- Customer Satisfaction and Value
- Data Quality
- Engineering
- Human Resources
- ISO 9000
- Leadership
- Lean
- Metrics
- Problem Solving
- Process Management
- Quality Management
- Quality Tools
- Benchmarking
- Six Sigma
- Statistical Process Control (SPC)
- Statistics
- Teams
- Total Quality Management
- Information Management
- Certification
ISO 9000 Makes Integrated Systems User Friendly
Organizations need management systems that are based on processes or activities that help personnel understand what is essential to achieving continual improvement on a consistent basis....
Lean and Six Sigma – Synergy Made in Heaven
The combination of Six Sigma and lean enterprise work can enhance the production experience. Workers have the empowerment and skill to recognize a problem and, if it cannot be resolved, shut down the line to eliminate the root cause. Six Sigma and lean...
An Integrated Approach System
What’s the best quality system? How would you answer this question? How would your colleagues?...
Baldrige: It’s Easy, Free and It Works
While many people consider the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award criteria to be difficult, a harder task is learning how to manage opportunities for improvements instead of managing known strengths. While Baldrige may not have the answers, it...
Systems Thinking – An Uncommon Answer
Some of the common problems to be found in many business failures include too much focus on short-term gains, too much focus on quarterly profit statements, and a prevalence of long-term losses. One possible solution to these problems is systems...
Complexity Theory Simplifies Choices
Many business management and improvement methodologies provide finite structures for achieving success. Examples include the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award; the ISO 9001 standard; W. Edward Deming, who provided 14 points; and Six Sigma....
Quality Management Multiple Choice: What’s the best quality system?
Monitoring and recording the extent of transition experienced within a designated area assure Procedure ( general) Priority Reviewed Completed Record control Document control Internal audits Management review Corrective action Preventive action Monitorin...
QOS – A Simple Method for Big or Small
Although there are many quality initiatives in the marketplace, many of them involve a degree of hype. Ford Motor Company’s quality operating system (QOS) is recommended as one offering the most value for the money. A QOS assessment looks at...
From Design to Action: Developing a Corporate Strategy
Some economists believe that today's turbulent world does not lend itself to traditional strategic planning approaches. Almost daily, sudden changes in the environment challenge carefully constructed plans and require fundamentally new approaches. The...
Intentional Change By Design
Intentional Change By Design Two models help stakeholders implement change by Gregory S. Shinn C H A N G E M A N A G E M E N T 46 I Q U A L I T Y P R O G R E S S I M A Y 2 0 0 1 CONSTRUCTION SUBCONTRACTOR noted for providing quality products and services...
Changing Management Styles Put Their Mark on Industry
The nature of management is changing, and in the 21st century, it will depend on basic elements such as leadership, processes, and organizations. Successful leaders can communicate their vision effectively and inspire everyone in the organization to...
How a Team Can Grow
Q U A L I T Y P R O G R E S S I J U N E 1 9 9 9 I 53 How a Team Can Grow Goal is to become self- directed by D. Keith Denton EAM MANAGEMENT IS A BIG DEAL, WITH EVERY ORGANIZATION seeming to be implementing some form of it. Assembly workers, for instance...
Is the World Ready for Knowledge Management?
promises, companies must: 1. Understand the impact that technology makes in their corporate culture and in work flow 2. Create an information flow and work flow system based on human style that acts as a support ( or infrastructure) to technology 3. Trai...
The Zealots and the Old Guard
Fundamental changes to the content and process of undergraduate engineering education are occurring at Arizona State University and a consortium of six other institutions. The changes come about because traditional graduates enter the workplace with...
Combating Organizationally Induced Helplessness
Symptoms of an unhealthy organization include managers who will not empower their employees and employees who refuse to be proactive and innovative. Such an organization has learned to be helpless. Some of its managers may be holdovers from the...
This Couldn't Happen in My Back Yard!
Quality practitioners should have interdisciplinary training in engineering, management, and statistics, but few colleges and universities in North America provide such cooperative programs. A case study demonstrates the failings of those who do not...
