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You are here: Home / Archives for Carl S. Carlson

Carl S. Carlson — Thought Leader

Author of Inside FMEA articles, FMEA Resources page, and multiple books, and a co-host on Speaking of Reliability.


This author's archive lists contributions of articles and episodes.

About Carl S. Carlson

Carl S. Carlson is a consultant and instructor in the areas of FMEA, reliability program planning and other reliability engineering disciplines, supporting over one hundred clients from a wide cross-section of industries. He has 35 years of experience in reliability testing, engineering, and management positions, including senior consultant with ReliaSoft Corporation, and senior manager for the Advanced Reliability Group at General Motors.

by Carl S. Carlson Leave a Comment

Quality Objective 1: FMEA PLAN

Good fortune is what happens when opportunity meets with planning   Thomas Edison

As summarized in the first article in this series, “New Series – The Quality of FMEAs,” each month, I will write an article focusing on one of the 14 FMEA Quality Objectives. The intent is to provide insights and application tips for evaluating how well an FMEA meets the quality objectives. By learning to apply FMEA quality objectives, you can help to ensure that product designs and manufacturing processes are safe and reliable. If you didn’t read the introductory article, now is a good time to read it, since it explains FMEA Quality Objectives, and how they are used to create high-quality FMEAs.

In this article, I will outline how to evaluate an FMEA Plan against the FMEA Quality Objective for FMEA Plans.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Articles, Inside FMEA Tagged With: FMEA Quality Objectives

by Carl S. Carlson Leave a Comment

Principles of Effective Teaching – A Summary

“I cannot teach anybody anything, I can only make them think.” — Socrates

Reliability engineers, FMEA team leaders, and other quality and reliability professionals are often called upon to teach the principles of reliability or FMEA. If you want to convey knowledge to another person, you are teaching. If you want to learn from another person who is teaching, you will benefit from learning these principles.

What is effective teaching?

Effective teaching results in the target knowledge and skills being conveyed to the student, with each student having a working knowledge of the content, and able to apply the subject matter successfully. You have successfully taught a subject when students understand the material and have attained the ability to apply the skills for the subject being taught. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Articles, Inside FMEA

by Carl S. Carlson Leave a Comment

New Series – The Quality of FMEAs

“Quality is not act.  It is a habit.”  – Aristotle

This month will begin a new series of articles on the quality of FMEAs, part of the Inside FMEAs series. The series will provide insights and application tips for evaluating how well an FMEA meets quality objectives. The intent is to create FMEAs that add value by accomplishing the objectives for FMEA, not filling out a form.

What is an FMEA Quality Objective?

We’ll begin with definitions from the Oxford English dictionary. “Quality” is defined as “the standard of something as measured against other things of a similar kind; the degree of excellence of something.” “Objective” is “a thing aimed at or sought; a goal.”

Building from the above definitions, FMEA quality objectives are specific goals or aims that measure the degree of excellence of an FMEA. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Articles, Inside FMEA Tagged With: FMEA Quality Objectives

by Carl S. Carlson Leave a Comment

Key Teaching Principle # 11: Prepare, Prepare, Prepare!

As covered in the first article in this series, Principles of Effective Teaching, reliability engineers, FMEA team leaders, and other quality and reliability professionals are often called upon to teach the principles of reliability or FMEA. Whether you are a student who wants to enhance your learning experience, an instructor who wants to improve teaching results, or an engineer who wishes to convey knowledge to another person, this series will offer practical knowledge and advice.

“Success depends upon previous preparation, and without such preparation there is sure to be failure.”   Confucius

Like any task in life, it is essential that instructors prepare well for each course being taught.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Articles, Inside FMEA Tagged With: teaching

by Carl S. Carlson Leave a Comment

Key Teaching Principle # 10: Application

As covered in the first article in this series, Principles of Effective Teaching, reliability engineers, FMEA team leaders, and other quality and reliability professionals are often called upon to teach the principles of reliability or FMEA. Whether you are a student who wants to enhance your learning experience, an instructor who wants to improve teaching results, or an engineer who wishes to convey knowledge to another person, this series will offer practical knowledge and advice.

I have been impressed with the urgency of doing. Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Being willing is not enough; we must do.  Leonardo da Vinci

Key Teaching Principle # 10 compels the instructor to ensure that each and every student learns how to apply the material being taught, in a variety of realistic scenarios. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Articles, Inside FMEA Tagged With: teaching

by Carl S. Carlson 2 Comments

Understanding FMEA Compensating Provisions

Risk is a function of how poorly a strategy will perform if the “wrong” scenario occurs. Michael Porter

The use of Compensating Provisions in FMEA is a key part of many FMEA standards. Regardless of what FMEA standard you are using, everyone who aspires to doing FMEAs properly should understand the role of mitigating the risk of very high severity.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Articles, Inside FMEA Tagged With: FMEA

by Carl S. Carlson Leave a Comment

Key Teaching Principle # 9: Constructive Feedback

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As covered in the first article in this series, Principles of Effective Teaching, reliability engineers, FMEA team leaders, and other quality and reliability professionals are often called upon to teach the principles of reliability or FMEA. Whether you are a student who wants to enhance your learning experience, an instructor who wants to improve teaching results, or an engineer who wishes to convey knowledge to another person, this series will offer practical knowledge and advice.

Provide constructive feedback to students

“True intuitive expertise is learned from prolonged experience with good feedback on mistakes”  Daniel Kahneman

Key Teaching Principle #9 is the instructor always answers questions in a meaningful way, and provides consistently positive critiques to students to enhance their learning. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Articles, Inside FMEA Tagged With: teaching

by Carl S. Carlson 2 Comments

Key Teaching Principle # 8: Pace of Teaching

As covered in the first article in this series, Principles of Effective Teaching, reliability engineers, FMEA team leaders, and other quality and reliability professionals are often called upon to teach the principles of reliability or FMEA. Whether you are a student who wants to enhance your learning experience, an instructor who wants to improve teaching results, or an engineer who wishes to convey knowledge to another person, this series will offer practical knowledge and advice.

Manage pace of teaching to optimize learning

“The way we spend our time defines who we are.”  Jonathan Estrin [Read more…]

Filed Under: Articles, Inside FMEA Tagged With: teaching

by Carl S. Carlson Leave a Comment

Key Teaching Principle # 7: Clarity

As covered in the first article in this series, Principles of Effective Teaching, reliability engineers, FMEA team leaders, and other quality and reliability professionals are often called upon to teach the principles of reliability or FMEA. Whether you are a student who wants to enhance your learning experience, an instructor who wants to improve teaching results, or an engineer who wishes to convey knowledge to another person, this series will offer practical knowledge and advice.

Speak with Clarity and Confidence

It isn’t about the words you say. It’s about the energetic message you send. Pete Carroll [Read more…]

Filed Under: Articles, Inside FMEA, on Tools & Techniques

by Carl S. Carlson Leave a Comment

Key Teaching Principle #6: Stories

As covered in the first article in this series, Principles of Effective Teaching, reliability engineers, FMEA team leaders, and other quality and reliability professionals are often called upon to teach the principles of reliability or FMEA. Whether you are a student who wants to enhance your learning experience, an instructor who wants to improve teaching results, or an engineer who wishes to convey knowledge to another person, this series will offer practical knowledge and advice.

Strengthen Your Message with Stories

The shortest distance between truth and a human being is a story.  Anthony de Mello

Key Teaching Principle #6 is the instructor uses stories and personal experiences to deepen learning.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Articles, Inside FMEA Tagged With: teaching

by Carl S. Carlson Leave a Comment

Key Teaching Principle #5 Convey Interest and Passion

As covered in the first article in this series, Principles of Effective Teaching, reliability engineers, FMEA team leaders, and other quality and reliability professionals are often called upon to teach the principles of reliability or FMEA. Whether you are a student who wants to enhance your learning experience, an instructor who wants to improve teaching results, or an engineer who wishes to convey knowledge to another person, this series will offer practical knowledge and advice.

Conveying Interest and Passion When Teaching

“A teacher who is attempting to teach without inspiring the pupil with a desire to learn is hammering on cold iron.” Horace Mann

What is Interest and how does it enhance learning?

The definition of interest is “a feeling that accompanies or causes special attention to something or someone.” [Read more…]

Filed Under: Articles, Inside FMEA Tagged With: teaching

by Carl S. Carlson Leave a Comment

Key Teaching Principle # 4: Questioning

As covered in the first article in this series, Principles of Effective Teaching, reliability engineers, FMEA team leaders, and other quality and reliability professionals are often called upon to teach the principles of reliability or FMEA. Whether you are a student who wants to enhance your learning experience, an instructor who wants to improve teaching results, or an engineer who wishes to convey knowledge to another person, this series will offer practical knowledge and advice.

The Importance of Questioning

“No one can teach, if by teaching we mean the transmission of knowledge, in any mechanical fashion, from one person to another. The most that can be done is that one person who is more knowledgeable than another can, by asking a series of questions, stimulate the other to think, and so cause him to learn for himself.”   Socrates

Questioning is important for transferring knowledge and building relationships. It is an essential part of effective teaching. 

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Articles, Inside FMEA Tagged With: teaching

by Carl S. Carlson Leave a Comment

Key Teaching Principle #3: Managing Attention

As covered in the first article in this series, Principles of Effective Teaching, reliability engineers, FMEA team leaders, and other quality and reliability professionals are often called upon to teach the principles of reliability or FMEA. Whether you are a student who wants to enhance your learning experience, an instructor who wants to improve teaching results, or an engineer who wishes to convey knowledge to another person, this series will offer practical knowledge and advice.

The Importance of Managing Attention

“Attention is the taking possession by the mind, in clear and vivid form, of one out of what seem several simultaneously possible objects or trains of thought.”  William James

Whether you are conveying knowledge to one person or teaching a class, there is no more important factor than getting and maintaining the attention of the other person. Managing attention is a skill that can be learned.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Articles, Inside FMEA

by Carl S. Carlson Leave a Comment

Key Teaching Principle #2: Connection

  As covered in the first article in this series, Principles of Effective Teaching, reliability engineers, FMEA team leaders, and other quality and reliability professionals are often called upon to teach the principles of reliability or FMEA. Whether you are a student who wants to enhance your learning experience, an instructor who wants to improve teaching results, or an engineer who wishes to convey knowledge to another person, this series will offer practical knowledge and advice.

The Role of Personal Connection When Teaching

Invisible threads are the strongest ties   Friedrich Nietzsche

Key Teaching Principle # 2 is the instructor maintains a genuine connection with each of the students.

Our scientific knowledge has accelerated so rapidly that we sometimes forget the importance of human connection to our well being.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Articles, Inside FMEA

by Carl S. Carlson Leave a Comment

Key Teaching Principle #1: Understanding

As covered in the first article in this series, Principles of Effective Teaching, reliability engineers, FMEA team leaders, and other quality and reliability professionals are often called upon to teach the principles of reliability or FMEA. Whether you are a student who wants to enhance your learning experience, an instructor who wants to improve teaching results, or an engineer who wishes to convey knowledge to another person, this series will offer practical knowledge and advice.

Understand What You Teach

Key Teaching Principle # 1 is the instructor demonstrates a solid understanding of fundamentals, speaking directly to students, and not reading slides.

“Human behavior flows from three main sources: desire, emotion, and knowledge.” Plato

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Articles, Inside FMEA

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