Hello everyone,
one of my friends has been asking for me, that if i can help her get the information about the quality engineering. but i have really no idea about it, could some experts here help me out? I will be really appreciated if you can tell me about this philosophy origination and overall instruction about it. that would be great if there is some training stuff available. Thanks in advance.


Jaco

Best I can tell you starting out is to read through the forums and see what people are discussing. You can try a Search for 'quality'. The definition of quality, and what it is, is discussed in many discussion threads here.

As to the History of 'quality', it goeds back to times before the pyramids of Egypt and probably, for all intents and purposes, to early human history. For example, it is probable that early humans recognized the difference between a 'good' spear head they fashioned from stone (and later minerals/ores like flint) from a bad one. They probably had 'opinions' on what was 'good' cave art and what wasn't. So - 'quality' has been around forever in a sense.

You might be interested in reading a current discussion of 'quality' in this thread: A Modest Proposal: Let's Get Rid of "Quality." (http://elsmar.com/Forums/showthread.php?t=11193)

Another interesting thread is: What is your definition of Quality? (http://elsmar.com/Forums/showthread.php?t=1459)

Jaco,
I'm not sure I fully understand your question. Are you asking about the "Quality" Field in general? Or are you asking about "Quality Engineering" as in the tools, techniques and methods used to promote and improve process output?

JAmes

At the very least, you and your friend should be aware of a public resource which tellls what are generally agreed "Bodies of Knowledge" (BOK) for individual specializations within the Quality field by going to the ASQ.org website and following all the pertinent links starting here:
http://www.asq.org/portal/page?_pageid=33,32429,33_32570&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL
and specifically for the BOK for Quality Engineer here
http://www.asq.org/cert/types/cqe/bok.html

Please feel free to ask any questions for yourself or on behalf of your colleague.

Dear all,
Thanks for all of your kind response on this, in fact I was not talking about the "quality" and "quality engineer". Actually I could say my friend is not a newbie for the quality, I guess she know quiet a lot tools about quality and the history also,

Maybe JAmes,
You are a little bit right, from what she told to me, the "quality engineering" sounds like a systematic tool to building up a quality system. Do you know about it?

Thanks
Jaco

I am so disappointed that no body here known about this, I just wanna refresh this thread again before I really give up!

First you ask: one of my friends has been asking for me, that if i can help her get the information about the quality engineering. Then you say your friend knows about quality engineering... ...Actually I could say my friend is not a newbie for the quality, I guess she know quiet a lot tools about quality and the history also...I think we replied to the original question as best we could. And you have changed the question when you said: ...in fact I was not talking about the "quality" and "quality engineer" I think we're all confused about what your question is. I suspect the language barrier may be too much.

To address the "...philosophy origination and overall instruction about it..." (I assume you mean Quality Asurance) would take a very long time - Which is why I suggest you read up a bit on the basics of quality assurance.

Or invite your friend to ask more specific questions.

First you ask: Then you say your friend knows about quality engineering... I think we replied to the original question as best we could. And you have changed the question when you said: I think we're all confused about what your question is. I suspect the language barrier may be too much.

To address the "...philosophy origination and overall instruction about it..." (I assume you mean Quality Asurance) would take a very long time - Which is why I suggest you read up a bit on the basics of quality assurance.

Or invite your friend to ask more specific questions.

Hi Marc,
I am so sorry for making you and other good people here confused, :o

you are perfect right, my english is definitely bad. I am really sorry about that!


Back to the question, it is not easy to make every people understand the question at once. Not only my expression, also the question itself! It took me several time explaination to make one of my colleague(we have same mother language) fully understand the question. my colleague also thought I was talking about "Quality Asurance", no doubt, "Quality Asurance" is a big term.

So I will contact with my friend, who is the QA manager at one of GE plant, to confirm what she is seeking for. But from my understanding from what she have said, the term "quality engineering" should be a systematic quality tool(like six sigma). And someone said that "quality engineering " has been developed in a tie one auto supplier(tyre manufacturer, called Michiline??---not sure the exact name).


anyway thanks for all of your help, I will get back to you once I have the further information.

Jaco

In English I interpret 'Quality Engineering' to be a field of expertise. For example, I consider myself a 'quality engineer' even though I technically don't have an engineering degree from a school in 'quality' because I have been in the quality field for a long time. And, where it used to be that to add 'engineer' to a title used to be 'correct' only if one had a professional degree in the field, it is common today for people to attach the term 'engineer' to just about any position. An example would be a 'Sales Engineer'.

If you use the term 'quality engineering', it is typically interpreted as referencing a field of expertise, if you will. In that sense quality engineering does have 'tools' which are used. Used in this sense I tend to think of it as a process where there are many tools that the 'quality engineer' uses in his/her tasks.

Six sigma is a tool, but with six sigma you have to be careful. Do a Search in the forums and you will find a number of threads where what six sigma is is discussed because six sigma is defined differently by different people.

Hope this helps a bit - I'm sure some others will chime in here and put in their :2cents: worth. I'm sure some others will define things a bit differently than I.

Hello all,
I am so sorry for bring such boring subject back. But my friend is still looking for information about this. And recently, he gives me a link and tells me there is a magazine study in this kind of method. Does any here know about this magazine or have read this book before? So I can explain it to my friend and convince him to understand that is only a magazine name.

Thanks very much!!!
BTW, how can I edit the previous post ?
Jaco


http://qualitypress.asq.org/perl/catalog.cgi?item=SUBSCR_QE

Jaco:

Yes, there is a magazine called Quality Engineering, and there are studies about the subject, but they tend to be very focused on areas within the very wide field of Quality. In reading your posts closely, I think I may understand what you are asking, but please do not be unhappy if I have interpreted incorrectly.

Wes mentioned the BoK, which stands for Body of Knowledge. This group of ideas represents what a quality engineer should be familiar with.

What I think may be confusing is the fact that there isn't really a step-by-step guide that is specific. Education and experience can provide a guide on how to procede, but each situation and location is going to be a little different.

Quality is not something that can be installed like a car radio, and that is what throws some folks. Quality is built into the car radio, hopefully, by good design of both the radio and the processes that produce it. To further compllicate things, the best process for producing that radio is likely going to be a little different for the U.S than it is for China, or Mexico, or France, etc. because of cultural and logistical reailities.

In some ways quality is really quite simple - give the customer what they want efficiently, and make money doing it. Achieving this goal can become complicated, and we as quality practicioners have some tools to help us cope with that. However, don't fall into the trap of becoming more interested in the tools than in reaching the overall goal.

Sure hope this helps, or at least does not confuse the issue more.

Hello all,
I am so sorry for bring such boring subject back. But my friend is still looking for information about this. And recently, he gives me a link and tells me there is a magazine study in this kind of method. Does any here know about this magazine or have read this book before? So I can explain it to my friend and convince him to understand that is only a magazine name.

Thanks very much!!!
BTW, how can I edit the previous post ?
Jaco


http://qualitypress.asq.org/perl/catalog.cgi?item=SUBSCR_QE
This is a "Journal" in that it is published by a professional society for the benefit and knowledge of its members. Each article is "peer reviewed" which means that a panel of experts in the field normally go through the article to ensure it is accurate in portraying the subject of article.

Here's what the publisher (American Society for Quality) says:



Quality Engineering (QE) is a peer-reviewed, quarterly journal co-published by Taylor and Francis and the American Society for Quality (ASQ).

Directed to professionals in all engineering and management fields interested in quality improvement, this journal provides the widest-ranging coverage of "how-we-did-it" accomplishments—focusing on comprehensive quality science applications throughout the entire economy and society. Quality Engineering contains the latest thinking on quality control and quality assurance management, related physical technology, associated statistical tools, standards information, and more.

ASQ Members receive special pricing when purchased through ASQ. Quality Engineering is published January, April, July, and October.


I, personally, do not subscribe to this journal. Perhaps some of the ASQ Certified Quality Engineers who visit here HAVE suscribed and can make a recommendation for or against subscribing.

I do want to emphasize it is NOT "just a magazine."

Added in edit: As you read a post you have already submitted, you will see two link buttons in the lower right corner of the message box: Edit and Quote.

If you click on Edit, you get a new screen which allows you to edit your original post.

After you edit or add an additional message, you click "Save Changes" to post or "Preview" to see how the finished post will look.

Go to this Forum to review how to use the features in the Elsmar Cove
New Members - 'How To' in the Forums - Please Read (http://elsmar.com/Forums/forumdisplay.php?f=86)
How To Do Things in the Forums - Detailed Use Instructions - This forum contains basic information on 'How To' do things, such as Add a Poll to a Thread or an Attachment to a Post in a Thread.

Wes&Craig H,
Thanks very much for your explanation!

Wes,
now I can see a "edit icon" on my last post, but the funny thing is that I can not see this icon in my other post of this thread. I do not know why! More strange thing is that, when I tried to edit my post yestoday(before reply Marc's post), there is no "edit icon" existing at all. Is thing wrong with my computer?


All,
If some here can give me a "table of contents" of this Journal, that will be highly appreciated!


http://qualitypress.asq.org/perl/catalog.cgi?item=SUBSCR_QE