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Quality During Design Podcast Blog

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Every Failure is a Gift

Headphones illustrations by Storyset

When designs fail we can take on damaging mindsets while we’re deciding our next steps, and this can lead us to bad decisions. We explore this and give some examples of pitfalls. We also talk about what to do within the design-realm to prepare for and combat those mindsets. Finally, I share my mantra when…

Understanding the Purposes behind Kaizen

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Fishbone Diagram: A Supertool to Understand Problems, Potential Solutions, and Goals

Headphones illustrations by Storyset

A Fishbone Diagram is named for its looks because it resembles the bones of a fish drawn on paper. Its less creative names are Cause-and-Effect Diagram and Ishikawa Diagram. It’s popularly known to help with root cause analysis. But, we can also use it to help with goals and to evaluate a potential solution. Why…

What is ‘Production Equivalent’ and Why Does it Matter?

Headphones illustrations by Storyset

We’re in the middle of our design process and we’re getting some of the first parts in hand, from prototyping or benchtops or our manufacturing cell. Let’s test them and finish our verification testing! Maybe we shouldn’t. We talk about the concept of production equivalent: what it means and when it’s important to consider. Transcript Expand…

About Visual Quality Standards

Headphones illustrations by Storyset

Are test engineers or operators marking verification tests as ‘failed’ but your engineering judgement thinks it’s acceptable? This can happen with qualitative-type tests, like visual inspections. “A picture is worth a thousand words” is an old saying, and it holds true! Visual standards, visual aids, and quality standards are a great tool, especially in design…

Using the Pareto Principle and Avoiding Common Pitfalls

Headphones illustrations by Storyset