It has been said that creativity requires the courage to let go of certainties. One thing I do know is that creativity is not reserved for those who engage in artistic pursuits. Being creative means acknowledging that there are many possibilities aside from the obvious.

Jim's Gems: Challenges Make Us Stronger

October 30, 2009

By Jim L. Smith

2 Comments

When the challenges we face seem to be getting more daunting, it likely means that we're making real progress. As we set challenging goals, the difficulty to succeed usually takes more effort.

Face of Quality: Ethics of Quality

October 28, 2009

By Jim L. Smith

No Comments

Not long ago, I wrote about how important it is to take care of your customer-even when an event occurs that is beyond your control. I was recently talking to someone who commented that she “didn’t understand the relation to quality.” Because my comments really centered on ethics, to me the question was, “What do ethics have to do with quality?”

Jim's Gems: Nuggets of Opportunity

October 12, 2009

By Jim L. Smith

3 Comments

When we make a mistake, it is acceptable to perform an autopsy and think about what happened--but, then, you must quickly get over it. Understand what happened, learn from it, gain wisdom from it and become even more effective than before.

Off-Topic: The Pareto Principle - What You May Not Know

September 29, 2009

By Jim L. Smith

No Comments

Born July 15, 1848, Vilfredo Pareto was an Italian economist, theorist and sociologist. Pareto is chiefly known for his influential theory of ruling elites. Also, he is generally credited as the father of a diagnostic tool used by all who apply the very rudiments of quality analysis.

Jim's Gems: Do You Choose Success?

September 23, 2009

By Jim L. Smith

4 Comments

The ability to achieve and succeed is part of our very nature. If we are vague about what we intend to do, the results we are likely to get will be of minimal value.

Jim's Gems: Effort and Attitude Equal Success

September 8, 2009

By Jim L. Smith

3 Comments

What happened on our previous attempts to get something done doesn’t matter much. It is more about what we do now that counts.

Pre-Control May be the Solution

September 2, 2009

By Jim L. Smith

No Comments

Ask any machinist how statistical process control (SPC) helps him manage his processes. The response is not likely to be positive. It is not uncommon for control charts to be placed around machines and other equipment, showing a history of how certain process parameters or key process characteristics (KPCs) have been performing.

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A Practical Field Guide for ISO 9001:2008

The purpose of this field guide is to assist organizations, step by step, in implementing a quality management system (QMS) in conformance with ISO 9001:2008, whether from scratch or by transitioning from ISO 9001:2000. It examines each sub-clause of Sections 4–8 of ISO 9001:2008, which contain the requirements, and gives a list of the documentation/documents required, internal audit questions, a summary of management’s responsibilities, and a flowchart of the steps that need to be undertaken to satisfy the requirements.

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