Accendo Reliability

Your Reliability Engineering Professional Development Site

  • Home
  • About
    • Contributors
  • Reliability.fm
    • Speaking Of Reliability
    • Rooted in Reliability: The Plant Performance Podcast
    • Quality during Design
    • Critical Talks
    • Dare to Know
    • Maintenance Disrupted
    • Metal Conversations
    • The Leadership Connection
    • Practical Reliability Podcast
    • Reliability Matters
    • Reliability it Matters
    • Maintenance Mavericks Podcast
    • Women in Maintenance
    • Accendo Reliability Webinar Series
    • Asset Reliability @ Work
  • Articles
    • CRE Preparation Notes
    • on Leadership & Career
      • Advanced Engineering Culture
      • Engineering Leadership
      • Managing in the 2000s
      • Product Development and Process Improvement
    • on Maintenance Reliability
      • Aasan Asset Management
      • CMMS and Reliability
      • Conscious Asset
      • EAM & CMMS
      • Everyday RCM
      • History of Maintenance Management
      • Life Cycle Asset Management
      • Maintenance and Reliability
      • Maintenance Management
      • Plant Maintenance
      • Process Plant Reliability Engineering
      • ReliabilityXperience
      • RCM Blitz®
      • Rob’s Reliability Project
      • The Intelligent Transformer Blog
    • on Product Reliability
      • Accelerated Reliability
      • Achieving the Benefits of Reliability
      • Apex Ridge
      • Metals Engineering and Product Reliability
      • Musings on Reliability and Maintenance Topics
      • Product Validation
      • Reliability Engineering Insights
      • Reliability in Emerging Technology
    • on Risk & Safety
      • CERM® Risk Insights
      • Equipment Risk and Reliability in Downhole Applications
      • Operational Risk Process Safety
    • on Systems Thinking
      • Communicating with FINESSE
      • The RCA
    • on Tools & Techniques
      • Big Data & Analytics
      • Experimental Design for NPD
      • Innovative Thinking in Reliability and Durability
      • Inside and Beyond HALT
      • Inside FMEA
      • Integral Concepts
      • Learning from Failures
      • Progress in Field Reliability?
      • Reliability Engineering Using Python
      • Reliability Reflections
      • Testing 1 2 3
      • The Manufacturing Academy
  • eBooks
  • Resources
    • Accendo Authors
    • FMEA Resources
    • Feed Forward Publications
    • Openings
    • Books
    • Webinars
    • Journals
    • Higher Education
    • Podcasts
  • Courses
    • 14 Ways to Acquire Reliability Engineering Knowledge
    • Reliability Analysis Methods online course
    • Measurement System Assessment
    • SPC-Process Capability Course
    • Design of Experiments
    • Foundations of RCM online course
    • Quality during Design Journey
    • Reliability Engineering Statistics
    • Quality Engineering Statistics
    • An Introduction to Reliability Engineering
    • An Introduction to Quality Engineering
    • Process Capability Analysis course
    • Root Cause Analysis and the 8D Corrective Action Process course
    • Return on Investment online course
    • CRE Preparation Online Course
    • Quondam Courses
  • Webinars
    • Upcoming Live Events
  • Calendar
    • Call for Papers Listing
    • Upcoming Webinars
    • Webinar Calendar
  • Login
    • Member Home

by Robert Allen Leave a Comment

Who called this meeting, anyway?

Who called this meeting, anyway?

Often, when the completion of a task or deliverable is needed, a meeting is a good way to establish mutual understanding of the way forward.  With many resources working remote these days, effective meetings are taking on even greater importance.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Articles, on Leadership & Career, Product Development and Process Improvement Tagged With: Morning Meeting, Process Improvement, project governance, Project Management

by Robert Allen Leave a Comment

Tiered Meetings Structure Enables Production Oversight & Support

Tiered Meetings Structure Enables Production Oversight & Support

A complex production process requires a mixture of leadership, governance and management.  In this article, we’ll discuss a tiered meetings structure that can effectively enable this.  Empowerment, escalation paths, accountability and responsibility are included as some key ingredients.  We’ll start with the following diagram:

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Articles, on Leadership & Career, Product Development and Process Improvement Tagged With: engineering, lean manufacturing, project governance, Project Management, Project Manager, Project Schedule, six sigma, Statistical Process control (SPC) and process capability

by Robert Allen Leave a Comment

Fundamentals of Applying a Structured Approach

Fundamentals of Applying a Structured Approach

In reviewing several previous articles in this article series, it’s apparent there is much in common with product development, project management and process improvement.

Let’s look at a brief list that considers a structured approach vs. unstructured

While this list is pretty “high-level” it reveals the importance of project leadership, governance and management.  A structured approach (for example a phase-gate structure, DMAIC or agile/scrum) enables management and planning, which enables governance and governance enables leadership.

Some structured approaches may be more suitable than others depending on the type of project.  However, any structure (with leadership, governance and management in mind) is probably better than none.

 

Filed Under: Articles, on Leadership & Career, Product Development and Process Improvement Tagged With: agile, agile product development, DMAIC, lean manufacturing, lean six sigma, portfolio management, product life cycle process, program management, project governance, Project Management, Project Management Process, Project Planning Checklist, Project Schedule, Projects Planning, scrum, scrum master, six sigma

by Robert Allen Leave a Comment

Benefits of Comparing Lean/Kaizen with Agile/Scrum

Benefits of Comparing Lean/Kaizen with Agile/Scrum

Our previous article covered the benefits of comparing the DMAIC problem solving thought process with project management.  The key takeaway was DMAIC can be more effectively executed using “measure & plan” phase.

Now let’s compare and contrast agile/scrum with lean/kaizen.  While agile is primarily used in software development, there are many valid comparisons.  By making this comparison, those familiar with kaizen will improve their understanding of agile and vice-versa.  Also we’ll cover key success factors that are applicable to both.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Articles, on Leadership & Career, Product Development and Process Improvement Tagged With: agile, agile product development, DMAIC, lean manufacturing, lean six sigma, portfolio management, product life cycle process, program management, project governance, Project Management, Project Management Process, Project Planning Checklist, Project Schedule, Projects Planning, scrum, scrum master, six sigma

by Robert Allen Leave a Comment

Benefits of Comparing DMAIC with Project Management

Benefits of Comparing DMAIC with Project Management

Our previous article covered the benefits of comparing waterfall with agile, emphasizing the benefit of planning the agile process and product backlog content.  In this article we’ll compare the Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control (DMAIC) thought process, with a project management thought process.

DMAIC is a problem-solving thought process applies critical thinking to ensure robust problem solving.  (See our previous article on the subject here.)  DMAIC is not necessarily a process by which projects are managed, however.  Recall the high-level project management process as follows:

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Articles, on Leadership & Career, Product Development and Process Improvement Tagged With: DMAIC, lean manufacturing, lean six sigma, portfolio management, product life cycle process, program management, project governance, Project Management, Project Management Process, Project Planning Checklist, Project Schedule, Projects Planning, six sigma

by Robert Allen Leave a Comment

Benefits of Comparing Agile with Waterfall

Benefits of Comparing Agile with Waterfall

Previous articles have covered a proposed waterfall product development phase/gate process.  This article will compare and contrast waterfall with Agile product development, especially with respect to the front-end of the process.

Let’s start with a proposed waterfall product development phase/gate process.  (The process below implies a hardware product, however, it can be considered any waterfall process for now.)

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Articles, on Leadership & Career, Product Development and Process Improvement Tagged With: agile, agile product development, agile product validation, customer value, Lean Project Management, New Product Development, portfolio analysis, project approval committee, project governance, Project Management, requirements management, scrum, scrum master

by Robert Allen 1 Comment

Simplified Project Management (Part 2)

Simplified Project Management (Part 2)

In Part 1 of this article series, we explored a simplified project management process using a phase/gate structure that enables a robust project planning and execution thought process.  Now let’s identify some deliverables within each of the phases.

These deliverables would be required and reviewed at each of the gates.  Below is a brief description of each:

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Articles, on Leadership & Career, Product Development and Process Improvement Tagged With: DMAIC, lean manufacturing, lean six sigma, portfolio management, product life cycle process, program management, project governance, Project Management, six sigma

by Robert Allen Leave a Comment

Simplified Project Management (Part 1)

Simplified Project Management (Part 1)

Organizations often accumulate a list of desirable projects, however, may not have project management bandwidth to filter or manage them effectively.

While project management is a respected discipline, the Project Management Institute Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) has swollen to several hundred pages.  This level of detail and complexity makes it difficult to absorb and apply for ‘informal’ project managers. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Articles, on Leadership & Career, Product Development and Process Improvement Tagged With: DMAIC, lean manufacturing, lean six sigma, portfolio management, product life cycle process, program management, project governance, Project Management, six sigma

by Robert Allen Leave a Comment

Is a Task a Deliverable?

Is a Task a Deliverable?

Tasks (or action items) are a fundamental building block of an ongoing work-effort or project schedule.  While we tend to think of completed actions as deliverables, a project schedule can also be considered a project deliverable….and the value of well-written task (within the schedule or otherwise) is often overlooked.

Generally, a task begins with a verb (some action to be performed) to achieve a milestone or outcome to some desired level of completion.  (Recall a previous related article where we discussed the “definition of done”.)

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Articles, on Leadership & Career, Product Development and Process Improvement Tagged With: customer value, lean product development, Lean Project Management, New Product Development, portfolio analysis, project approval committee, project governance, Project Management, requirements management, resource management

by Robert Allen Leave a Comment

Requirements versus Stories

Requirements versus Stories

In this article, we’ll compare and contrast the definition of a requirement, with a ‘story’, which is used in agile/scrum.

Both requirements and stories establish a clear understanding of customer needs in the context of desired functionality.

The framework for each is somewhat different, however.

Recall the definition of a requirement:

…a requirement defines “what the product (or process) design shall provide <output> at operating conditions <input>”

The framework of a story is as follows:

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Articles, on Leadership & Career, Product Development and Process Improvement Tagged With: agile, agile product development, customer value, Lean Project Management, New Product Development, PLC process, product development, project governance, Project Management, scrum

by Robert Allen 1 Comment

The Three Disciplines and Change Management

The Three Disciplines and Change Management

In this weeks article, we’ll explore how the three disciplines (product development, process improvement and project management) can enable change management.

First, it’s worth reflecting on how these disciplines fit together.  Starting with product development our goal is to understand customer value, and to optimize the product (or service) by maximizing customer value and minimizing cost.  It can be seen that, process improvement naturally complements this objective as way to further reduce costs.  In addition, project management establishes how product development and process improvement is planned, executed, controlled and monitored.

Now let’s look at some key attributes of change management, along with elements of the three disciplines mentioned above.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Articles, on Leadership & Career, Product Development and Process Improvement Tagged With: agile product development, customer value, Lean Project Management, New Product Development, PLC process, product development, project governance, Project Management, resource management

by Robert Allen Leave a Comment

Project Governance and Resource Management

Project Governance and Resource Management

All projects or programs have a formal or informal resource management process, with the goal of completing projects on time, within budget and with good project quality.

In order to meet this goal, the resource management objectives are:

  • the quantity of estimated resources is accurate
  • the resource role requirements are clear and precise
  • the resources meet or exceed the expectations (requirements)
  • the resources are added in a timely manner
  • cost of the resources is minimized to the extent possible

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Articles, on Leadership & Career, Product Development and Process Improvement Tagged With: agile product development, agile product validation, customer value, Lean Project Management, New Product Development, portfolio analysis, project approval committee, project governance, Project Management, requirements management, resource management, scrum, scrum master

by Robert Allen Leave a Comment

Lessons from Scrum for Opportunity Champions

Lessons from Scrum for Opportunity Champions

In a previous article we compared and contrasted the role & responsibility for a scrum master vs. project manager/core team leader (CTL/PM).

In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the scrum product owner role and compare it with the product development team’s “opportunity champion”.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Articles, on Leadership & Career, Product Development and Process Improvement Tagged With: agile product development, agile product validation, customer value, Lean Project Management, New Product Development, portfolio analysis, project approval committee, project governance, Project Management, requirements management, scrum, scrum master

by Robert Allen 2 Comments

Lessons from Scrum for Product Development Teams

Lessons from Scrum for Product Development Teams

In a previous article, we explored agile product development with a focus on early product validation.

There are additional key enablers from agile/scrum that can be borrowed and applied to any product development process, however.

In this article, we’ll compare and contrast the role & responsibility for scrum masters vs. project managers/core team leaders.

Let’s start with (all) the basic scrum roles:

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Articles, on Leadership & Career, Product Development and Process Improvement Tagged With: agile product development, agile product validation, customer value, Human Resource Management, lean product development, Lean Project Management, New Product Development, portfolio analysis, project approval committee, project governance, Project Management, requirements management, scrum, scrum master

by Robert Allen Leave a Comment

Agile Requirements Discovery and Validation

Agile Requirements Discovery and Validation

Many companies pursue a product development strategy that provides a product (or service) which meets customer needs sooner (rather than later), and then makes adjustments after the product has been fielded.

Pursuing this approach means accepting the associated risks.  What if a critical to quality or critical to reliability characteristic fails to meet customer needs?  A product could fail miserably by eliminating important product development work scope and accelerating time-to-market.  By the time an adjustment or “pivot” can be made it may be too late, or too costly to correct.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Articles, on Leadership & Career, Product Development and Process Improvement Tagged With: agile product development, agile product validation, customer value, Human Resource Management, lean product development, Lean Project Management, New Product Development, portfolio analysis, project approval committee, project governance, Project Management, requirements management

Next Page »
The Accendo Reliablity logo of a sun face in circuit

Please login to have full access.




Lost Password? Click here to have it emailed to you.

Not already a member? It's free and takes only a moment to create an account with your email only.

Join

Your membership brings you all these free resources:

  • Live, monthly reliability webinars & recordings
  • eBooks: Finding Value and Reliability Maturity
  • How To articles & insights
  • Podcasts & additional information within podcast show notes
  • Podcast suggestion box to send us a question or topic for a future episode
  • Course (some with a fee)
  • Largest reliability events calendar
  • Course on a range of topics - coming soon
  • Master reliability classes - coming soon
  • Basic tutorial articles - coming soon
  • With more in the works just for members
Speaking of Reliability podcast logo

Subscribe and enjoy every episode

RSS
iTunes
Stitcher

Join Accendo

Receive information and updates about podcasts and many other resources offered by Accendo Reliability by becoming a member.

It’s free and only takes a minute.

Join Today

Dare to Know podcast logo

Subscribe and enjoy every episode

RSS
iTunes
Stitcher

Join Accendo

Receive information and updates about podcasts and many other resources offered by Accendo Reliability by becoming a member.

It’s free and only takes a minute.

Join Today

Accendo Reliability Webinar Series podcast logo

Subscribe and enjoy every episode

RSS
iTunes
Stitcher

Join Accendo

Receive information and updates about podcasts and many other resources offered by Accendo Reliability by becoming a member.

It’s free and only takes a minute.

Join Today

Recent Articles

  • So, What’s Still Wrong with Maintenance
  • Foundation of Great Project Outcomes – Structures
  • What is the Difference Between Quality Assurance and Quality Control?
  • Covariance of the Kaplan-Meier Estimators?
  • Use Of RFID In Process Safety: Track Hazardous Chemicals And Track Personnel

© 2023 FMS Reliability · Privacy Policy · Terms of Service · Cookies Policy

This site uses cookies to give you a better experience, analyze site traffic, and gain insight to products or offers that may interest you. By continuing, you consent to the use of cookies. Learn how we use cookies, how they work, and how to set your browser preferences by reading our Cookies Policy.