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Expand your knowledge of the best practices for setting quality standards, developing quality procedures, and training employees in quality assurance.

]]> https://www.qualitymag.com/rss/2667-management en-us What to Know About Tariffs The Supreme Court ruled in February that the Federal Government had illegally collected tariffs from importers in the United States using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). 

]]> http://www.qualitymag.com/articles/99621 Tue, 02 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.qualitymag.com/articles/99621-what-to-know-about-tariffs Principle of Two Weaknesses selandd@bnpmedia.com (Darryl Seland) It’s called the principle of two weaknesses. It is a strategy in chess. It was developed by Grandmaster Aron Nimzowitsch and detailed in the book, “My System,” back in 1925 and still considered a core strategy in chess to this day.

]]> http://www.qualitymag.com/articles/99615 Sun, 31 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.qualitymag.com/articles/99615-principle-of-two-weaknesses Still Seeking Better Quality smith_jim_l@cat.com (Jimmy L. Smith) Quality giants like Joseph M. Juran, W. Edwards Deming and Armand V. Feigenbaum ushered in the era of total quality management (TQM) movement about seven decades ago.

]]> http://www.qualitymag.com/articles/99614 Sat, 30 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.qualitymag.com/articles/99614-still-seeking-better-quality The Root Cause of Defects We Rarely Name or Address You’ve been here before. A defect surfaces and brings a critical project to a halt. 

]]> http://www.qualitymag.com/articles/99613 Fri, 29 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.qualitymag.com/articles/99613-the-root-cause-of-defects-we-rarely-name-or-address Building Excellence: The Global Surge of the ASQ Certified Construction Quality Manager (CCQM) The American Society for Quality (ASQ) has witnessed a transformative year for the Certified Construction Quality Manager (CCQM) program.

]]> http://www.qualitymag.com/articles/99602 Thu, 28 May 2026 15:30:00 -0400 https://www.qualitymag.com/articles/99602-building-excellence-the-global-surge-of-the-asq-certified-construction-quality-manager-ccqm AI as an Enabler of Continuous Improvement: Applying Quality Thinking to AI Prompt Engineering When artificial intelligence enters the conversation in quality and continuous improvement (CI) circles, reactions tend to fall at two extremes. 

]]> http://www.qualitymag.com/articles/99608 Wed, 27 May 2026 16:00:00 -0400 https://www.qualitymag.com/articles/99608-ai-as-an-enabler-of-continuous-improvement-applying-quality-thinking-to-ai-prompt-engineering a framework for integrating AI in Corporate Intelligence (CI) This cartoon, titled "The Cox-Box" by Gary P. Cox, highlights the relationship between human decision-making and artificial intelligence Don’t Let Others Manage Your Career As quality professionals, we are sometimes undervalued by our organizations.

]]> http://www.qualitymag.com/articles/99607 Wed, 27 May 2026 15:30:00 -0400 https://www.qualitymag.com/articles/99607-dont-let-others-manage-your-career Supplier Quality Equals Device Quality: Eliminating Quality Failures at the Handoff Some of the most disruptive quality failures in medical manufacturing are not found on the production floor. They are built into the handoff between the supplier and manufacturer early in the process. 

]]> http://www.qualitymag.com/articles/99601 Tue, 26 May 2026 13:00:00 -0400 https://www.qualitymag.com/articles/99601-supplier-quality-equals-device-quality-eliminating-quality-failures-at-the-handoff ASQ to Honor Quality Leader With 2026 Freund-Marquardt Medal at WCQI jvdbd@hotmail.com (John Vandenbemden) Back in 2017 I was honored by receiving the Grant Medal at WCQI. 

]]> http://www.qualitymag.com/articles/99600 Tue, 26 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.qualitymag.com/articles/99600-asq-to-honor-quality-leader-with-2026-freund-marquardt-medal-at-wcqi Applying Statistics in the Supply Chain The supply chain has become a vital process contributing to products and services realized by organizations.

]]> http://www.qualitymag.com/articles/99599 Tue, 26 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.qualitymag.com/articles/99599-applying-statistics-in-the-supply-chain Durable Labels: The Overlooked Driver of Product Quality and Traceability No matter the industry, every manufactured product carries critical information: specifications, safety warnings, regulatory markings and even serialized identifiers that are linked to traceability and quality control. 

]]> http://www.qualitymag.com/articles/99595 Thu, 21 May 2026 11:30:00 -0400 https://www.qualitymag.com/articles/99595-durable-labels-the-overlooked-driver-of-product-quality-and-traceability printed circuit boards (PCBs) Durable labels on printed circuit boards (PCBs) preserve traceability through every stage of electronics manufacturing, from assembly to testing, ensuring critical production data remains connected to each unit. track and trace identification High-resolution printing of serialized QR/data matrix codes ensures accurate, scannable identification, supporting traceability, quality control and the data integrity required for effective quality management systems. Identco DuraWrap (formerly TTL200 Series) self-laminating wire and cable markers Engineered labels withstand harsh environments – heat, abrasion, and chemicals – ensuring safety information, specifications, and traceability data remain legible throughout the product lifecycle. Catapulting High Schoolers in Quality Engineering Using Design of Experiments The North Carolina A&T State University College of Science and Technology, in collaboration with the ASQ Central North Carolina section 1109 and student branch, hosts an annual Sci-Tech Week Conference. 

]]> http://www.qualitymag.com/articles/99594 Thu, 21 May 2026 11:00:00 -0400 https://www.qualitymag.com/articles/99594-catapulting-high-schoolers-in-quality-engineering-using-design-of-experiments Manufacturing Retention: Strategies for Improving Company Culture, Engagement and Skill Development The manufacturing sector faces a pivotal moment in 2026. Employers and HR leaders are confronted by a scarcity of skilled workers, an aging workforce and intensifying competition for talent.

]]> http://www.qualitymag.com/articles/99596 Thu, 21 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.qualitymag.com/articles/99596-manufacturing-retention-strategies-for-improving-company-culture-engagement-and-skill-development VIDEO PODCAST | Around the World and Back Again Denise Hall is the president and CEO of Peak Performance, which is a workforce training and consulting firm helping manufacturers achieve operational excellence.

]]> http://www.qualitymag.com/articles/99593 Thu, 21 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.qualitymag.com/articles/99593-around-the-world-and-back-again Quality-Centered, People-Driven Leadership It is an exciting time to be in manufacturing. Across the globe, the industry is reinventing itself through artificial intelligence, automation, and data analytics that improve speed, visibility, and precision.

]]> http://www.qualitymag.com/articles/99584 Sat, 16 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.qualitymag.com/articles/99584-quality-centered-people-driven-leadership Traceability Isn’t Control: Why Metal AM Needs SPC to Stop Scrapping Parts In metal additive manufacturing, “traceability” has become a badge of seriousness. We can trace powder batches. We can trace build jobs. We can trace post-processing steps. We can trace inspection results. Great. 

]]> http://www.qualitymag.com/articles/99582 Fri, 15 May 2026 13:00:00 -0400 https://www.qualitymag.com/articles/99582-traceability-isnt-control-why-metal-am-needs-spc-to-stop-scrapping-parts VIDEO PODCAST | When Grandma Sets You on a Path to Quality Lucy Roche is an ASQ certified Six Sigma black belt with a master's degree in chemical engineering and a PhD in systems engineering.


]]> http://www.qualitymag.com/articles/99576 Tue, 12 May 2026 12:00:00 -0400 https://www.qualitymag.com/articles/99576-video-podcast-when-grandma-sets-you-on-a-path-to-quality Seeing the Bigger Picture: How ASQ Expanded My View of Quality Like many professionals, my introduction to ASQ began with a very practical goal: certification. At the time, I was focused on strengthening my technical foundation and building credibility in the field of quality. 

]]> http://www.qualitymag.com/articles/99571 Sat, 09 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.qualitymag.com/articles/99571-seeing-the-bigger-picture-how-asq-expanded-my-view-of-quality Getting Automation Right from the Start Many manufacturers want to automate but struggle to figure out where to begin. 

]]> http://www.qualitymag.com/articles/99563 Tue, 05 May 2026 01:00:00 -0400 https://www.qualitymag.com/articles/99563-getting-automation-right-from-the-start an industrial fiber laser machine Semiconductor device inline planarity check with AT-Sensors 3D laser profilers. an automated 3D inline inspection system by AT Sensors Soda can pressure check with AT-Sensors 3D laser profilers. Building Quality Systems for Complex, Regulated Environments Mukesh Kumar, a SAP Premium Engagement Leader and enterprise transformation strategist, has spent more than two decades designing and delivering large-scale quality, compliance, and digital transformation programs across regulated industries. 

]]> http://www.qualitymag.com/articles/99562 Tue, 05 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.qualitymag.com/articles/99562-building-quality-systems-for-complex-regulated-environments Why Taking the First Step in Professional Development Pays Off Exercise is good for you. That’s hardly a newsflash: In the 400s BCE, Greek philosopher Hippocrates wrote “Eating alone will not keep a man well; he must also take exercise.”

]]> http://www.qualitymag.com/articles/99558 Sat, 02 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.qualitymag.com/articles/99558-why-taking-the-first-step-in-professional-development-pays-off You Can’t Fall Off the Middle selandd@bnpmedia.com (Darryl Seland) I recently heard the phrase, "You can't fall off the middle." For me, it almost immediately fit into my advocacy for balance.

]]> http://www.qualitymag.com/articles/99552 Wed, 29 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.qualitymag.com/articles/99552-you-cant-fall-off-the-middle VIDEO PODCAST | An Engineer Since Age 8 Antigone Sharris is a full-time faculty member of the Engineering Technology Team at Triton College. She is also faculty lead, NFPA Fluid Power Fast Track Hub Site; faculty advisor, Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society; and mentor to the Team 2151 Robotics Team.

]]> http://www.qualitymag.com/articles/99550 Tue, 28 Apr 2026 13:00:00 -0400 https://www.qualitymag.com/articles/99550-video-podcast-an-engineer-since-age-8 Tech Transfer is the Moment of Truth for CDMOs Congratulations, your contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) has just been awarded a new drug manufacturing contract!

]]> http://www.qualitymag.com/articles/99544 Sat, 25 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.qualitymag.com/articles/99544-tech-transfer-is-the-moment-of-truth-for-cdmos VIDEO PODCAST | Building A Resilient Supply Chain Through Quality Senthilkumar (Senthil) Thiyagarajan, PhD., is a supply chain analytics professional at Medline Industries, specializing in digital twins, supply chain optimization, and Industry 4.0 technologies. 

]]> http://www.qualitymag.com/articles/99526 Thu, 16 Apr 2026 13:00:00 -0400 https://www.qualitymag.com/articles/99526-video-podcast-building-a-resilient-supply-chain-through-quality The 8th Waste in Modern Environments tim@ALeanJourney.com (Tim McMahon) Lean thinking is often associated with manufacturing floors, production lines, and complex value stream maps. Yet waste exists in every type of process. Once you begin to see it, you realize that inefficiencies appear not only in factories but also in the everyday services we interact with.

]]> http://www.qualitymag.com/articles/99523 Thu, 16 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.qualitymag.com/articles/99523-the-8th-waste-in-modern-environments Preparing for Fellow: A Career Goal Becoming a Fellow in a professional society such as the American Society for Quality (ASQ), Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), American Institute of Architects (AIA), or Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) is a recognition of sustained achievement throughout one’s career, not merely a starting point. 

]]> http://www.qualitymag.com/articles/99518 Wed, 15 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.qualitymag.com/articles/99518-preparing-for-fellow-a-career-goal Manufacturing Reality: Stuck in the Middle Mid-sized manufacturers are increasingly being squeezed on one side by large companies with the budgets and expertise needed to succeed in today’s fast-paced environment, and on the other by smaller, more entrepreneurial producers who are better able to adapt, specialize, and grow to meet the continually evolving needs of customers.

]]> http://www.qualitymag.com/articles/99517 Tue, 14 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.qualitymag.com/articles/99517-manufacturing-reality-stuck-in-the-middle Expanding Lean Waste: The Case for Material Underutilization faceofquality@qualitymag.com (Jim L. Smith) Before I get into the focus of this column, I’d venture to guess that many quality professionals reading this column’s title did an about take thinking this guy has lost his mind. To discover the real intent, read on…

]]> http://www.qualitymag.com/articles/99514 Sun, 12 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.qualitymag.com/articles/99514-expanding-lean-waste-the-case-for-material-underutilization A Practical Guide for Women Building Careers in Manufacturing Manufacturing has changed meaningfully over the past two decades. Once rare, women in technical, operational, and leadership roles are now increasingly visible across the industry. 

]]> http://www.qualitymag.com/articles/99512 Sat, 11 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.qualitymag.com/articles/99512-a-practical-guide-for-women-building-careers-in-manufacturing