“If you don’t know where you are going, you’ll end up someplace else.” – Yogi Berra
In this article, I will outline how to evaluate an individual FMEA against the FMEA Quality Objective for Scope. [Read more…]
Inside FMEA
With the Inside FMEA series of articles, my intention is to bring to life the subject of FMEA, and provide value to readers from all levels of experience.
Whether you are new to FMEA, or an FMEA expert, it is my sincere desire that each and every person who reads Inside FMEA articles will discover new insights about FMEA, and experience improved success in FMEA applications.
The first article, called “Welcome to Inside FMEA”, will introduce the series, and provide a glimpse of what is to come.
Readers are encouraged to contact me with any questions about FMEA, or feedback on Inside FMEA articles. Questions, feedback, and ideas for future articles can be sent to carl.carlson@effectivefmeas.com. I will personally respond to all questions and feedback.
I’m excited to bring this new series to Accendo, and hope you enjoy reading the articles, as much as I enjoy writing them. As I say to readers of my book, "best wishes for effective FMEAs."
Carl S. Carlson
FMEA 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.
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…]
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…]
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.
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…]
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.
Key Teaching Principle # 9: Constructive Feedback
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…]
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…]
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…]
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.
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…]
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.
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.
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.
