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Issue # 53: February 27, 2006
To our readers:
In order to give your customers – internal and external – superior quality output, you must know what to do and what not to do.
The following list tells you how to avoid seven of the most common mistakes that lead to quality failure:
1. Stay focused – pay attention. It sounds basic, but inattention is probably the most common cause of quality failure. Keeping your mind sharply focused on your work will help you avoid many potential quality-related problems.
2. Check your work. Even if your concentration is outstanding, and even if you do everything by the book, unexpected problems can occur in the production process. That’s why it’s so important to devote at least a little time to reviewing what you’ve done. Check your spelling and math and, if possible, have someone else look over your work before you deliver it to your customer.
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3. Follow directions carefully. Directions may seem to be unimportant or confusing, but even if you don’t understand why a particular instruction is important, carry it out. You’ll save yourself the pain of having to correct a problem you’ve created by not following directions. You can always ask for an explanation, or improve the instructions, later.
4. Solicit other opinions or input. It’s possible for anyone to overlook some small detail, so don’t be shy about asking for others’ opinions. They just might catch some small detail that you missed. Quality generally improves with teamwork and collaboration.
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5. Anticipate problems before they occur. It’s true: “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Rather than waiting for quality glitches to show up in the actual production process, think about what could go wrong and what has gone wrong in the past, and establish a plan to prevent those glitches.
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6. Allocate sufficient time to each task. Rushing through a job can be a sure recipe for disaster. Even if you have production quotas, you must allow whatever amount of time you need to get the job done properly. It’s counterproductive to rush to meet your quota only to create quality problems that reduce actual output. If you want to bolster your productivity, you need to find realistic ways to do so, such as wasting less time.
7. Use a system and perform tasks in proper order. The order of steps you follow may have a significant impact on the successful completion of your project. Before you proceed, develop a plan that will insure quality output, and follow it.
Use these tips to avoid common mistakes and you will “wow” your customers with quality products and services.
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