Just like its predecessors, this fourth industrial revolution (dubbed Industry 4.0 in 2011) is all about increasing productivity.

This time of year the abundant ads for junk removal and cheap storage units remind us that it’s time for spring cleaning, an annual pastime that has perhaps been bolstered by the need to unlock extra space in the home during the pandemic.

Root cause analysis (RCA) is the process of finding the basic underlying cause for an effect we observe or experience. In the context of failure analysis, RCA is used for finding the root cause of frequent machine malfunctions or a big machine breakdown.

We want to grow as professionals. We want our products to be better, our know-how to be deeper, our impact to be known and recognized.

In my article, “Tightened 100% Inspection” (Quality Digest, March 29, 2021), we found that the excess costs associated with tightened specification limits a

In lean there is mura, the waste of unevenness.

Today I’m looking at the ideas inspired by mirror neurons. Mirror neurons are a class of neurons that activate when someone engages in an activity, or when they observe the same activity being performed by someone else.

A consistent and regularly scheduled prioritization process helps eliminate distractions and can focus your efforts on the most meaningful projects. Some processes are formal, while others are simply frequent conversations about priorities.

One of the technologies driving Industry 4.0 is artificial intelligence (AI), and AI is enabling massive change in manufacturing. It is also revolutionizing the smart manufacturing supply chain as well.

Understanding the distinction between document management and knowledge management is vital to operational excellence.