A failure mode and effects analysis, commonly known as FMEA, is a way to analyze the different ways a system, design, machine, component, process, product, or service can fail and the effects of those different potential failures.
The FMEA is recorded on an FMEA worksheet.
We’ll explain more about this technique commonly used in many industries in this introductory article. Stay tuned in the future, as we’ll probably also create a free downloadable FMEA worksheet for you.
A3 is a problem-solving technique associated with lean manufacturing and used for continuous improvement efforts at many workplaces.
In this article, we’ll explain the origins of the A3 problem-solving method, the different steps involved, and even the unexpected story about why it’s called “A3.”
We recently held a live webinar with Dr. Klaus Blache of the University of Tennessee’s Reliability and Maintainability Center and Jeff Dalto of Convergence Training discussing how to improve reliability & maintainability at your organization in general and how to use learning programs and online learning tools as part of that effort.
We’ve included a recorded version you can watch below anytime. Enjoy and let us know if you have any questions.
Also, check out our online maintenance training solutions and some highlights from our online maintenance training courses in the video below.
As we’re all struggling to respond to and protect ourselves during the coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic, our parent company Vector Solutions has been creating a series of free videos on COVID-19 and releasing them at their Vector Cares website.
The first video explained some basic facts about COVID-19.
They just released the second video, which provides tips for preparing your home to stay safer.
Vector Solutions honored a select group of exceptional men and women for their special dedication to reducing risk in the workplace during a recognition event March 12 in Tampa, Florida.
These Safety Champions were nominated by peers, co-workers and others for going above and beyond to make their workplaces happier, healthier, safer places to be. Our honorees hailed from a variety of industries, including industrial manufacturing, construction, water treatment and others. Below you’ll find excerpts from those nominations.
Read on to learn more about all of these safety champions. And congrats and thanks to all of them, plus everyone working in safety.
In a recent article, we gave an introduction to putting instructor-led training, classroom-style training online–primarily in the of a blended learning solution of virtual classrooms, elearning courses, and additional materials that can be distributed online.
In addition to that article, we’ve created more focused, detail articles about that dig deeper into creating virtual classrooms and elearning courses. This article is about elearning courses; stay tuned for the one on virtual classrooms.
In the “credit-where-credit-is-due” department, this article is based on one podcast discussion from a series of recorded podcast discussions by Australian L&D professional Michelle Ockers–you may remember her from our recorded discussion about learning organizations a while ago.
Michelle pulled together a star-studded, who’s-who-from-L&D collection of experts to share their tips on getting some training online in these difficult circumstances.
I’ve reached out to Michelle and she’s given me the OK to publish a link to the talks, summarize the talks, and she was even so kind as to send me transcript of the different talks. So, in order, below you’ll find:
Here’s the link to all of the discussions; do give them a listen: The Learning Uncut “Disruption Series” by Michelle Ockers. Michelle is working with other professionals to add more even as I’m typing this article today.
With the COVID-19 pandemic forcing many people to work from home and reducing or entirely ending meetings for classroom-style, instructor-led training, there’s an understandable move to put instructor-led training online.
In this article, we’re going to give you some general guidelines for transitioning your instructor-led training (ILT) online, give you a better idea of what online training is, and also link you to some additional articles we’ve created that will help you develop the different types of online learning we’ll explain in this article.
Simply giving people information or telling them what to do does not guarantee behavior change.
That’s partly because we often know what we’re supposed to do but do something else anyway. It can be hard to change, plus sometimes we’re not motivated to change.
Change has been a big part of the coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic. There have been deaths (rest their souls), people have gotten seriously ill, but even those who think they’re healthy have seen many changes. Losing a job or working from home; staying at home and staying six feet away from other people for social distancing; giving up hugs and handshakes; not touching your face; washing your hands constantly; none of this is easy.
If you’re trying to help people make these changes, you might find six tips from a book called Made to Stick by Chip Heath and Dan Heath helpful. In it, they offer six things that help people change their behavior more than just telling them to will. Those are:
To remember these, there’s a handy acronym: SUCCES(s).
Here’s a quick review of each.
Simplicity: Keep the message as short and simple as possible. Can you explain in 30 seconds instead of 12 minutes? Do it.
Unexpectedness: Surprise will catch people’s attention. Today, a story about a young person dying of COVID-19 or getting sick and needing a respirator may catch people’s attention more than a story about someone in their 80s.
Concreteness: Use details and descriptive language to convey the message. Avoid being vague or abstract. An invisible virus that people can pass even when they’re showing no symptoms is already vague enough. Focus on painful, dry coughs and crushing pain on the lungs, for example.
Credibility: People are more likely to listen if they know the message is coming from an expert or authority. If you’re not an authority, at least tell people your information is from an authority. But if you can get an authority, do it. Or if you can include a video of an authority, such as the head of the CDC, do it.
Emotions: Facts, data, and information are not likely to catch people’s attention or cause behavior change. Making them a little frightened about the effects of the virus (not panicked, but frightened) or sad about how it’s affecting people is more likely to work.
Stories: We’re natural story-listening machines. Take advantage of that by using stories in your training about COVID-19. Avoid simple lists of facts and data and/or lectures. And when you tell stories, use the other five tips just mentioned (simplicity, unexpectedness, concreteness, credibility, and emotions). Click to read more about storytelling in training.
Using these six tips in your training about COVID-19, or even in trying to help out family and friends, will improve your chances of creating real behavior change. And that’s what we need–not just information dumps. Good luck and share your success stories below–we need them!
Define-Measure-Analyze-Design-Verify, also known as DMADV, is a method used for the development of new products, processes, or services. It’s often associated with Six Sigma and it’s sometimes considered one method of Design for Six Sigma (DFSS).
Don’t confuse DMADV with DMAIC (which stands for Define-Measure-Analyze-Improve-Control). Both are somewhat similar, and both are commonly used in Six Sigma, but DMADV is used for the development of new services, products, or processes, whileDMAIC is used for improving existing processes/products/services. See our DMAIC infographic for more about DMAIC.
In addition to the DMADV infographic below, and the DMAIC infographic we just linked you to, you may also be interested in the following free downloadables:
Enjoy the free infographic and let us know if you need help with your lean/quality/Six Sigma/continuous improvement training efforts at work.
Download this free infographic to learn about the DMADV (Define, Measure, Analyze, Design, and Verify) method commonly used in Six Sigma for product and process design.
Our parent company Vector Solutions is creating a series of free videos to help people learn more about coronavirus/COVID-19 and how to stay safe.
This is the first of those videos, and more will follow in short order. You can watch them at the Vector Cares website and we’ll also let you know about them here when they’re available.
Here is a link to the first free coronavirus video, which explains:
Let us know if you have any questions about coronavirus; stay safe and healthy by practicing social distancing, washing your hands, avoiding touching your face, and following the other tips in the video and from trusted sources like the CDC; and stay tuned for more free videos on the coronavirus soon.
During this coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic, we’re all being forced to change. And change isn’t always easy for people.
Not that long ago, and in entirely different circumstances, I talked with Arun Pradhan about anticipating, dealing with, facilitating, and benefitting from change. Of course, the circumstances are entirely different now, but there were still some useful tips that came up in the conversation that we thought would help people better adjust to the changing circumstances as a result of COVID-19.
Check out the entire discussion if you wish, or read on for some highlights and tips you may be able to apply today.
Here’s another in our continuing series of “Coronavirus Basics” articles, in which we’re trying to offer helpful information to folks trying to figure a whole bunch of stuff having to do with working during the coronavirus pandemic.
In this one, we want to give you a quick FYI that OSHA recently released a new Temporary Enforcement Guidance – Healthcare Respiratory Protection Annual Fit-Testing for N95 Filtering Facepieces During the COVID-19 Outbreak.
It’s not too long, so do yourself a favor and click the link above and get the straight information directly from OSHA.
OK, are you done reading the full thing? Here’s a quick summary of what caught our attention, below.