I was in Detroit during the National Summit held June 15-17. I did not have the chance to attend that event, but read many of the presentations in their entirety afterward, as well as media reports of the event.
“You see things and you say, ‘Why?’ But I dream things that never were, and I say, ‘Why not?’”-George Bernard Shaw
The words of this 20th century Irish playwright were part of a speech recently given by H. James Harrington, a 50-year veteran of the quality and manufacturing profession and the 2009 Quality Professional of the Year.
It was reported by CNN during April, that on the Hawaiian island of Kauai, business owners and residents pulled together to complete a $4 million repair job to a state park-for free.
We definitely are facing a recession. But, is it as bad as we have been led to believe? Evidence would suggest it’s not as bad as it has been in the past.
Implementing actions that allow one to continually improve products and processes, invest in new technology and roll out new products in the current economic climate is not a minor undertaking, nor something for the faint of heart.
The October 3, 2008, issue of The Kiplinger Report brought to my attention a new technology being used to power automobiles; it breaks all the conventional thinking with regards to quality, manufacturing and corporate culture, and it has definite political implications.
The scenario: a large U.S. manufacturer with a history of a well-measured approach to quality and production is directed by its board to increase profits and market share, and to do so quickly.
A short time ago, my wife and I bought a Dodge Xplorer 228. We decided that we wanted to spend vacation time travelling by road and the Class B motorhome was the way to do it. Class B motorhomes are, essentially, modified vans. While not as spacious as Class A or C motorhomes, they offer many advantages.
From September 8 to 13, Quality Magazine’s staff will join nearly 100,000 manufacturing professionals from more than 119 countries at IMTS 2008, the largest manufacturing technology show in North America.