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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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Moraine Plastics Future-Proofs Quality Systems with Steve Williams

Moraine Plastics partners with national quality expert Steve Williams to enhance systems, performance, and operational excellence.

PRESS RELEASE
WEST BEND , IL, UNITED STATES, February 3, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Moraine Plastics has engaged Steve Williams, a nationally recognized quality and leadership expert, to consult with the company as it continues to refine its quality systems and support operational excellence.

“At Moraine Plastics, quality isn’t a checkbox—it’s our mindset. Engaging Steve lets us strengthen systems, reinforce continuous improvement, and stay ahead of customer and certification expectations”
– Gerry Ford, President

Click below to read the entire EIN press release

EIN PressWire Press Release

 

NEWS PROVIDED BY
Suzanne Carbon, Evolution Point
February 03, 2026, 16:11 GMT

This press release was distributed across over 450 local, national and network media outlets.

Reach out to future-proof your business

920-841-3478

Steve@tracQMS.com

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Reflections on 50 YEARS in the Business, Part 3

The final installment of this three-part series looking back on my 50 years in the business will focus on my current state; small business owner of a Quality Management consulting business, Author and Certified Leadership expert. Click here to read Part 3

Put my 50 years of experience to work for you!

Steve@tracQMS.com

920-841-3478

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Reflections on 50 YEARS in the Business, Part 2

Read Part 2 here https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1543307-i007-feb2026/63?

Continuing with the second installment of this three-part series looking back on my 50 years in the business, I’ll focus on my move up the food chain from manufacturing PCBs to managing PCB suppliers and the unique experience gained from working with the best companies in the world.

Reach out to put my 50 years to work for you!

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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Learn the Notorious “Uncomfortable Truth Behind Government Shutdowns”

We may find outselves in the same situation in a few weeks, so it is important that we all understand why this keeps happening and stay tuned. Check out my recent article in PCB007 Magazine by @I-Connect007 to find out more about the truth behind government shutdowns, to read column Click Here

 

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Electro-Tek: A Williams Family Legacy

I-Connect007 put out this nice announcement on LinkedIn on my recent two-part column “Electro-Tek: A Williams Family Legacy”, with links to both articles and a short highlight video.  See and read it here:

CLICK HERE FOR LINK

 

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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.

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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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