William A. Levinson

Principal, author, auditor, and engineer

Levinson Productivity Systems

William A. Levinson, P.E., FASQ, CPIM is the principal of Levinson Productivity Systems P.C. He is the author of Reshore Production Now: How to Rebuild Manufacturing and Restore High Wages, High Profits, and National Prosperity in the USA, and other books on quality, productivity, and management.

Thu, 04/11/2019 - 09:06
Design Robust Processes to Avoid ISO 9001:2015 NonconformancesIneffective CAPA processes are the greatest source of ISO 9001 audit findings
Tue, 02/26/2019 - 12:03
The Pareto principle calls for focus on the vital few rather than the trivial many. While none of ISO 9001’s clauses are trivial—a nonconformance for any of them requires corrective action—ISO 9001 users can avoid most nonconformances by focusing on…
ISO 14001, ISO 50001 Benefit the Environment and the Bottom LineA matter of <em>muda</em>
Mon, 12/17/2018 - 12:03
The U.S. government’s Fourth National Climate Assessment warns that climate change “creates new risks and exacerbates existing vulnerabilities in communities across the United States, presenting growing challenges to human health and safety, quality…
Use ISO 45001 to Support OSHA VPP Star StatusThe standard is synergistic with OSHA requirements, including the Voluntary Protection Program
Thu, 11/08/2018 - 12:02
Chad Kymal1 gave an excellent overview of the ISO 45001 occupational health and safety (OHS) standard that was released in March 2018. I purchased a copy of the standard, and it provides an excellent framework, modeled on Annex SL, which defines the…
Identity of an Organization: ISO 9004:2018’s Most Important FeatureWorld-class performance results when workers care about their organization
Mon, 08/13/2018 - 12:03
ISO 9004:2018—“Quality of an organization—Guidance to achieve sustained success” expands considerably on the former (2009) revision. It introduces the important concept of “quality of an organization” (Clause 4.1), which makes excellent sense. If…
Why Variation Matters to EverybodyWe should make variation accessible to a wider spectrum of professionals
Mon, 07/30/2018 - 12:03
Quality and manufacturing practitioners are most familiar with the effect of variation on product quality, and this is still the focus of the quality management and Six Sigma bodies of knowledge. Other forms of variation are, however, equally…
Use Comprehensive Process Assessment to Support ISO 45001‘Can’t rather than don’t’ also applies to compliance
Wed, 05/23/2018 - 12:03
A job safety analysis (JSA) worksheet is almost identical in organization to a job breakdown sheet and standard work, all of which assess a job (or process) on a step-by-step basis. This suggests combining standard work with job safety analysis to…
When and How to Use Zero Acceptance Number SamplingZero acceptance sampling plans are viable when suppliers are confident in their quality level
Wed, 04/04/2018 - 12:03
Inspection is a mandatory but nonvalue-adding activity, and our objective is to do as little as possible, provided that we continue to fulfill the customer’s requirements. The zero acceptance number (c = 0) sampling plan requires far less inspection…
The History (and Menace) of Fake NewsQuality professionals have a unique skill set for combating it
Mon, 12/18/2017 - 12:03
ISO 9001:2015, Clause 6.1—“Actions to address risks and opportunities,” relates to Clause 4.1—“Understanding the organization and its context.” The external context includes the social environment, which in turn includes social networking, a…
Counterfeit Parts and the 1,000 Risk Priority NumberReal-world case studies
Tue, 12/05/2017 - 12:03
The recent revelation that a major steel maker falsified test data,1 and similar scandals at other companies,2 underscores the menace of counterfeit parts, or what a 1987 Senate hearing called COME UPS: COunterfeit MatErials and Unauthorized…
Culture: A Decisive Competitive AdvantageGet ahead of ISO 9004:2018 by turning your company’s culture and identity into a competitive advantage
Tue, 10/03/2017 - 12:03
Some ISO 9001 users complain that the standard does not improve performance or deliver bottom-line results, while others are delighted by the standard as a framework for effective quality management systems. I pointed out previously that ISO 9001:…