Tag: Quality

A U.K.-based manufacturer of electrical and electronic assemblies has attained Six Sigma manufacturing quality levels of 99.97 percent following the installation of fully automated, custom designed wire processing machinery at its factory in the West Midlands. A gradual, phased implementation of automated production machines over the last 10 years – coupled with PP Electrical Systems’ […]

William Stone, a veteran of 27 years in OEM and tier-one automotive manufacturing, has been hired as the quality director of Grote Industries. Stone will lead the quality management team for the manufacturer and marketer of vehicle safety systems products.

A company’s profitability is mostly affected by three factors: the ability to produce quality products consistently, the efficiency with which products are produced and the ability to sell the products. Total quality control has a vigorous impact on each of these factors, and, therefore, profitability. Through careful analysis of customer wants and needs, a company […]

The Telefónica team of Buenos Aires, Argentina, took top honors, winning the Gold Award in the 25th International Team Excellence Award Process at the 2010 American Society for Quality’s World Conference on Quality and Improvement, held May 24–26, in St. Louis, Mo.

Abu Dhabi Aircraft Technologies (ADAT), a Mubadala-owned firm that provides maintenance, repair and overhaul services in the aviation industry, has embarked on a comprehensive performance and quality enhancement program that will further hone its technical prowess and improve efficiency to boost revenues.

D.H. Stamatis, Ph.D., a leader in the field of quality, has been named 2010 Professional of the Year by Quality Magazine. He has spoken on numerous engagements, written more than 70 articles and published more than 25 books, including one of the top selling books by Quality Press on failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA).

Fine Tubes, the leading manufacturer of high-quality precision tubes in the United Kingdom, has recently appointed Dr. Richard Fletcher ss Quality Director.

After overtaking General Motors as the world’s largest car maker in early 2009, Japan-based Toyota Motor Corp. is now facing withering criticism from its own shareholders and the U.S. Congress as a result of the accelerating and braking systems in its cars, which have led to the recall of about 9 million vehicles worldwide as […]

Sentrx, the leading provider of drug safety services to the life sciences industry, is pleased to announce the appointment of Lauren Stewart as Vice President, Quality Standards and Corporate Compliance.

The Quality profession has always been about improving processes, products and services. From TQM to PDCA to Six Sigma, all Quality methodologies are focused on eliminating defects and the root causes of those defects. It involves products that satisfy your customers, running processes at greater efficiencies, producing less waste and increasing business productivity. All of […]

Harris Waste Management Group Inc, Peachtree City, Ga., the global supplier of balers, shears and shredders to the recycling industry has added Lonnie Leeman as its quality director.

Quality tool books are full of terms, acronyms and charts that can make a non-quality professional faint of heart (some quality professionals as well). Here is how to change the “policing” perception to one of “a-gift” giver to your bottom line. A-GIFT A ccept G ather I mplement F ollow-up T 3 (track, transfer and […]

For the seventh straight year in a row, the Commerce Department’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has conducted a stock performance study of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award winners. And for the seventh straight year in a row, the investment study has concluded that the Baldrige group stock has outperformed the S&P […]

Six Sigma, Total Quality Management (TQM) and its variants are now widespread in American business. Yet many executives raise serious questions about the their value. Fortune magazine, The Wall Street Journal and Business Week have all presented examples of serious failures. Several recognized Six Sigma companies have experienced financial troubles. On a more personal level, […]

You never hear anyone say “I don’t have time for integrity – I have too many other priorities to take care of right now.” So why, as quality leaders, do we consistently hear how some of our business leaders and process improvement teams don’t have time for quality? Is personal integrity more important than the quality […]

You have decided that you would like to implement a quality program within your business or organization. Consulting companies have developed many different programs ranging from step-by-step procedures to complex manuals, charts and software. The quality program may take the name of Six Sigma, TQM, quality assurance or just plan quality. Regardless of the methodology […]

The Quality profession has always been about improving processes, products and services. From TQM to PDCA to Six Sigma, all Quality methodologies are focused on eliminating defects and the root causes of those defects. It involves products that satisfy your customers, running processes at greater efficiencies, producing less waste and increasing business productivity. All of […]

Some consultants are earning seven figure salaries, CEOs of large companies are claiming billions of dollars saved, conferences, books, and seminars are popping up everywhere, and yet one can argue that there isn’t much new about Six Sigma that we didn’t have with TQM. Is Six Sigma just the latest management buzzword or is Six […]

Many have thought the traditional definition of quality – meeting the desired specifications of the product’s fitness for use – does not apply in the same sense in the service sector as in manufacturing. But a closer look reveals that today’s services, with a little help from technology, are similar to products in the manufacturing industry. […]

Quality audits are performed to verify the effectiveness of a quality management system. They can also be used to: Gain internationally recognized quality certifications, such as ISO 9001. Verify the existence of objective process data. Assess how successfully processes have been implemented. Judge the effectiveness of achieving any defined target levels. Provide evidence concerning reduction […]

“Prevention is better than cure” applies to defects in the software development life cycle as well as illnesses in medical science. Defects, as defined by software developers, are variances from a desired attribute. These attributes include complete and correct requirements and specifications as drawn from the desires of potential customers. Thus, defects cause software to […]

The definition of quality can differ depending on whether it is associated with products and services or with the processes used to generate them. The quality of a product or service is measured in terms of the satisfaction that the customer derives from using it. The quality of a process depends on its ability to […]

Many quality managers have read about and seen the benefits of Six Sigma but are unsure how to approach their senior leadership about the opportunity because they do not have a concise package of information to convey. Fortunately, there is a series of tried and true steps which can be taken to sell management on […]

A distinguished panel of healthcare executives recently shared their thoughts on the importance of leaders taking an active and visible role in their organization’s quality initiatives. They also agreed on the need for organizations to develop the right management systems and structures to adequately support their quality efforts, measure outcomes and encourage accountability. Speaking on […]