Working with a disability can be a frustrating and isolating experience.

Freedom is generally defined as the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint. The license to act as one pleases offers a host of benefits but can also produce consequences that limit your freedom.

In the world of quality and lean, waste is the enemy. We hunt for it in cycle times, inventory buffers, and defects. But occasionally we encounter a form of waste so massive and literal that we fail to see it as a resource.

Data are the backbone of our digital world. From healthcare to finance, and from government agencies to private businesses, organizations everywhere rely on vast amounts of data to function effectively.

As AI makes its way into every corner of work, quality management is no exception.

I want to revisit the notion of information from a cybernetic viewpoint, drawing primarily from Gregory Bateson’s well-known formulation that information is the difference that makes a difference. This definition doesn’t merely redefine information.

During the last couple of decades working in quality, I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve seen the same pattern play out: A strong launch. Tight focus. Great early results. People doing the right things for the right reasons. Controls are followed.

The manufacturing industry is undergoing a transformation driven by rapid technological advancements, changing consumer preferences, and evolving regulatory frameworks.

Performance rarely collapses with fanfare. More often, it flatlines quietly; sales soften, productivity slows, priorities blur, and yet teams run hard without moving the needle.

Quality has always been a defining metric in manufacturing when it comes to industry trust, brand longevity, and customer loyalty. Manufacturers are already expected to abide by stringent regulations.