Key Characteristics Revisited
Abstract
Carl and Fred having a new conversation about the age-old topic of key characteristics, and how they are used to improve products and processes.
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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.
Carl and Fred having a new conversation about the age-old topic of key characteristics, and how they are used to improve products and processes.
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Carl and Fred discussing the value of questioning in the process of learning and personal growth. Students and instructors should question each other as part of learning, engineering teams should question each other as part of achieving consensus.
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Carl and Fred discussing the origin and meaning of the reliability “bathtub” curve, and why it is not useful as a visual analogy.
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“Seek first to understand, then to be understood.” – Stephen Covey
A good listener tries to understand thoroughly what the other person is saying. In the end the listener may disagree sharply. However, before voicing disagreement, the active listener wants to know exactly what the other person is saying and why. [Read more…]
by Carl S. Carlson Leave a Comment
“Seek first to understand, then to be understood.” – Stephen Covey
A good listener tries to understand thoroughly what the other person is saying. In the end the listener may disagree sharply. However, before voicing disagreement, the active listener wants to know exactly what the other person is saying and why. [Read more…]
Carl and Fred discussing the planning that goes into any reliability program.
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Carl and Fred discuss ISO standards and how they impact quality and reliablity of products. The discussion begins with the ISO 9000 series and proceeds to a discussion of standards in general.
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“A thought, even a possibility, can shatter and transform us.” – Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche
One of my favorite FMEA facilitation techniques, and one that can significantly enhance meaningful participation from FMEA team members, is called “Asking Thought-starter Questions.”
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Carl and Fred discussing the underlying mechanisms of failure, and how they impact our analysis and understanding of reliability.
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Carl and Fred take on the subject of Risk Priority Number, also called RPN, when used in FMEA. Is RPN a good way to prioritize risk in an FMEA, or is there a better way?
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FMEA facilitators can generate deep discussion and stimulate creative ideas by asking probing questions.
“A good question is never answered. It is not a bolt to be tightened into place but a seed to be planted and to bear more seed toward the hope of greening the landscape of idea.” – John Ciardi
The Oxford English dictionary defines “probe” as “seek to uncover information about something.” [Read more…]
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Carl and Fred discussing the challenges associated with implementing reliability programs.
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“It was impossible to get a conversation going, everybody was talking too much.” – Yogi Berra
Based on actual surveys of FMEA team leaders, the most common concern is how to control discussion during team meetings. This article will provide insight into this critical facilitation skill, and is a companion to the previous article in this series: Facilitation Skill #1: – Encouraging Participation.