Time studies are a cornerstone of process improvement but doing them right requires more than a stopwatch and a clipboard. Over the years, I’ve learned that proper planning and execution can make all the difference in identifying meaningful opportunities for improvement. Here are some best practices I swear by: 🔍 Define your goals clearly. Before […]
Author: Kevin Howland
Debunking Common Process Improvement Myths: Are These Holding Your Business Back?
When I talk to business leaders about improving their processes, I often hear misconceptions that can derail or delay progress. Let’s tackle a few of these myths and uncover the truth that leads to meaningful change. Myth #1: Process improvement is only for manufacturing While process improvement has its roots in manufacturing, its principles—like reducing […]
✨ Happy New Year 2025! 🎉
As we welcome the new year, I’m reflecting on the opportunities for growth, collaboration, and innovation that lie ahead. At PEaQ, LLC, we’re passionate about helping businesses achieve Process Efficiency and Quality—empowering organizations to streamline operations, improve productivity, and unlock their full potential. In 2024, we were proud to make an impact, including helping a […]
Invitation to an Executive Roundtable
Making great decisions can be a difficult process, but it doesn’t have to be! While we often rely on feelings or intuition, decision making is truly a process of gathering information, considering alternatives, and then taking action. But what factors are influencing your decisions? How do you know if the data you collected is reliable? […]
Policies, Procedures, and Work Instructions
When talking with clients, I often find there is a misunderstanding when I ask about procedures or work instructions. Often, I am shown work instructions when I ask about a procedure, and vice versa. So, what are they, and what function do they serve? Starting at the top level, policies are usually implemented by senior […]
Five Core Principles of Lean Operations
When researching the topic of process improvement, the results can be overwhelming. I like to use the five core principles of lean operations to create permanent results:
5S: Mastering the Art of Sustaining Order
Usually, the fifth S, Sustain, is the biggest casualty in the work area,
ONE PIECE FLOW
A couple weeks ago, I worked with an assembler on one-piece flow of an item she was assembling. She was batching five at a time. When we started, she told me she had the best system and that there was no way my system was better. By the time we finished, she had changed her […]
What is Quality?
Quality is a multifaceted concept often misunderstood. While we’ve all heard car dealers tout the “high quality” of their pre-owned vehicles, the term remains elusive. In manufacturing and service industries, quality is more concretely defined as conformance to requirements. Essentially, it’s about how well a product or service meets its specifications or expectations. I often […]
Writing Clear Assembly Instructions
Have you ever spent hours wrestling with a flat-pack and instructions that seem written in hieroglyphics? We’ve all been there. But have you ever considered the challenges of crafting clear assembly instructions? It’s more than just listing steps; it’s about anticipating every potential user’s questions and creating a smooth, frustration-free experience. As a manufacturing engineer, […]
PFMEAs are fun!
The Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA) is one of industry’s Risk Management Tools. I know a few people that dreaded having to perform an FMEA. Eyes would roll, depression set in, and they would start shaking with fear. When I think about FMEA, I get excited, especially when it pertains to processes (PFMEA). Done […]
The 7 types of waste
When I improve a process, the first step is to fully understand that process. I break down each step to fully understand the reason behind it. Once the process has been mapped, I then look at opportunities to reduce waste. There are seven categories, Inventory, Overproduction, Motion, Transportation, Waiting, Overprocessing, and Defect. Inventory and Overproduction […]
Root Cause Analysis: A Lesson in Assumptions ️
Have you ever rushed through a Root Cause Analysis (RCA) and think you found the root cause, only to have it proven false? I have. It’s not a good feeling. But good things can come from it: lessons learned. In a past RCA, I learned a valuable lesson about assumptions. A customer flagged a product […]
Ditch the Hunches: Data Analysis Wins the Process Improvement Race
I was once told that determining KPIs and collecting data to establish a base line takes too long and to just make certain changes and then determine if the change worked. We’ve all been there – relying on intuition for process changes. But in today’s data-driven world, gut feelings often fall short. Panic then sets […]
Building Better: Top Quality Engineering Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)
In engineering, even small mistakes can have big consequences. Here are some common quality pitfalls I’ve seen, along with tips to ensure your projects are built to last: