Tool, Fixture & Gauge Maintenance Procedure in Manufacturing

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Tool Maintenance

Tools, fixture & gauges are critical assets in any manufacturing organization. Their condition directly affects product quality, dimensional accuracy, productivity, and customer satisfaction. Poor maintenance can lead to defects, rework, downtime, safety risks, and audit non-conformities. This article provides a complete, practical, and ISO/IATF-aligned procedure for tool, fixture, and gauge maintenance, including preventive maintenance planning, … Read more

Root Cause Analysis (RCA):Methods, Tools & Examples

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Root Cause Analysis

Root Cause Analysis (RCA) is a systematic problem-solving method used to identify the underlying cause of a defect, failure, incident, or nonconformity so that it does not recur. Instead of treating symptoms, RCA focuses on eliminating the fundamental cause of the problem. RCA is widely used in quality management, manufacturing, engineering, healthcare, IT, safety investigations, … Read more

Pareto Chart Explained: 80/20 Rule, Example & How to Create in Excel

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Pareto Chart

A Pareto Chart is one of the 7 Basic Quality Tools used to identify the most significant factors in a problem. It is based on the Pareto Principle (80/20 Rule), which states that roughly 80% of effects come from 20% of causes. This chart helps organizations focus on the “vital few” issues that create the … Read more

Benefits of 7 QC Tools (Basic Tools) in Quality Management

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Benefits of 7QC tools

The 7 QC Tools, also known as the Seven Basic Quality Tools, are fundamental problem-solving techniques used to control, analyze, and improve processes. These tools are widely applied in manufacturing, automotive, aerospace, healthcare, service industries, and project management to reduce defects, improve efficiency, and support data-driven decision-making. In ISO 9001 and IATF 16949 environments, the … Read more

Value Added vs Non-Value Added Activities: (Lean Guide)

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Value added activities

In Lean manufacturing and quality management, every activity performed in a process is classified as either value added or non-value added based on whether it contributes to what the customer is willing to pay for. Identifying and eliminating non-value added activities helps organizations reduce waste, improve productivity, lower costs, and shorten delivery time. This concept … Read more

What is a Tree Diagram? Definition, Steps & Example (New 7 QC Tools)

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Tree diagram

A Tree Diagram is one of the New 7 Quality Management and Planning Tools used to break down a broad objective into smaller, manageable tasks. It helps organizations move from a general goal to specific actionable steps in a logical and structured way. In quality management systems such as ISO 9001, IATF 16949, Lean Manufacturing, … Read more

Process Audit vs Product Audit Explained + Checklist | QC Tools

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Product & Process Audit

Product and process audits are essential quality assurance tools used across manufacturing industries, especially in automotive OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers. These audits verify whether processes follow the defined standards and whether the final product meets customer requirements. In the automotive sector governed by IATF 16949, both process audits and product audits play a critical … Read more

Quality Control Process in Manufacturing: Incoming, In-Process & Final Inspection

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Quality control stages

In the manufacturing industry, quality control plays a vital role in ensuring that products meet customer requirements and regulatory standards. A well-defined quality control process helps prevent defects, reduce rework, and improve customer satisfaction. This article explains the quality control process in manufacturing in a practical and easy-to-understand way, focusing on incoming material inspection, in-process … Read more

APQP Explained: 5 Phases, Documents, Checklist & Example

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apqp

In the automotive industry, launching a new product without proper planning can lead to quality issues, customer complaints, and costly recalls. This is where APQP plays a critical role. APQP provides a structured approach to ensure that products meet customer requirements right from concept to production. This article explains APQP in a simple and practical … Read more

ISO 9001 Clauses Explained with Examples & Audit Evidence

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ISO 9001 Clauses

Quality management is not just about documentation — it is about building customer trust, improving process consistency, and achieving long-term business success. ISO 9001 helps organizations do this by providing a clear framework through 10 clauses that guide how to plan, control operations, evaluate performance, and continually improve. ISO 9001:2015 is still the most widely … Read more