The Quality Industry Voices

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Explore how manufacturers can drive alignment between their quality goals and those of control system integrators. The ultimate goal is to support compliance, promote operational excellence, and enable long-term success.

Frontline leaders bridge the gap between leadership's vision and daily execution, helping teams identify and resolve quality issues at the source. To be effective, they should be developed as coaches instead of just enforcers.

ASQ has a broad publishing program that includes Quality Progress magazine, Lean & Six Sigma Review, and four technical journals: Journal of Quality Technology, Quality Engineering, Quality Management Journal, and Technometrics. The Quality Press catalog has over 200 books available in print and ebook formats, with annual sales exceeding 30,000 books.

Manufacturing leaders prioritize quality, as customers expect consistency, safety, and performance. While companies have long relied on lean initiatives and Six Sigma programs, automation has emerged as a crucial tool for enhancing these efforts. In the last two decades in automation, I've seen it evolve from a cost-saving measure to a means of achieving consistency and precision throughout production, focusing on supporting quality at every stage rather than just integrating robots.

We explore the background of each study type, and decision-making criteria for selecting the appropriate method. We will also look at why the 125-piece study provides improved accuracy and reliability in decision making.

Evaluation and feedback are important to just about anything we approach with a process, and quality is no exception.

In my previous column, we discussed timeliness and reliability. This column will continue by discussing three more customer service mainstays.

Drift, as defined by NIST, refers to a slow change in a gauge's response. When measurement equipment drifts beyond specifications, it can result in inaccurate data, negatively affect product performance, and potentially lead to recalls. Drift can occur simply through normal use over time.

External audits are essential for organizations aiming for excellence. At ASQ, we view them as a strategic resource that validates quality systems, identifies growth opportunities, and fosters accountability. When well-integrated, audits enhance sustainable performance and resilience.