American manufacturing is making a comeback, fueled by billions in investments and new technologies. This reshoring not only boosts job quality and economic opportunity but also mitigates supply chain risks exposed during the COVID-19 pandemic. But is there a catch?

The hype around "big data" has mainly aimed at niche market sales without delivering expected benefits. Similarly, the business world's obsession with Lean Six Sigma has shown minimal returns on investment. In contrast, over the last 25 years, I've leveraged small Excel files to significantly cut costs and increase profits, often by millions of dollars, through a reliable sequence I discovered.

The main difference between projects and programs is their scope and focus. Project management focuses on efficiently executing specific projects, while program management aligns multiple projects with overarching strategic goals.

Quality 4.0 looks at how digitization improves industry processes. Despite over 10 years of focus, there's still no clear definition or knowledge base for Quality 4.0.

Leaders prioritize efficiency and productivity over quality management, compromising long-term standards, evident in the widespread adoption of operational excellence programs like Lean and Six Sigma.

This article discusses how ASQ’s Body of Knowledge for Six Sigma Certifications has added new expectations for implementing improvements, including Proof of Concepts, Try-Storming, Simulations (e.g. Monte Carlo, Dynamic Process Simulation, Queuing Theory), and Pilot Tests.

Sustainable development frameworks encourage businesses to consider their impact and develop tools to demonstrate improvements. Environmental sustainability requires monitoring, learning, and innovating to respond to opportunities and risks.

Ensuring high quality in medical device manufacturing requires operational excellence, which optimizes efficiency and enhances product quality and compliance. Let’s explore some of the key elements and best practices.

Problem solving should always begin with listening. Where does it hurt? What are your symptoms? What have you tried already?

While examining a privately-owned sailboat, as a certified Vessel Examiner with the US Coast Guard Auxiliary, I realized the importance of profiling the Coast Guard's quality focus. What could it teach us about quality? It turns out, a lot.