Two Obstacles to Continuous Improvement

Two Obstacles to Continuous Improvement

Continuous improvement is predicated on problem solving, you're closing a gap between the current state and an ideal state. However, problem solving, thus continuous improvement, is often not that successful, especially if you are attempting to reach the ideal state. I believe that there are two fundamental reasons that I share in this episode of Way of the Quality Warrior podcast: lack of imagination and lack of alignment. There is a reference to the book The Power of Positive Parenting [https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/695905] by Dr. Glenn Latham. It's not just for parents—authority figures can use this, too. I talk about GE and Jack Welch. Much of what I think is expressed by David Gelles in his book Jack Welch: The Man Who Broke Capitalism [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59366216-the-man-who-broke-capitalism?ref=nav_sb_ss_2_10]. Gelles was interviewed by Jeffrey Pfeffer at the Stanford Graduate School of Business in 2022. Here's the link: David Gelles Interview—Stanford 2022 (YouTube) [https://youtu.be/dXiVWqRY1VU?si=naSDMMXKYBD30tAn] I also talk about Boeing (a company that has had multiple leaders from GE who worked under Jack Welch). John Oliver's Last Week Tonight (HBO) episode [https://youtu.be/Q8oCilY4szc?si=nmJWmBJBe3J-Crb6] about Boeing's history and decline is entertaining, thorough, and sound. You can contact the podcast host, Keith Fong, at the website Way of the Quality Warrior [https://www.wayofthequalitywarrior.com]

Poor Quality Crashes Companies

Your company is called the Tesla or Apple of your market. You've gotten more investment capital than any other company in your market. The product you sell has a long waiting list of customers. You must be making money hand over fist, right? Actually, you are declared bankrupt. One important element of your company going bankrupt is poor quality in the product and services your company provides. This episode looks at just such a company. This episode discusses the appeal of the product, the quality problems experienced by customers, and what improvements could have been made to prevent the quality problems. Here is a video review of the 2020 VanMoof S3 bike—why the bike was so desireable: TNW Channel 2020 review of the VanMoof S3 [https://youtu.be/HYXXMTZ__28?si=2qXOelyZ-KEKAmHG] The August, 2023 National Public Radio (NPR) article that introduced me to VanMoof and their bankruptcy: NPR article: VanMoof goes bankrupt [https://www.npr.org/2023/08/23/1195201692/vanmoof-ebikes-bankrupt-netherlands] A September, 2023 article in The Verge where the VanMoof founders discuss their funding and customer support challenges: The Verge: VanMoof founders on S3 e-bike issues, delays, and new at-home support [https://www.theverge.com/2020/9/16/21437704/vanmoof-interview-s3-electric-bike-issues-delays-mobile-service-network] A January, 2023 article on the website E-bike Tips where the precarious business state is reported, including comments on the cost to produce VanMoof bikes compared to the sale price: ebike tips: VanMoof secures more funding—but the future remains uncertain [https://ebiketips.road.cc/content/news/vanmoof-secures-more-funding-but-the-future-still-remains-uncertain-4273] A video from a VanMoof customer from New York who shared the many problems he faced purchasing and owning a VanMoof bike: Joseph Pluchino: VanMoof S3. Do not buy it. [https://youtu.be/aTDvZ17E6eA?si=pcn064PBaMG54cmt] The VanMoof S5 and A5 bikes Reveal video on April 5, 2022 from the VanMoof YouTube channel. VanMoof videos are really compelling, but pay attention to the explanation of the product development: VanMoof S5 and A5 bikes revealed [https://youtu.be/i2duNMOM5mI?si=6J1wzyt5CCeNGxyL] The Trustpilot website reviews where there are many unhappy customers sharing their experiences: Trustpilot VanMoof reviews [https://www.trustpilot.com/review/www.vanmoof.com] A discussion on the YouTube channel eBike Inspection about the VanMoof bankruptcy: How Did VanMoof The Tesla of e-Bike Go Bankrupt [https://youtu.be/oUzGechPHCs?si=vErOtgruExR9VVYP] In each of the videos shared here, you can find plenty of comments where people share their experiences, good and bad, with their VanMoof bikes. You can contact the podcast host, Keith Fong, through the website Way of the Quality Warrior [https://www.wayofthequalitywarrior.com]

Where are the X-ray Glasses?

In the previous episode, I proposed that seeing the world through the lens of process is a superpower. However, you have to develop the superpower—it's not like Spiderman getting bitten by a radioactive spider. In this episode, we'll talk in more detail about process and how to develop the skills in analyzing processes in order to see through the lens of process. I refer to a YouTube video about making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Here's the link: Exact Instructions Challenge PB&J [https://youtu.be/FN2RM-CHkuI?si=ltJatjGxP7Nf9RxR] You can contact the host Keith Fong through the website Way of the Quality Warrior website [https://www.wayofthequalitywarrior.com]

Everything is a process

Attending a high school honor society induction ceremony for my niece, I was witness to how a group of students organized and executed a process. Something they had experienced themselves and which they took ownership for the next generation of students. There was nothing remarkable about the ceremony, but I think it gives us a window into process. Dr. W. Edwards Deming said "If you can't describe what you're doing as a process, you don't know what you're doing." (For more information about Dr. Deming: Dr. W. Edwards Deming [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W._Edwards_Deming]) Seeing the world through the lens of process is a superpower for making things better. In this episode, we discuss what a process is, some types of outputs and inputs, and how I would have coached the organizers. I make reference to aviation safety so here are a couple of relevant links: The Golden Age of Aviation? [https://theconversation.com/longing-for-the-golden-age-of-air-travel-be-careful-what-you-wish-for-34177] How Flying Is Safer Today Than Any Time In The Past [https://simpleflying.com/how-safe-is-flying/] You can contact the host Keith Fong through the website Way of the Quality Warrior [https://www.wayofthequalitywarrior.com]

The Fundamental Defects In Quality Methods Training

What if the most common training practices in your field actually undermine the topic you're teaching? In Quality, we have exactly that situation in training the tools and methods of Quality. In this episode of the Way of the Quality Warrior podcast, we consider 4 common problems in the deployment of Quality tools and methods: the sink or swim school, overselling benefits and under-teaching weaknesses, using report formats as the procedure, and lack of teaching expertise. Failure Modes and Effects Analysis is referenced in the episode. Two excellent FMEA reference books are Carl Carlson's Effective FMEAs book [https://accendoreliability.com/fmea-resources/#The%20Book%20Effective%20FMEAs] and Michael Anleitner's Power of Deduction [https://a.co/d/cOuCLbP]. You can contact the host Keith Fong via the website Way of the Quality Warrior [https://www.wayofthequalitywarrior.com]