Quality Blog

Find articles, case studies, videos and other insightful resources related to quality assurance, quality control, supply chain, and manufacturing.

Managing Supplier Compliance Requirements

Managing Supplier Compliance Requirements

Supplier Management
A recent article posted to Supply Chain Digital “raises the point that all companies need to see evidence of suppliers’ own manufacturing and sourcing practices, particularly in health and safety, quality assurance and ethics.” Due to the risks involved, retailers, associations and others are increasingly refining supplier requirements. Organizations wanting to sell products to these […]
Focus on Quality: Resources & Recommendations for World Quality Month

Focus on Quality: Resources & Recommendations for World Quality Month

News
Inc. posted an article a few weeks ago that identified tips for becoming a billionaire.  And, it’s no surprise to us that each recommendation is either directly or indirectly related to quality. The following were cited as “insider success secrets:” Live well below your means. Focus on quality above everything. Think about sustainability. Constantly seek out […]
Support Manufacturing Education & Awareness on October 7th

Support Manufacturing Education & Awareness on October 7th

Manufacturing
“Manufacturing is more than just putting parts together. It’s coming up with ideas, testing principles and perfecting the engineering, as well as final assembly.” ~James Dyson We post this quote predictably each year as Manufacturing Day approaches.  This year, Manufacturing Day will be observed on October 7th. What is Manufacturing Day?  “Manufacturing Day℠ is a […]
Avoiding Product Recalls

Avoiding Product Recalls

Quality Control
Over the years, we’ve had our share of inquiries related to organizations seeking to resolve a recall situation.  While many of these calls are reactive, a proactive approach is recommended to avoid the cost and overall impact on stakeholders. How can you avoid product recalls?  Know Product Safety Requirements Avoiding recalls generally starts with product […]
Quality: It’s What’s Driving the Global Automotive Industry

Quality: It’s What’s Driving the Global Automotive Industry

Quality Control
A report issued by McKinsey & Company predicting trends up through 2020 in the global automotive industry identifies four challenges that will affect the industry’s growth.  With these four challenges in mind, we offer quality solutions that effectively hedge or otherwise prepare those working within the industry. Complexity and cost pressure Diverging markets Digital demands […]
Quiz: How Passionate Are You About Quality?

Quiz: How Passionate Are You About Quality?

Pro QC/Quality Control
Are you a Quality Aficionado? Use the Likert-type scale below to answer the 20 questions, and then total up your score. Strongly Disagree>  1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5  <Strongly Agree You notice non-conformances in products when you go shopping. You may or may not speculate what the root cause could be. […]
ISO 9001:2015 Transition Video Posted

ISO 9001:2015 Transition Video Posted

Quality Control
Don’t miss our latest video discussing the ISO 9001:2015 transition process and questions we’re frequently asked: Also, be sure to download our free gap analysis! Or, check our previous post discussing our Top 5 Tips. Contact us for additional information, or to schedule a complimentary consultation.
World Trade Month Wrap-Up

World Trade Month Wrap-Up

News/Pro QC
World Trade Month is observed each year in May.  The objective of this recognition is to create awareness, identify trends and drive market opportunities. World Integrated Trade Solutions offers extensive data related to world trade.  The same site offers interesting visualization options such as the word cloud referenced below. In a 2015 ranking of the top […]
Verifying Suppliers… What You Want To Know

Verifying Suppliers… What You Want To Know

Supplier Management
As a follow-up to an article we posted in March, we wanted to go into more specifics regarding on-site supplier verification. As noted, it’s not always cost-effective to do a comprehensive ISO-based or general QMS audit for each supplier you’re considering working with. But, there are basic questions looming that you need to make the […]