read. Ellenberg has the rare combination of being knowledgeable and capable of teaching in a humorous and engaging way.…
There’s a lot to be worried about in business: the political climate, robots and automation, the future of entrepreneurism and innovation, the promise or peril of the gig economy. But imagine if we weren’t in an economy that’s been growing for years.
Like it or not, these are the good times, and…
The Automotive Industry Action Group (AIAG) and the German Association of the Automotive Industry, or VDA (Verband der Automobilindustrie), have been cooperating in automotive quality management systems since the advent of the second edition of ISO/TS 16949 in 2002. The integration work that…
The Automotive Industry Action Group (AIAG) and the German Association of the Automotive Industry, or VDA (Verband der Automobilindustrie), have been cooperating in automotive quality management systems since the advent of the second edition of ISO/TS 16949 in 2002. The integration work that…
How does one define quality in the context of a warehouse? The perfect warehouse is clean, has everything in its place, and is easy to access. Your warehouse looks like the one below, right?
You have a perfectly accurate database table that tells you exactly where everything is, correct? And…
It is common knowledge in the project management field that process management helps with project management; projects go much more smoothly and efficiently if you have a consistent process for doing them. It’s the same in every other area of your company where you do repetitive work—you need…
I have a friend who owns a hardware store. One morning during the 1980s, he strolled into his back-room office to start his day. He was shocked to discover his safe was missing—along with a lot of cash inside.
The thing is, when he’d arrived a few moments earlier, all the doors had been locked,…
There’s no question the digital manufacturing revolution is racing at us. As a small or medium-sized manufacturer, how close are you to already being “smart?” Here are five steps in the journey to becoming a smarter digital enterprise.
First and foremost, be cybersecure. Cybersecurity is an…
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During the past 40 years, according to a Nov.-Dec. 2015 Military Review article, “The United States Army’s Secret to Success Capitalizing on the Human Dimension to Enhance Its Combat Capabilities,” the U.S. Army has completely transformed its structure and culture by “enabling…
(CRC Press: Boca Raton, FL) -- Released in November 2017, is the book, True Kaizen: Management's Role in Improving Work Climate and Culture, by Collin McLoughlin and Toshihiko Miura (Productivity Press, 2017).
Features
Cross cultural insights from the authors (North American and Japanese)
A…
Our Dec. 8, 2017, episode of QDL looked at smart manufacturing, remanufacturing, pants-on-fire bosses, and five things your QMS needs.
“Smart Manufacturing Trends in 2017”
The digital manufacturing environment, or smart manufacturing, is growing by leaps and bounds, and is spurred on by…