The Narcissist’s DilemmaComplacent documentation is no substitute for common sense
Thu, 09/06/2012 - 10:42
I recently bought myself an almost-latest-version smartphone. It was intended to celebrate my 62nd birthday; replace my present, obsolete portable phone; and be reliable and not too expensive.
Well, its “Quick Reference Guide” consists of 34 pages… The Wise ConsultantStriving for lean consulting
Fri, 08/24/2012 - 11:53
I wrote what follows with ISO 9001 and its derivatives in mind because these are the standards I’m most familiar with. Yet even before writing, I realized, at least from my experience, that the following points can be shared by most management… Cinderella ProcessesManagement system audit criteria must be based on risk assessment
Thu, 08/09/2012 - 12:59
We’ve all seen “Cinderella processes,” those processes that, although they do all the work in the company, are underevaluated, almost ignored by auditors.
I recently conducted a survey on 20 auditors. It was intended to analyze what processes are… I’m Hearing VoicesAnd they’re pleading for a more sophisticated measurement culture
Tue, 07/10/2012 - 12:29
Those of us who are accustomed to work with standards like ISO/TS 16949 are also accustomed to “hear voices”: the voice of the customer, the voice of the stakeholders, and so on. The only voice we are not accustomed to hear is the voice of quality.… Cabin Crews: Poor Training Affects Quality and SafetyPoints to consider the next time you’re airborne
Fri, 06/22/2012 - 14:20
I recently met a good friend who works as a junior member of a cabin crew for a well-known airline. I won’t disclose its name or hers for obvious reasons; you’ll see why as you read on.
ADVERTISEMENT… Where Have All the Certifications Gone?Consultants have failed to teach companies the true value of a quality management system
Thu, 06/07/2012 - 12:41
Back in the early 1990s, there was a saying, loudly heralded by one global registrar: “Certify your company, and the export markets will open their doors to it.” Well, the actual wording was a bit more rude, to get the message across to small… Consultancy InvadersOur business planet is under their continuous, smiling, yet ferocious attack
Thu, 05/31/2012 - 12:31
They come trendily dressed, grinning and baring their teeth. They are equipped with the latest electronic tools. And they are forever hypnotizing you into believing that they come in peace.
I’m one of them. I know these aliens from inside their… New and Improved: It’s Now More ComplicatedBut the documentation is still just window dressing
Mon, 05/07/2012 - 12:32
Last night on the Italian National Geographic channel, I watched a reconstruction of the November 2011 American Airlines flight No. 587, in which 265 people lost their lives. At the time the cause seemed almost natural and unavoidable: The AA’s… Assessing the Risks of Risk AnalysisWith APQC process engineering, we tend to start where it should end
Tue, 04/24/2012 - 10:09
Just a few reminders to start with: In the automotive supply chain, process failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) must be based on—or at least must take into consideration—design FMEA. This is the case whether a given supplier is responsible for… DocumenticideLife on planet Earth will perish not from greenhouse gases but documents
Tue, 03/27/2012 - 15:02
I’ve been baptized; I do believe in religion. But I really can’t stand the fact that the Ten Commandments had to be set in stone. The human brain is capable of effectively remembering some 100 words—and much, much more.
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