All Features
Jennifer King
During the global health challenges faced over the last few years, one thing changed forever—the way many of us worked. According to USA Today, a third of work-from-home (WFH) employees in America now work remotely full time, and by 2025 they expect one in five workers nationwide to be joining the…
Stefano Puntoni, Bart De Langhe
Most businesses rightly see data as a source for making better decisions. But the conventional data-driven approach often falls short because of common errors made by the decision-makers. Many leaders rely excessively on existing data that might not always address the issue at hand, or they pass…
Megan Wallin-Kerth
Born in 1929, H. James “Jim” Harrington was a phenomenal influence in the world of quality. And for many here at Quality Digest, he was a memorable, kind, and invested colleague as well—not to mention a wealth of knowledge, with seemingly endless energy and dedication to innovation in quality.
On…
James Chan
Work instructions and standard operating procedures (SOPs) are job aids that ensure business processes are carried out correctly. Whether for new employee training, working with new equipment, or standardizing current procedures, these job aids help create a safer and more productive workplace.…
AMETEK
Endurance racing is one of the oldest and toughest pastimes in motorsports. It is a true test of performance. Not only is a driver’s stamina on display, but vehicle durability as well.
Based in Indianapolis, Wayne Taylor Racing With Andretti (WTRAndretti) is a world-renowned global motorsports…
Donald J. Wheeler
In May 1924, Walter Shewhart wrote a memo that contained the first example of a process behavior chart (i.e., a “control chart”). It was a chart for individual values that would be known today as a p-chart. Shewhart’s insight was that “three-sigma” limits will filter out virtually all of the…
Veronica Muzquiz Edwards
Health connects each one of us to one another. No matter where we are in the world, who we are, or what we do, the state of our health is a key determinant in our quality of life. Simply put, it’s our most valuable asset.
Individual health crises can be disastrously grim, and if not addressed…
Masateru Ito
For organizations responsible for aircraft operation and maintenance, inspecting critical aircraft-engine components is a routine preventive maintenance procedure. These procedures help to ensure the proper operation of the aircraft for flight safety. There are many components inside the engine…
John Hilgendorf
Dust collection systems remove dust and other particulate matter from the air, making them very important for many companies and even industries. The systems come in many forms and configurations for different applications and materials. At the highest level, they can be divided into three types:…
Adam Zewe
Quantum computers promise the ability to quickly solve extremely complex problems that might take the world’s most powerful supercomputer decades to crack.
But achieving that performance involves building a system with millions of interconnected building blocks called qubits. Making and…
William A. Levinson
Although quality management has been around in some form or another for thousands of years—a cover of Joseph Juran’s Quality Handbook depicted Egyptians making very precise measurements for the construction of pyramids—this article will show that quality is but one aspect of value, which should be…
Costas Xyloyiannis
To address shrinkflation, by July 1, 2024, stores in France will have to put warning notices in front of all products that have been reduced in size or volume without a corresponding price cut.
“Shrinkflation is a rip-off. We’re putting an end to it,” says France’s economy and finance minister,…
NIST
To combat global warming, companies are building direct air capture (DAC) facilities worldwide to remove carbon from the atmosphere. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has developed a new method for testing the materials used in these plants to capture carbon. The agency…
James Chan
The plan-do-check-act (PDCA) cycle plays a central role in fostering improvement by facilitating a structured and ongoing approach to problem-solving. Because the PDCA cycle is ongoing, it also plays a central role in helping organizations navigate shifts in the economic climate, align with new…
Gleb Tsipursky
In the evolving landscape of workplace dynamics, the trend toward revoking employee flexibility and mandating a return to the office (RTO) is gaining traction among corporations, as evidenced by significant players like Boeing enforcing near-full-week office attendance. Leaders often cite the…
Mike Figliuolo
One of the most exciting things you can do as a young tank platoon leader is participate in a tank gunnery exercise. Essentially it’s going to a shooting range with some really big cannons mounted on a 68-ton chassis. One particularly hot summer in Colorado, I went to my second gunnery.
About six…
Nikon Metrology Inc.
Nikon’s X-ray computed tomography (CT) technology has enabled digital camera lens heavyweight Tamron to gain unprecedented insights into the intricacies of its industry-leading components.
Tamron faced challenges in accurately analyzing the deformation of plastic molded lens components. Nikon’s…
Jim Steventon
Integrated quality, when done correctly, plays a vital and pivotal role in enhancing any business, especially manufacturing operations. But, in fear of sounding like the archetypal head of quality, I say it shouldn’t be seen solely as something you do in manufacturing operations. In fact,…
Andy J. Yap, Winnie Jiang, Mark Mortensen, Spencer Harrison
Imagine a world where your boss could be fined for contacting you after hours. California is considering a law to make this a reality.
The “right to disconnect” movement is gaining traction globally, with Australia joining France, Italy, Slovakia, Luxembourg, Portugal, and the Canadian province…
Mike Figliuolo
I just rewatched The Green Hornet, and it was awesome. As I finished the movie, I wondered what made him a great leader (or not) and how those lessons might apply to the business world. I know. I’m weird like that.
The good news is I’ve unlocked the secret of great leadership, Green Hornet-style.…
Sara Harrison
As a newly hired assistant professor of organizational behavior and sociology at the Yale School of Management, Walter (Woody) Powell observed a strange phenomenon through his office window. It was 1979. Bold colors and patterns were in style, and his students came to campus dressed in jeans and…
Mitutoyo Corp.
Choosing the right microscope for your application is no small feat. It’s a decision that requires a deep understanding of the task at hand and the tools available to you. From magnification to resolution, and from ease of use to customization options, there are several aspects to consider when…
Daniel Marzullo
When was the last time you asked your clients for genuine feedback on working together, beyond just revisions on projects and deliverables?
Over the years, I’ve found it incredibly beneficial to do quarterly check-ins with every client to get a sense of how things are going.
Not only does this…
Knowledge at Wharton
Nano Tools for Leaders, a collaboration between Wharton Executive Education and Wharton’s Center for Leadership and Change Management, are fast, effective tools that you can learn and start using in less than 15 minutes, with the potential to significantly affect your success and the engagement and…
Rachel Gordon
‘I’ll have you eating out of the palm of my hand” is an unlikely utterance you’ll hear from a robot. Why? Most of them don’t have palms.
If you have kept up with the protean field, gripping and grasping more like humans has been an ongoing, Herculean effort. Now, a new robotic hand design…
