Quality isn't free. The American Society for Quality (ASQ) suggests that the Cost of Quality is usually around 15 - 20% of sales, often as high as 40% in some organizations. From the resources spent preventing mistakes to the fallout of fixing them, the cost of quality shapes how businesses operate and compete. Far from being... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
Everyone has stories of quality problems and the anxiety they cause: The assembly line is down, a customer complained about the product, or the report missed an important element. In that moment the only thing that matters is that someone didn't achieve the quality expectations. But the very presence of defective products is not inherently... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
A single poor quality deliverable can not only create an issue with the customer, but initiate an internal cycle of poor quality culture—rippling through teams, eroding trust, and setting a precedent that’s hard to shake. That’s why project quality control isn’t just a checkbox; it’s a safeguard for reputation and morale alike. Luckily, project management... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
Stakeholders are to a project like players are to a team. Having the best players is one of the easiest ways to win the game, but strategy and tactics led by the coach (project manager) can go a long ways. Thus, successful projects know who their stakeholders are and what motivates them. That's where stakeholder... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
Although it isn't in the dictionary, the project management industry uses the term deliverables almost daily. I must say, I am tired of MS Word underlining it as a spelling mistake. Deliverables are the products, services, and results that a project produces. Thus, they are the cornerstone to project success. Every project has to produce something.... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
The difference between a successful project and an unsuccessful one can usually be narrowed down to one word: Planning. The Project Management Institute (PMI) reports that only 64% of projects meet their intended goals, and from my experience working for a large engineering company, this is probably not too far out. But there is a... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer