Way of the Quality Warrior

The Way of the Quality Warrior podcast is about becoming powerful at the function of Quality—revealing the true current state and envisioning the desired future state. The underlying paradigms and contexts for practicing Quality and using quality tools are discussed. It is common for quality tools to be used with only the most superficial understanding of their purpose and the larger organizational aims and philosophies. Topics of the podcast range from what we fight as Quality Warriors to psychology to paradigms and assumptions encountered in work to talking about certain tools and their appropriate usage.

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WQW 006: The Violin Shaped Object and Quality

The Violin Shaped Object and Quality

If you are looking to purchase a violin through an online vendor, reading reviews will quickly introduce you to the VSO–the Violin Shaped Object. It looks like a violin, but it doesn’t produce the sounds you expect from a violin.

In Quality, we have plenty of our own examples of the VSO phenomena—where there is the promise of Quality tools and initiatives leading to improved performance and then the reality of little to no sustained improvements or benefits.

This podcast episode explores some of the possible explanations for why quality initiatives and tools are failing when they are implemented.

Here is a link to an music store’s description of a Violin Shaped Object: https://kennedyviolins.com/pages/what-is-a-vso

The famed pianist Keith Jarrett also comes up in the episode. Here’s a link to a fan website that has links to many, many resources about Keith Jarrett: Unofficial Keith Jarrett website

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WQW 005: Diet Fads and Quality Initiatives—Two of a Kind

Diet Fads and Quality Initiatives—Two of a Kind

Diet Fads and Quality Initiatives seem to share a number of traits. This episode discusses those traits and introduces an idea that may explain why so often diets and quality initiatives fail.

Go to the Way of the Quality Warrior podcast page for all episodes, extra information, and to contact the host Keith Fong: Way of the Quality Warrior

Referenced paper: Fothergill, E., Guo, J., Howard, L., Kerns, J.C., Knuth, N.D., Brychta, R., Chen, K.Y., Skarulis, M.C., Walter, M., Walter, P.J. and Hall, K.D. (2016), Persistent metabolic adaptation 6 years after “The Biggest Loser” competition. Obesity, 24: 1612-1619. https://doi.org/10.1002/oby.21538

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WQW 004: Problem Solving Bankruptcy—Gradually And Then Suddenly

Problem Solving Bankruptcy—Gradually And Then Suddenly

Big problems and crises happen suddenly after they have been developing gradually. This is a consequence of problem solving bankruptcy.

Problem solving bankruptcy is when attempts to solve a problem have been unsuccessful and the team is out of ideas and tools. Then come desperate acts using random ideas. It’s a bad place to be.

This episode of the Way of the Quality Warrior podcast defines problem solving bankruptcy, what are creditors and false friends as well as what are true friends to the problem solving Quality Warrior.

To enjoy other episodes, see additional resources, and/or contact the host Keith Fong, go to www.wayofthequalitywarrior.com

Link to video of presentation to ASQ1401 Greater El Paso Section on July 19, 2022: Problem Solving Bankruptcy presentation video

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WQW 003: Building the Quality Army

Building the Quality Army

In Episode 1, quality for products and services was defined as “Presence of desired features and the degree of excellence of those features.” How do we develop the capability of the team so that our company delivers the quality that makes us the first choice of our customers?

Key Points in this episode:

•Customers have choices and not just between you and competitors who sell the same things

•Customer expectations are constantly increasing

•Competitors can buy the same things as you

•If you have an advantage, it will be in your people’s performance

•Everyone has to know what is known

•Excellence has to be cultivated

•There’s no end to the quality journey

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WQW 002: Who’s the Quality Enemy?

Who’s the Quality Enemy?

A Quality Warrior is fighting against someone or something–who or what is the enemy?

There are a couple of reasons that an organization will launch quality and continuous improvement initiatives. One of those reasons drives most of the focus.

What looks like one enemy is actually several.

The Quality Warrior doesn’t just fight the enemy but also must build the army.

Way of the Quality Warrior podcast page

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WQW 001: Where to Start?

Where to Start?

In this inaugural episode of Way of the Quality Warrior, host Keith Fong introduces himself and then shares the origin story of the podcast which takes us directly to the question: How can we define Quality?

The organization you’d expect to offer an authoritative definition of Quality lets us down. While disappointing, we continue our journey. Listen to see where we end up.

The host is Keith Fong, a consultant, teacher, and coach with over 20 years of experience in quality and continuous improvement.
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WQW 000: Blazing the Path to Better

Blazing the Path to Better

Does making things better motivate you?

The tools and concepts of quality are powerful weapons for improvement, but they require understanding a wide range of topics for effective use.

This podcast “Way of the Quality Warrior” will explore those ideas and use lessons from actual situations to gain the understanding we seek as professionals in business, engineering, and manufacturing.

The host is Keith Fong, a consultant, teacher, and coach with over 20 years of experience in quality and continuous improvement.
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