Lean Six Sigma
You care about both quality and efficiency on your manufacturing line (or your production floor or your workshop or whatever you call it!) But did you know that these two aims are not always at odds? Many small business owners assume that they are, that speed necessarily comes at... Read More...
Process Controls 3
You read our first article on process controls and found it very pedestrian and boring. The information was totally beneath you. (Just kidding, hopefully!) But if you’re ready to learn about process controls from a more academic, and slightly more advanced, perspective, you’re in the right place. As you... Read More...
Process Controls Practical Details
You understand the basics of process controls, and you’re ready to start applying them in your own business! (If not? Skip back to the first article in this series and you’ll be up to speed in no time.) Anyway, your next question is probably going to be, Where can... Read More...
Process Variability
Everyone knows what Process Variability is and what causes it. Just kidding. Most people don’t. But they should if they’re running any kind of making/manufacturing/producing business. Process Variability: Manufacturers’ Nemesis Yeah, honestly, life would be a lot easier without process variability. Process variability is just what it sounds like:... Read More...
Process Controls
Yes, the name “Process Controls” sounds like a boring topic… But it can save you time, money, and aggravation. That’s not boring, now, is it?? It’s not. Here’s why Process Controls are important: everything on earth has inherent variation. It’s just a matter of statistics. Sound a little abstract? ... Read More...
Quality Assurance: a Crash Course for Makers
You know that quality is important for Makers. And if you read our last post, you’ve learned the “engineering” way to think about quality, quality control, and how the concepts apply for Maker businesses. Now discover something new about quality. This week we’re talking about the difference between Quality... Read More...
What Does Quality Control for Maker Businesses Look Like?
Why is Quality Control Needed? You’ve probably heard that big manufacturing companies have quality controls. In this article, we’ll learn the somewhat surprising reason they’re needed. First, we need to back up and talk about variability. Did you know that EVERY process has inherent variability? This probably makes some... Read More...
THE ZATTATAT CAST:
Meet the characters with the skills & Zattatudes who can help engineer your manufacturing success
Princess Capybara
Age: 35
Background: Biotech
Current Gig: Mold-Making
Zattatude: Seeks to geek out with the top tech she knows best
Gary
Age: 44
Background: Accounting
Current Gig: Baking
Zattatude: Lives to figure out how everything in life adds up
Process Cat
Age: Timeless
Background: Manufacturing
Current Gig: Helping People
Zattatude: Loves to teach others how to scale up their businesses
Rhonda
Age: 53
Background: Nursing
Current Gig: Woodworking
Zattatude: Celebrates ditching her bureaucratic hospital job for her hands-on craft business