Audits are an inevitable part of manufacturing. When it’s time to prepare for an audit, it’s all hands on deck to locate, compile, and present the necessary documentation. The process can takes entire teams out of their workflow, disrupting production. No wonder most quality managers cringe at the thought of preparing for the next one.Want … Continued
It has been just over 100 years since Henry Ford introduced the modern assembly line and forever changed the course of manufacturing. The combination of interchangeable parts and time-efficient processes created a system that eventually sold 15 million Model T Fords and made the automobile one of the centerpieces of American culture. Over a century … Continued
How do manufacturing organizations confirm that supplier products comply with critical quality standards? For the most part, manufacturers rely on inspectors to check incoming materials. Those results are compared with the company’s own quality standards and supplier-generated documents such as Certificates of Analysis (COAs). Based on results, inspectors either accept or reject a shipment. However, most … Continued
No matter what line of business you are in—from retail to hospitality to technology to finance—it’s imperative to prevent business problems before they occur. That can mean something as simple as avoiding the loss of one of your customers to poor customer service or as critical as preventing a botched manufacturing job on one of … Continued
The craft brewing industry is booming, offering tremendous opportunity for brewers whose distinctive products are in demand by discerning beer fans. But growth brings a host of challenges, and one of the biggest is how to ensure consistency and quality in the products your customers have grown to love. Pass/Fail quality testing is the de … Continued
Gathering quality data is essential for product and process improvement in any manufacturing operation. Real-time statistical process control (SPC) data is essential to enable operators to catch defective product or inefficient processes as quickly as possible and to help quality engineers pinpoint and correct the causes of disruptive quality variances. But today’s manufacturing lines can … Continued
Video Transcription: Every quality pro knows the drill: You have too much to do and not enough time. Getting stuck in “firefighting mode” is easy when you’re constantly bombarded with — process emergencies, audits, customer data demands, and more. Why is it so hard to get ahead? After all, you collect quality and process data. … Continued