Six Sigma Quality – OM in the News

Generic Pills Can Be Hard to Swallow

The drug production system is broken. Fixing it requires putting quality first.

Generic drugs are supposed to be affordable alternatives to name-brand medications. Contrary to what the F.D.A. claims, a pill is not always a pill. In the quest for ever-cheaper generic drugs, quality has sometimes – not always! – been sacrificed both in the US and abroad, and without a transparent rating system, health consumers are kept in the dark. Furthermore, the reliance on a few foreign suppliers of active […]

By Corinne M. Karuppan, Ph.D.|2021-09-29T18:49:34+00:00October 5, 2021|Tags: process capability, product quality, quality control, shortage, six sigma, sourcing|

Annie’s Product Redesign: A Case for Ethics and Safety

Annie’s Homegrown organic Mac and Cheese products came under scrutiny because very small traces of phthalates were found in the dairy products and packaging it uses. Other U.S. cheese products have faced similar findings.

Some research suggests that phthalates can be linked to problems with male fertility and the health of babies, including neurodevelopment and behavioral problems. While the levels found are below the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA’s) thresholds for human consumption, Annie’s is nevertheless committed to continuing to review […]

By Lisa M. Spencer|2021-04-24T21:33:36+00:00April 24, 2021|Tags: ethics, food safety, product design, quality assurance, quality of design, sustainability, value analysis|

Do Detailed Contracts Make for Better Supplier Relationships?

Building a strong relationship with suppliers is important, but in the event of questions or disagreements, we rely on the contract. Any supply chain contract should include these 5 key areas:

1) Protection of confidential information and defining ownership of intellectual property

2) Detailing quality and materials requirements

3) Protection of your intellectual property from counterfeits

4) Promotion of contractual performance

5) How to terminate the contract

Video Spotlight:

What is Contract Management? What does Contract Management mean? (May 30, 2017, The […]

By David Little, Ph.D.|2021-02-15T05:30:23+00:00February 15, 2021|Tags: contract performance, intellectual property, MRP, quality assurance, sourcing|

Pandemic Speeds the Transition to Virtual Queuing

Will queues become a thing of the past?

Realistically, some queues will still exist post-pandemic, but many that go virtual now for health and safety reasons may stay virtual for efficiency’s sake later on.

Technology is becoming an invaluable tool in keeping customers safe, whether they are waiting to enter a favorite pub, spending time in airports, or seeking urgent care. Magnetic queuing grids, timed-entry passes, and virtual lines are making waiting safer, more efficient, and more pleasant, and it appears that […]

By Lisa M. Spencer|2021-01-10T06:56:56+00:00January 10, 2021|Tags: benchmarking, capacity planning, covid-19, facility layout, pandemic, queuing theory, technology|