Some products include many custom-designed plastic parts. And the switch to mass production usually requires a high investment in high-pressure injection molds. I had a look at Kickstarter today and I saw a few examples of such products. … [Read more...]
How Environmental Regulations Will Force Changes in China Sourcing
This past week, it has become quite apparent that governments are accelerating the pace at which they pass environmental regulations to force businesses to help mitigate the climate & biodiversity crisis. Unless you have been living … [Read more...]
What Is the APQP? (Advanced Product Quality Planning Process)
The APQP, or Advanced Product Quality Planning, is a proven approach for developing a new product to be made in high volume and under strict quality, timing, and cost requirements. It was developed by the North American automotive … [Read more...]
Quality Checklists: 3 Examples for Inspections
Over the years, we have provided feedback to many clients on their product specification sheets and their quality checklists for inspections. Rather than a step-by-step guideline, the most useful is usually to provide them … [Read more...]
How & When To Transition from a Product Development Team To a Manufacturer
A good manufacturer is good at... running mass productions without unpleasant surprises. That includes the careful validation of the manufacturing & testing processes for new products, good process control, good management of suppliers, … [Read more...]
Understanding The Role Of Manufacturing Process Control In Your Factory
Turning raw materials and components into a finished product can be a complex process. It usually requires more steps than a layperson would think of. And, if the manufacturer does not set up appropriate controls along these process steps, … [Read more...]
Social Compliance Audits: Fear, Lies, and Corruption
Over the weekend, I came upon a webinar that gives a relatively nice overview of the issues surrounding social compliance audits, particularly in Asia. It was shot by a new company called Mosaic. If I had to summarize it, I'd use these … [Read more...]
What Manufacturing KPIs Show if a QMS is Performing Effectively?
Many factories are proud of their ISO 9001/ISO 13485 certificate, but a look at their quality management system (QMS) and manufacturing KPIs reveals serious issues. I wrote before about how some companies get certified with a very poorly … [Read more...]
Fail Safe Design Principles & Examples | Product Risk Reduction
Some products may, if they fail in a certain way, endanger people's safety or lead to enormous economic losses. That puts much more responsibility on the designers' shoulders and is why using fail safe design principles is so critical. … [Read more...]
Using the Limiting Quality Level (ISO 2859-2:2020) Instead of AQL
A reader asked me how he should do an inspection of a lot produced in isolation. In theory, he should work with the Limiting Quality Level (LQ), not the AQL, which is designed for inspections of a continuous stream of production. I shot … [Read more...]
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