Manufacture Smarter Blog

5/19/2023 - BY: ANDY NICHOLS
In part one of my blog series, we looked at the costs associated with obtaining an ISO 9001 certification and revealed the actual cost of obtaining a certificate. This is often the “entry ticket” to being asked to quote new business. It’s typically not a huge sum of money, especially when compared to marketing/sales budgets for lead generation. In this article, we’ll look at the certification audit process which provides the details behind the costs previously discussed.

4/28/2023 - BY: ANDY NICHOLS
Many organizations do a good job of satisfying their customers’ need for quality products and continue to meet the challenges of the markets they serve. Often, their (larger) customers have hinted at wanting their organization or supply chain to become “ISO certified” – for example, lower tier automotive suppliers are required to be ISO 9001 certified by higher tier customers. Some organizations may have seen their competitors are certified and question why. After all, doesn’t it cost a lot to be certified?

4/7/2023 - BY: ANDY NICHOLS
ISO certification is often expected of manufacturers to ensure quality management is in place. Certification also gives companies a competitive advantage and the discipline needed for future growth. This discipline becomes evident in all aspects of the company by creating an environment ready to thrive in today’s competitive market.

3/10/2023 - BY: ANDY NICHOLS
Oddly enough, the famously hilarious movie, Planes, Trains and Automobiles, starring John Candy and Steve Martin, has a lot in common with quality management! It hit the big screens in 1987. In the same year, ISO 9001 was launched and then became the base requirement for AS 9100D and IATF 16949. The automotive industry found that ISO 9001 did not include many tools that have helped produce the quality products we drive today. As a result, “Core Tools” were developed and added to the basic ISO requirements.

2/10/2023 - BY: BOB JENKINS
In my last blog, we discussed the importance of being a proficient problem solver in your quality role. So, after learning the problem-solving process and exercising it to effectiveness, stop and ask yourself, “What else makes me the most effective in my role?” That’s an easy one…

1/20/2023 - BY: ANDY NICHOLS
As 2022 was ending, I reflected on our end-of-year celebrations and realized they have a great deal in common with how organizations prepare and conduct internal, quality management audits.

12/9/2022 - BY: BOB JENKINS
When it comes to working in the quality industry, a wise man once told me, “In quality, we don’t have jobs. It’s our responsibility to help everyone else around us do better.” Over the years, I have found that to be incredibly true. So, we must ask ourselves, if we are to be successful in the function of quality, what is important for us to understand and what skills do we need?

11/4/2022 - BY: ANDY NICHOLS
Since its first publication in 1987, the International Standard for Quality Management Systems known as “ISO 9000” has been plagued by many myths. As with all mythology, there are narratives and beliefs which have become almost foundational to the implementation of the ISO 9001 requirements. Like classical myths, those associated with ISO 9001 frequently become rituals which are implemented in the organization’s Quality Management System and become sacrosanct.

10/21/2022 - BY: STEVE VAMPLEW
One of the many services we provide at the Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center (The Center) is conducting internal audits on our client’s Quality Management System (QMS) or Environmental Management System (EMS). In today’s manufacturing climate, where labor shortages abound, we are being called upon more than ever to perform these internal audits.

6/17/2022 - BY: ANDY NICHOLS
In manufacturing, we must measure or test the products we make because there is variation in the results and we don’t want to exceed the specification which would result in additional costs, time lost and possibly customer dissatisfaction.