The holiday season is over. You made it! You can take a breath. You are ready for the hustle and bustle of 2020. There will be new projects, challenges, and successes.

As a Master Black Belt I teach Lean Six Sigma courses and often provide definitions of common terms. One such term is “value” which I define as the ratio between quality and price (value = quality/price).

Once the gift-giving ends, it’s time for the quality equipment spending to take off. January is typically when quality professionals start filling their quality wish list.

I hopped into my rental car in Fort Lauderdale, impressed with how much the whole process of renting a vehicle has improved from the days when it felt like you were signing your life away for a few days of local transportation.

When the subject of quality is discussed it’s a safe bet that many would suggest it needs to improve. Additionally, many consider that senior management is most responsible for that improvement.

Good products don’t just happen. Quality depends on processes, and a process approach outlines the steps for success. Like so many elements of quality, it requires methodical attention to detail and planning.