#131 – DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND ISO 9001 – STEPHEN FLICK

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AAA FILICKThis week is “Severe Weather Awareness Week” in Missouri[1]. Seems odd, in a way, that we’re limiting our awareness of severe weather and what it can do to one week when weather disasters happen throughout the year.

Damage caused by tornado, Joplin, MO – May, 2011 (Eric Thayer, Reuters) Continue reading

#131 – THOMSON REUTERS UNDERSTANDS CR&I IS KEY TO PERFORMANCE – KELLY EISENHARDT

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Kelly EisenhardtThomson Reuters wants investors to know that corporate responsibility, sustainability, diversity, and inclusion are drivers that support strong financial performance. Combining these function areas into one global department has allowed the team to strengthen its purpose and work closer with business units to achieve measurable objectives and drive financial growth. Continue reading

#131 – RETIREMENT RISK CONSIDERATIONS – JOHN AYERS

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AAAIn my view, the major retirement consideration is sufficient income to maintain a similar lifestyle you enjoyed when working. If you recently retired or plan to do so within the next few years, it is probably too late to assess considerations to improve your retirement position because your retirement income is already cast in stone. On the other hand, if you have a number of years before retirement and wondering how you should prepare for it, keep reading because I offer some valid recommendations for you to ponder based on my own experience since retiring in 2012 at the age of 71. Continue reading

#131 – RELIABILITY MATURITY MATRIX – FRED SCHENKELBERG

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ABC FredThe concept of a maturity model is not new. A maturity model provides a means to identify the current state and illuminate the possible improvements to a reliability program. The matrix serves a guide to assist an organization in improving its program.

The matrix has five stages. In general, the higher stages are most cost effective and efficient at achieving higher rates of product reliability performance. These stages—uncertainty, awaking, enlightenment, wisdom, and certainty—are described in the following. The complete matrix is posted at http://accendoreliability.com/reliability-maturity. Continue reading

#130 – WORST CASE TOLERANCE ANALYSIS – FRED SCHENKELBERG

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ABC FredWorst-case tolerance analysis is the starting point when creating a tolerance specification. It is a conservative approach as it only considers the maximum or minimum values of part variation—whichever leads to the worst situation. Setting tolerances such that the system will function given the expected variation of manufactured components improves that ability of the system to perform reliably. Continue reading