They may seem simple, but standard operating procedures (SOPs) are surprisingly tricky. On the surface, they describe how a specific process is carried out at your organization. Pretty straightforward, right?

In reality, there are a lot of requirements for writing a good SOP, and auditors have a sharp eye out for any missing components and unclear steps.

Here’s what you…

In order to do business, we have to use predictions of various sorts. These range from seat-of-the-pants guesses to the results of sophisticated modeling. In every case, the key to effective forecasting is to understand the uncertainty in the forecast. Ways to do this are the subject of this article.

For many years I taught the senior-level forecasting course in the college of…

A quality team’s supplier toolbox is deep. Supplier questionnaires, PPAP, supplier scorecards, incoming inspection, audits, corrective action—the list goes on.

In my years of experience as a quality leader, the challenge I see is matching each one to the right stage in the supplier process and the right level of risk.

Here, we explore key tools to consider at each stage…