Readers are checking out Heat Treat Today’s magazine from March/April 2024. The annual Aerospace print edition has a piece that sparked a comment from a reader. The letter from the publisher Doug Glenn entitled “Is It Time To Rethink the ‘Quality’ Movement?” discusses the current state of the quality movement.
Would you like to weigh in on the topic? Submit your question, comments, thoughts, or queries here or email Bethany Leone at editor@heattreattoday.com.
Here is an excerpt from the publisher’s page:
“One of the first thoughts I remember having about the corporate quality initiative I was involved with was the distinct lack of a definition of what ‘quality’ really meant. For many of the standards, they did not really care what you did (whether or not you did quality work), they just wanted you to prove you had documented your work, that your people knew said documentation existed, and they were following the processes you had described in documentation.”
This publisher’s page prompted this feedback from Jorg Demmel, founder, owner, and president of High Temperature Concept:
“There is one thing I’d like to ask you, because I just read your publisher letter. I like it, although the situation you describe is not ‘quality’ in my mind. It’s a great discussion, which is worth it!
“It’s, in my mind, an oversubscription of quality management and it’s industry. That’s something different than quality. I don’t like these guys called ‘auditors’. Some (or many) never learned what means ‘operational quality’.
“Did you know that e.g. an iso 9001 certified company doesn’t have to follow the iso 9001 10 chapters in their QM handbook. Or, that not all suppliers have to be rated. Or, that internal audits don’t have to be bureaucratic and elaborative. Etc.
“Conclusion: a QM system is only as good as it is based on the people on the shop floor, their motivation, experience and attitude, and the leadership commitment. I guess I missed something 😉.”
We welcome your inquiries to and feedback on Heat Treat Today articles. Submit your questions/comments to editor@heattreattoday.com.
