In November 2019, General Motors recalled over 640,000 pickup trucks worldwide because hot gas from a high-tech seat belt can set the carpeting on fire [1]. The recall covers 2019 and 2020Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra 1500 trucks. Also included are some 2020 Silverado and Sierra 2500 and 3500 heavy-duty pickups. All have carpet as a floor covering, GM says it uses a small explosion to move a piston that tightens the belts before a crash. The explosion can release hot gas through an opening in a bracket, possibly setting the carpet on fire. The company reports two fires but no injuries. [Read more…]
on Tools & Techniques
A listing in reverse chronological order of articles by:
- Dennis Craggs — Big Data Analytics series
- Perry Parendo — Experimental Design for NPD series
- Dev Raheja — Innovative Thinking in Reliability and Durability series
- Oleg Ivanov — Inside and Beyond HALT series
- Carl Carlson — Inside FMEA series
- Steven Wachs — Integral Concepts series
- Shane Turcott — Learning from Failures series
- Larry George — Progress in Field Reliability? series
- Gabor Szabo — R for Engineering series
- Matthew Reid — Reliability Engineering Using Python series
- Kevin Stewart — Reliability Reflections series
- Anne Meixner — Testing 1 2 3 series
- Ray Harkins — The Manufacturing Academy series
Do Not Just Make Data
Focusing on data only is a limiting view compared to wanting to make decisions. The decisions should come first, and the data to support that comes second. This video covers this conversation. [Read more…]
Trust with Your Information
Your R&D work is full of sensitive information. How do you know you can trust Perry’s Solutions with your process? This video covers this topic. [Read more…]
False Hustle
A coaching friend talked to me once about “False Hustle” – things that players do to look like they are working hard. In fact, it is a lazy habit and avoidable by doing things right. The same things happens in corporate situations with product development. This video gives examples for each environment. [Read more…]
Designing for Safety: Human Errors
Human Errors may be Unpreventable but, Preventing Harm is an Option
“You can’t cross the sea merely by standing and staring at the water” – said Rabindranath Tagore, Nobel Prize recipient for literature. Not preventing harm is an example of this quote.
The quotation is an inspirational reminder that people achieve nothing unless they take purposeful action that has measurable results. Taking action on potential human errors, so that harm to system users is totally prevented, is a very productive goal because its impact is highly significant.
This article mostly discusses safety in hospitals because everyone is familiar with safety issues in healthcare. The principles equally apply to any process such as design, manufacturing, construction, and aerospace (Boeing 737 Max is an example). [Read more…]
Variance Transmission
The concept of Variance Transmission is important for interpretation of DOE analysis results. This video talks about the concept to help you improve your decision making. [Read more…]
Where Were You 6 months Ago
When organizations bring me in, some times the team will say “where were you 6 months ago.” In several of those cases, I was already talking to them prior to the point of major project pain. If you ask, but do not need my support – I will tell you. But if you don’t ask, then you risk major project delays just to avoid a brief conversation. This video will discuss those unfortunate client situations. [Read more…]
Application Tip – Begin with Concerns
Stay Focused on Areas of Concern
“It is not possible for minds degraded by a host of trivial concerns to ever rise to anything great.” Jean-Jacques Rousseau
One of the most important elements of excellent FMEAs is to stay focused on areas of concern. What does this mean and how should it be applied?
Prototyping with a Purpose
Prototyping is not an objective in itself. There needs to be a clear purpose for the prototyping efforts. How can you make that happen? This video provides you ideas on how that can work for you. [Read more…]
Survivor – Product Development Edition – Breadth First Search
While watching a Survivor episode, a participant talked about his strategy for finding an idol. He said an approach used in optimization is called Breadth First Search. This video discusses the approach and how it applies to a Product Development process. [Read more…]
Can DOE Work in Software Development
Years ago someone told me that application of DOE into the software development world is the Holy Grail. After experiencing good applications in this space, we decided to share a perspective on how to apply it here. Listen and share your perspective with us. [Read more…]
Golden Rules for Becoming a Leader in Reliability
Forming an ideal system’s approach to designing new systems involves developing paradigms, standards, and design process models for developers to follow in their future design efforts. These paradigms are called “words of wisdom” or golden rules [1]. They become the guiding lights for your product management needs. [Read more…]
IQ OQ PQ – Process Development
The guidelines for process development of medical devices includes the topics of IQ OQ and PQ. This video discusses the high level needs and expectations for performing this work effectively. Done well, it is a competitive advantage. Done poorly, it will greatly delay time to market. [Read more…]
Action Strategies to Reduce Detection Risk
“Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory. Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat.” Sun Tzu
The Oxford English dictionary defines “detection” as “discovery (of what is unknown or hidden); finding out.”
Reference the article Understanding FMEA Detection – Part 1 which discusses how Detection is defined and applied in FMEA.
Metrics – Why Should I Care?
We just want to do our jobs and not get distracted collecting information in support of metrics given to us. However, engaging in the metric process will allow us to do a better job and garner the support for our jobs that we crave. [Read more…]
