Content by William A. Levinson
How Exposure Affects RiskEmbracing ‘can’t rather than don’t’
Mon, 08/24/2015 - 11:26
The requirement for risk-based thinking is among the most significant changes in ISO 9001:2015. Army Techniques Publication (ATP) 5-19, Risk Management is a public domain reference that supports this requirement.
ATP 5-19 includes a risk…The Risk of OmissionRecognizing opportunity cost separates good organizations from great ones
Mon, 08/10/2015 - 12:34
Risk-based thinking, or “actions to address risks and opportunities,” is among the most significant additions to ISO 9001:2015. This provision encompasses what we currently call preventive action, or proactive actions that prevent poor quality…Gideon vs. Disney: Who Would Win?Two perspectives on engagement
Mon, 06/22/2015 - 15:53
Engagement, according to the Mercer report “Engaging Employees to Drive Global Business Success,” is a decisive competitive advantage, “a psychological state in which employees feel a vested interest in the company’s success and are both willing…Change and Risk-Based ThinkingIn product design as well as manufacturing, any form of change invites risk
Wed, 05/20/2015 - 17:06
Management of change is a safety-related phrase from the chemical process industry that is adaptable to risk-based thinking. The basic premise is that anything new, different, or nonroutine (such as repairs or replacement of equipment, and process…GM and ISO/TS 16949: ‘Do As We Say, Not As We Do’The basics of FMEA seem lost on the automaker
Tue, 04/07/2015 - 12:12
Two recent “Consumer Watchdog” articles in the Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, Times Leader, as well as reports of General Motors’ ignition switch problem, give the perception that GM’s position on ISO/TS 16949 is “Do as we say, not as we do.” If a…Process Performance Indices for Non-Normal DistributionsHow confident can we be in an index that’s based on only 30 measurements?
Wed, 03/11/2015 - 17:25
‘I’m shoveling two feet of your partly cloudy off my sidewalk” is an old joke about what happens when meteorologists get the forecast wrong, and there is a similar running joke among quality practitioners. “Your centered Six Sigma process is…Justify Your ExistenceCompanies should not be paid simply to exist; they must add value
Thu, 01/29/2015 - 00:00
Isaac Asimov’s mystery stories often begin with a guest of the Black Widowers being asked, “How do you justify your existence?” On a darker note, George Bernard Shaw said of the concept of eugenics, “If you can’t justify your existence, if you’re…Referees, Umpires, and Objective EvidenceModern technology can avoid controversial on-field calls
Wed, 11/19/2014 - 11:31
The decades-old stereotype about “visually challenged” referees was reinforced during the recent game between Ohio State and Penn State, when a referee awarded OSU an interception after the ball had clearly—as shown by a subsequent video—touched…Interested Parties and Internet AdsWho are your online customers, and what do they really want?
Thu, 09/25/2014 - 14:48
Provision 4.2 of ISO 9001:2015 cites “Needs and Expectations of Interested Parties.” Interested parties include not only obvious stakeholders (customers, suppliers, employees, and owners), but also anybody who is affected, or perceives himself as…Lean Toilets and LEEDFinding the waste that’s hidden in plain sight
Tue, 08/26/2014 - 11:00
Can something as simple as a toilet support LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)? We take this basic sanitation device for granted, and while it makes the obvious wastes disappear very cleanly, another form of waste hides in plain…