Category: Quality Control

The quality industry is buzzing this week as the International Organization for Standardization released the latest revision of the ISO 14001 environmental management standard. “ISO 14001:2015 is an internationally agreed standard that sets out the requirements for an environmental management system. It helps organizations improve their environmental performance through more efficient use of resources and reduction of waste, gaining a competitive advantage and the trust of stakeholders” Notable revisions per the news release include: A greater commitment from leadership An increased alignment with strategic direction Greater protection for the environment, with a focus on proactive initiatives More effective communication, driven …

We’ve used 5W2H to discuss Product Quality Control before, and now we’re using this popular tool to provide insight regarding process audits. Who? Quality auditors are often certified and/or have other applicable training specific to the types of audits they perform. Quality auditors must be professional, ethical and objective. They must be able to select appropriate quality and auditing tools and techniques and use them effectively in a variety of applications. In addition, they must verify, document and communicate results.

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” ~Benjamin Franklin Utilities are the largest variable expense faced by business owners.  In fact, “energy consumption by heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems accounts for roughly 40 percent of total building energy consumption, and in turn, buildings account for 35 percent to 40 percent of total worldwide energy consumption.  Thus, HVAC energy consumption in commercial buildings is a key contributor to total global energy consumption.” Considering energy use in particular, organizations have an opportunity to incorporate and realize significant savings and other benefits associated with a proactive audit and …

“Every man lives by exchanging.” ~Adam Smith On average, almost everyone has witnessed the birth of two nations each year of his or her existence. So, if you are 50 years old, then about 100 new countries will have been created since your birth. Membership of the United Nations (UN) grew from 51 original members in 1945 (there were 74 nation-states at that time) to 191 in 2002. Did you know? Around 90% of world trade is carried by the international shipping industry. There are over 50,000 merchant ships trading internationally, transporting every kind of cargo. The world fleet is …