Don’t bite off more than you can chew, and really understand the methodology before attempting a large Six Sigma project. Those are the first words of advice for a Six Sigma novice from Six Sigma Master Black Belt John Vandenbemden.
Today it is a vacant plot. Back in the early 1990s, a stamping plant was there, with three main buildings supplying North American automotive final assembly operations. I was an inspector working the second shift, assigned to a stamping line producing outer panels for an automotive door.
In 2017, much of the ISO standards user community, as well as the supporting third party certification industry, was left with the same question. What standards/specifications aren’t changing right now?
Manufacturing professionals in quality assurance and process improvement are not new to understanding the importance of quality. However, do they know the difference to be made in creating a culture of quality with regards to driving the policies, practices, and processes needed to accomplish an organization’s work?
Ask a quality engineer how they were introduced to metrology or inspection, and they’ll often answer that it wasn’t during their coursework, but in the field. It reflects the manufacturing world’s problem with visibility and messaging, and an important insight into why the term “skills gap” has been a buzzword for several years.
The Center will officially launch Dec. 7-8 at a conference entitled “ISO 10018: Enterprise Engagement in Action,” held at the University of Texas Medical Branch administrative building in Galveston, TX. For more information, visit TheICEE.org. There is a 50% discount for Quality Magazine readers who register using the promo code Quality.