Metrics and Games
Abstract
Carl and Fred discussing a listener question on maintenance strategies, and a company mandate metric comparing preventive and corrective maintenance tasks.
SOR 809 The Value of Curiosity
The Value of Curiosity
Abstract
Carl and Fred discussing what brings enjoyment to one’s life and work, and how to explore and learn, with curiosity.
ᐅ Play Episode
Evaluating Facilitator Skills
How to Evaluate the Skills of a Facilitator?
Leading is about learning to be a facilitator – Ashif Shaikh
Ask yourself, when teams work very well together, what are the positive characteristics of the team leader? When teams are dysfunctional, and have poor outcomes, what skills of the leader need to be improved?
Let’s talk about facilitators
Giving proper feedback is a great way to help a colleague improve FMEA facilitation skills. Carefully listening to feedback from a colleague is an important way to improve one’s own FMEA facilitation skills. Both are aided by understanding and using facilitation quality objectives. [Read more…]
SOR 799 Changing Company Career Advice
Changing Company Career Advice
Abstract
Carl and Fred discussing advice for experienced engineers who are looking to change jobs or companies.
ᐅ Play Episode
SOR 798 Inside Company Career Advice
Inside Company Career Advice
Abstract
Carl and Fred talking about their experiences in their own careers and advices for others in developing and taking advantage of career opportunities within a company.
ᐅ Play Episode
Getting to Consensus
Getting to Consensus with the FMEA Team
“A genuine leader is not a searcher for consensus but a molder of consensus.”
Martin Luther King
One of the challenges for any team leader is bringing the team together and agreeing on decisions and actions going forward.
Consensus building is the best practice for all of the FMEA team decisions. This means the FMEA team takes the time to understand all sides of an issue and finds a solution or determines a course of action that is supported by all team members. Facilitating is a consensual activity.
Pugh Analysis and FMEA
“Once you make a decision, the universe conspires to make it happen.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
There are times when an FMEA facilitator has difficulty arriving at consensus with the FMEA team. This sometimes happens when there are two or more competing ideas or solutions and members of the team feel strongly about their personal idea or solution. One tool that can be used to solve this problem is called Pugh Analysis, a type of decision matrix.
SOR 783 A Facilitator’s Role
A Facilitator’s Role
Abstract
Carl and Fred discussing the essence of a facilitator’s role in leading meetings and reliability methods. This role is discussed from the viewpoint of reliability applications.
ᐅ Play Episode
SOR 782 A PFMEA Use Question
A PFMEA Use Question
Abstract
Carl and Fred discussing an interesting question from a subscriber to the Inside FMEA series. The question has to do with selected process steps on a Process FMEA, and the efficacy and value of the occurrence rating being verified later in pilot assembly or trial production.
ᐅ Play Episode
To Scribe or Not to Scribe
Mediocrity can talk, but it is for genius to observe. – Benjamin Disraeli
The Inside FMEA series has completed the primary facilitation skills. The next few articles will cover special facilitation topics.
This article talks about the pros and cons of using a “scribe” to help with facilitation. [Read more…]
SOR 777 We Are All Consultants
We Are All Consultants
Abstract
Carl and Fred discussing how much of what we do as reliability professionals falls into the role of consultants. Learning how to be better consultants will enhance the results of our day-to-day work.
ᐅ Play Episode
SOR 776 Transferring Knowledge
Transferring Knowledge
Abstract
Carl and Fred discussing the process of knowledge transfer from one person to others. This process is at the core of influencing others to achieve reliability objectives.
ᐅ Play Episode
Managing Time
“Most of us spend too much time on what is urgent, and not enough time on what is important.” – Steven Covey
FMEAs take time and cost money. If time is wasted, FMEAs will be unsupported and ineffective.
In this article, I’ll lay out some tips to keep FMEA in-meeting time as short as possible, without reducing the quality of results. Many of these tips are based on lessons learned from doing FMEAs the wrong way. This is not a complete list. I’m sure you have other lessons learned to save time, and would love to hear from you.
SOR 766 What Matters in a Demonstration Test
What Matters in a Demonstration Test?
Abstract
Carl and Fred discussing a listener question about how which failures to count in demonstration testing. Specifically, what about maintenance induced failures, supply chain failures and other types of failures, not typically part of the product design.
ᐅ Play Episode
SOR 765 Fast vs Thorough
Fast vs Thorough
Abstract
Carl and Fred discussing the need to be fast in smaller or startup companies. Reliability engineering can adapt to a fast culture and support lean product development, without compromising essential tasks.
ᐅ Play Episode