It happens to all of us, and often at the most inopportune times. We know that we have work to do—a job to complete, a new project to launch, some loose ends to tie up—but we just feel stuck in place. As if everything that we try doesn’t work. We take two steps forward and one or more steps b ack. Or we start something and simply stop. Or, worse yet, we don’t even know where to start.

Why does this happen?

Inspection is a mandatory but nonvalue-adding activity, and our objective is to do as little as possible, provided that we continue to fulfill the customer’s requirements. The zero acceptance number (c = 0) sampling plan requires far less inspection than the corresponding ANSI/ASQ Z1.4 (formerly MIL-STD 105) plan, and becomes viable when the supplier is extremely confident in its level of quality.¹

In our March 30, 2018, episode of QDL, we discuss the gig economy, metrology training, and psychobabble (you know who I mean).

“Are You (and Your Company) Ready for the Gig Economy?”

More and more employees are joining the gig economy. What does that mean for your company?

The Pareto principle, also known as the 80/20 rule, tells us that 20 percent of inputs are responsible for 80 percent of results. Even when it’s not an exact 80/20 split, the idea that a few factors drive a large proportion of outcomes applies to many business processes and everyday situations.

Before transitioning to journalism, I worked in manufacturing, production, and high-volume auto repair for decades. When I finally swapped my blue collar for white, I figured my old body would appreciate the switch to something less physically demanding. And it did—for about six months. I learned the hard way that desk work can also result in musculoskeletal injuries.

When a change management system is designed effectively, it defines how strategies, procedures, and technologies will be applied to address changes in the business environment.