What is quality? In a manufacturing or heavy industry, it is to minimize the defects and errors. Today it emphasizes customer satisfaction as well. It means quality is achieved if in the end the customer or user can effectively use the product. High quality is important to project success. Poor quality has a cost. Some examples are:
– Not meeting customers’ expectations
– Cost of corrective actions are high
– Team morale may suffer Continue reading
We rely upon skilled, able and talented individuals to assist in the successful delivery projects and improve businesses. They are gifted in their niche areas of expertise and without their stellar performances, where would we be? They are akin to the Prima Donna of an operatic performance and they are respected for their superior skills and ability. But when respect turns to reverence the lesser mortals around them may flail in the wake of the rising star. Continue reading
Last week I talked about how a couple of small gene tweaks, using CRISPR-CAS9 technology, has massively reduced levels of “bad” cholesterol and triglycerides in lab mice. If this technology could be extended to humans, it could potentially lower the incidence of coronary heart disease and enable many people to live longer and in better health. Coronary heart disease is one of the two biggest killers of people in developed countries. The other big killer is cancer. CRISPR-CAS9 is being applied on this front as well. Continue reading
Not all risks the same. Some are minor with little consequence, while others are not. Every organization or reliability program facings a plethora of risks and being able to communicate the range of identified risks is helped by using a risk matrix.
The risk matrix is a simple two-dimensional grid that lays out on one access the expected consequence of risk, from minor to catastrophic. The other axis has the likelihood or occurrence of the risk becoming realized, ranging from rare too certain. Continue reading
Countries globally are working tirelessly to enforce containment measures in an effort to halt the Coronavirus’ path of destruction. However, these measures may impose significant consequences on global supply networks.
Given China’s position in the global economy, the Coronavirus, COVID-19 , has the potential to disrupt sourcing and manufacturing processes significantly. Continue reading