A few weeks ago, while delivering a PFMEA training programme at a Tier-1 automotive company, I witnessed something that made me rethink an assumption I had unknowingly carried for years. The participants came from different functions and experience levels. Along with engineers and supervisors, the company had also encouraged freshers and shop-floor personnel to attend … Read more
Most of us have been there. A problem shows up on the shopfloor and the first instinct is to pull out something complex, a sophisticated analysis tool, a heavy methodology, something that looks serious. And if you trace back why we do that, it usually comes down to status quo, wanting to look competent, or … Read more
Many factory owners see environmental management as “extra work.” Something you do only when a customer demands it, or when pollution control officers visit. I’ve walked into shops where waste oil is stored in open drums, chemical containers lie scattered, and scrap piles up in corners. Yet, in those same offices, you’ll often find an … Read more
I’ve seen many factories where the ISO 9001 certificate is proudly framed on the wall. The manuals are neatly filed, and the auditor has signed off. On paper, everything looks perfect. But on the shop floor? Chaos. Parts are being reworked because the requirements weren’t clear. Workers arguing about who was supposed to check what. … Read more