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What Would The Founding Fathers of Quality Think of AI?

Back in December of 2019 through March of 2020, I wrote a series in my I-Connect007 column on the Founding Fathers of Quality. With AI taking over the world, I wanted to posit how these quality gurus would apply this technology to their core quality management philosophies.

Old Philosophies, New Tools

Quality management as a discipline was built by a handful of people who never touched a neural network, yet whose ideas map onto artificial intelligence with almost eerie precision. Dr. Walter Shewhart, Dr. Edwards Deming, Dr. Joseph Juran, Philip Crosby, Dr. Kaoru Ishikawa, and Shigeo Shingo each built a philosophy around a specific lever for improving quality: statistical rigor, reducing variation, prioritizing effort, eliminating defects, involving the workforce, and error-proofing the process itself. AI doesn’t replace any of those levers. It sharpens each one, and imagining how each figure would actually put it to work says as much about their original thinking as it does about the technology.   CLICK HERE TO READ THE COLUMN

Reach out for all your quality needs and to prep for the upcoming 2026 version of ISO 9001.

920-841-3478

Steve@tracQMS.com

 

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Elite RF receives AS9100D: 2016 Certification

PRESS RELEASE

The Right Approach Consulting

August 31, 2026

Hanover Park, IL

I am proud to announce that client Elite RF, an industry-leading RF amplifier and generator manufacturer, has received certification to AS9100D 2016. This was not your typical QMS upgrade for a couple reasons. First, after receiving ISO 9001: 2015 two years ago, Elite RF moved all manufacturing operations in-house. The second was the decision to upgrade the QMS to certify the QMS to both AS9100D for Aerospace and ISO 13485: 2016 for medical device manufacturing concurrently. This success of this project was due to 100% engagement by the entire workforce and management team. The certification audit for ISO 13485: 2016 is currently being scheduled to complete their trifecta of quality certifications. Special thanks to Deep Patel, COO, for spearheading the project internally and inspiring a quality culture throughout the organization.

Ami Patel, Chief Administrative Officer & Partner, stated: “Achieving AS9100 certification is an exciting milestone for Elite RF and reinforces our commitment to quality and reliability in the aerospace and defense industries. As we work toward ISO 13485, we look forward to bringing that same commitment to our growing medical market and continuing to deliver products our customers can trust. Special thanks to our quality management consultant Steve Williams of TRAC  for his guidance through our QMS certification journeys.”

About Elite RF

Elite RF specializes in solid-state RF and microwave power amplification technology with a strong emphasis on customer satisfaction. Utilizing their in-house team of RF engineering experts and advanced quality-controlled production facility, they offer robust RF amplifiers up to 40GHz and 100kW of power. From custom requirements to off-the-shelf availability, Elite RF collaborates with their customers to offer a cost-effective amplifier with industry leading warranty.

For more information go to: http://www.eliterfllc.com

Contact Steve for all of your QMS needs.

Steve@tracQMS.com

920-841-3478

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PCB Vertical Integration: From a Master’s Thesis to Reality

Vertical integration in PCB fabrication is a genuinely contested strategic question with real tradeoffs on both sides. The core tension: fabricators that integrate up into design and down into assembly gain margin and stickiness, but risk diluting their manufacturing focus and alienating the EMS and design-house partners they depend on. My latest IConnect PCB007 column on The Pros & Cons of PCB Vertical Integration compares the results of my MBA thesis 25 years ago to today’s reality. Has anything changed? Read the article and find out by clicking on this link: THE PROS & CONS OF PCB VERTICAL INTEGRATION

Reach out to the industry leader for all of your quality and leadership needs at:

Steve@tracQMS.com

920-841-3478

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Talking Manufacturing with Steve: Beyond Confidence with Divya Parekh on Talk4TV

In case you missed Tuesday’s blog that focused this interview on Steve’s new leadership book Notorious, I’m reblogging it on the TRAC website as much of the conversation was regarding manufacturing obstacles, solutions and the importance of a solid quality management system. Below are the Talk4TV link plus iHeart & Apple Podcast versions:

 Talk4TV Beyond Confidence

iHeart Beyond Confidence Podcast

Apple Beyond Confidence Podcast

 

Here for all your quality needs:

AS9100/ISO 9001, ISO 13485, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, IATF 16949

Steve@tracQMS.com

920-841-3478

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Get Ready for ISO 9001 Version 6

We are well past the normal 5-7 years that a new revision of the ISO 9001 international quality standard gets released. Word on the street is that it may be finished toward the end of 2025 with implementation starting in 2026. CLICK HERE  to continue reading my column on a history of ISO revisions and what significant changes we can expect in the upcoming Version 6.

Screenshot

 

Reach out to the industry’s foremost expert on quality management to start planning on your ISO/AS9100 upgrade to the new requirements

Steve@tracQMS.com

920-841-3478

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Occupational Health & Safety: What is ISO 45001 and why do you need it?

ISO 45001 provides significant value to organizations looking to reduce workplace incidents and demonstrate OH&S commitment. ISO 45001 can be seamlessly integrated into your current QMS as an IMS (Integrated Management System). No need to change your QMS structure, numbering scheme or functionality, I work with you to painlessly integrate these into the existing management system.

ISO 45001 establishes criteria for an OH&S policy, objectives, planning, implementation, operation, auditing and review. Key elements include leadership commitment, worker participation, hazard identification and risk assessment, legal and regulatory compliance, emergency contingency planning, incident investigation and continual improvement. Whether you have a union environment or  local requirements, keeping your employees safe is not only a moral and ethical responsibility, but just good business. Near misses, lost time due to accidents and loss in morale are costs that directly erode the bottom line.

ISO 45001 Quality Management Certification Badge. Vector illustration.

Whether you currently hold ISO 9001, ISO 13485, AS9100 or IATF 16949, trust the industry expert, TRAC, to guide you through this transition quickly and efficiently.

Benefits

  • Framework to proactively manage OH&S risks
  • Reduced workplace incidents and injuries
  • Demonstrated commitment to worker health and safety
  • Ensured compliance with OH&S regulations
  • Increased organizational resilience
  • Reduced costs through continual improvement of OH&S performance

Reach out for a free phone consultation to get started.

Steve Williams

President – The Right Approach Consulting

Steve@tracQMS.com

920-841-3478

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TRAC Celebrates Tenth Anniversary

First, I would like to thank the 50+ clients that have believed in my company and enabled me to keep the business going strong heading into year 11. A special thanks to the number of customers that have been with me in various capacities since day one; your loyalty is greatly appreciated. I am also proud to announce a 100% certification track record with my clients across the international standards of AS9100/ISO 9001, ISO 13485, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, IATF 16949, and MIL-PRF-31032.

The company was founded September 30th, 2013, so while the actual 10-year anniversary was last September I am extending the celebration as there will be a special anniversary offer extended to all of my clients over the past 10 years. Separate emails will be sent out to these clients with details, but a summary of the offer is outlined below.

 

10-year QMS Upgrade

Every year I make changes to my core Quality Management System that improves, simplifies and increases efficiency. The system is also updated based on the constantly changing auditor preferences and interpretations of the standard(s). This will be a one-time QMS upgrade that incorporates all the improvements over the past 10 years and that can be accomplished over a one-month period via onsite and online meetings, including training to the new upgrades. Typical results are a 40-50% reduction in procedures, forms, tasks, etc., with an ROI of only 6-months or less. The number of clients in any given month will be limited to allow appropriate time to each client, but the offer will  be extended as many months as needed to accommodate all that are interested.

Once again, many thanks to my clients in helping to achieve this milestone, and I look forward to the next ten!

Steve

 

Contact me for all your quality needs

Steve@tracQMS.com

920-841-3478

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Join me today: IPC Webinar “The Importance of a Good PCB Design Package”

In conjunction with the IPC, join me on this live Webinar Wednesday, March 13th, 2024. Sign up using this registration link to the webinar https://www.ipc.org/event/importance-good-pcb-design-package

 

 

 

 

 

 

Topics Include:

  1. Customer Service Representatives Are Not Engineers
  2. Netlist does not match the manufacturing data
  3. Impedance stackups do not meet impedance requirements
  4. Not using the appropriate material set
  5. Customized CAM adjustments
  6. Designer not understanding fabricator capabilities
  7. Inheriting a design from a competitor
  8. Overdesigning a PCB
  9. Unmanufacturable designs
  10. Lack of designer/fabricator engagement

 

Contact me at:

Steve@tracQMS.com

920-841-3478

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Talking Ultra HDI with John Johnson Pt. 2

Continuing with the second in my 3-part interview with ASC’s John Johnson, formerly with Averatek, on the patented A-SAP process that allows PCB manufacturers to produce sub 25-micron (1 mil) pcb trace and space designs with perfectly straight side walls.

Click here to read the entire article: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1512857-design007-dec2023/45?

Contact me for all your quality needs or to schedule your own company marketing interview.

920-941-3478

Steve@tracQMS.com

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ASC Receives ISO 13485 Certification

Press Release

March 17, 2023

West Chicago, IL

I am pleased to announce that client American Standard Circuits has achieved certification to ISO 13485 for the medical device industry. This latest certification adds to ASC’s AS9100 Aerospace, ISO 9001 Commercial, IATF 16949 Automotive and MIL-PRF-31032 Military certification

President and CEO, Anaya Vardya commented, “This certification represents a great deal of work and dedication from all our team members, along with Steve Williams of TRAC. They all put together a tremendous effort to reach this goal. It is my understanding that there are very few printed circuit board companies that have earned ISO 13485:16 Medical Certification which makes us stand out as a preferred medical electronics circuit board provider. As we continued to grow our medical business exponentially, we felt that this certification would go a long way in establishing our leadership in this marketplace. Now that we have made the investment in time and people to accomplish this certification we look forward to meeting and working with even more medical electronics companies.”

 

For more information about American Standard Circuits’ services or to ask one of their technology experts a question go to http://www.asc-i.com

Contact me to start your ISO 13485 Medical certification.

Steve@tracQMS.com

920-841-3478

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