Reviews


 

tom.jpgThomas Cornhoff - Executive Vice President, LoDan Electronics Inc.

Steve Williams’ Quality 101 publication certainly captures the time warp of Quality Performance and Lean Manufacturing over several decades within the electronics manufacturing arena. The transition of quality references over time; whether it be Deming, Philip Crosby or the Toyota gold standard are the building blocks of the future. Steve really connects their attributes to setting the early direction to achieving "The Quality 101" vision he is so passionate about today.

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This book reminds us that we must learn from our past and use those lessons to build a better future. Our company has already been a firm believer that quality starts with people which Steve endorses throughout this publication. LoDan Electronics Inc. embraced a program back in the early nineties named SIMBA.  “SIMBA:  Systems Integrating Manpower into Business Achievements”

In closing, the value proposition Steve’s book brings together is communicate and communicate again and again.  Your organization and its people will have fun while on a successful journey.  Reading “Quality 101” will support improved quality and lean manufacturing practices. I recommend you get reading sooner than later.

 

Stephen_Marshall.jpgStephen J. Marshall - Business Development Manager, Calumet Electronics Corp.

Having just finished Steve Williams’ latest book on quality, my first emotion was gratitude for another message of hope from an industry expert. After some reflection I knew my gratitude was much more specific! I took time to re-read Steve’s earlier book “Survival is Not Mandatory” and a number of his articles I have saved over the years.

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Professor Williams’ message is plain to me; the global marketplace rewards value. Quality management, lean principles, and customer-centric services make a compelling proposition. I recommend this book to everyone committed to sustainable manufacturing. Read the book and Genchi Genbutsu!

 

mark.jpgMark Osborn - President, Colonial Circuits Inc.

Once I started reading the Quality 101 Handbook, I felt hard pressed to put it down. As the pages melted away, I began to realize that Quality 101 Handbook could have been written to describe my company facing the complexities of change in today’s competitive environment. Needless to say, Steve spiked my interest! “We are creatures of habit”, as Steve reminds us, and then goes on to point out that shedding the existing corporate culture is a major first hurdle to clear when determining the best quality philosophy overall.

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Steve points out that there are many quality systems to choose from, but focuses on ISO which is dear to the heart of our entire electronics industry. The Quality 101 Handbook is a hybrid blend of quality evolution, ISO, William’s Laws and Guerilla Tactics geared towards achieving continuous improvement and your next ISO audit.  His step- by- step guide is rooted in common sense and will reignite your desire to take a fresh look at your organization, dust off the corporate compass, and then aim it squarely in the direction of Success.  I “Get it”, do you?

Kudos Mr. Williams, our industry appreciates your support and I your friendship.

 

john.jpgJohn Ragland - President, TJ Services

Quality 101 Handbook is a must for everyone’s Quality library. Steve presents key quality concepts necessary in a concise, easy to understand format. It can be used for specific answers to quality questions, historical reference and inspiration from someone who has fought the fight. But training is the big bargain here.

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As everyone knows implementing a workable Quality Plan takes some doing. The entire company must get involved and as Steve points out this comes from the top down. However, in my experience most failures occur with poor training. Employees are the key and properly trained employees will make or break your Quality Plan. Quality 101 Handbook is a valuable tool needed to make sure everyone in the company is well trained. This is where I would use this handbook.

A big part of my career has been working with offshore companies in China. I am encouraging Steve to have this translated into Mandarin. Proper training is the root of most offshore quality problems and this book can be an invaluable tool used to help out here.

Quality 101 Handbook is a quick read packed with useful tips that will help out any company regardless of where they are in their Quality Plan. Good job Steve.

 

michael.jpgMichael Yuen - Director of Quality & Engineering, Foxconn

Sometimes “Quality” is difficult to pinpoint, because it can mean different things to different people. Using various examples and illustrations, Quality 101 covers many concepts and topics that are commonly used by quality professional today. This book pragmatically outlines the critical thinking concepts that are essential to build a quality oriented culture within a company.

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After my years of experience firefighting and team building, I believe the wisdoms Steve shared can be valuable for readers to build a good foundation in understanding basic quality concepts. His no nonsense approach in this book is direct and yet easy to navigate. Readers from many disciplines should find it insightful and it will be a good addition to any quality library. In particular, the final chapter on guerrilla tactics to pass any audit is a must-read for anyone who is getting ready to audit someone or being audited by someone. The tips and information embraced can be a matter of success or failure in an audit.

 

joe.jpgJoseph Turek - CEO, M-Wave International

Steve Williams does it again by taking a complex subject and creating the clear, concise and easy to comprehend “Quality 101 Handbook”. I don’t have time for training classes or reading thousands of pages that have been written on the subject of quality. What I need is a guide to the fundamentals that gives me the knowledge base to quickly manage our organization through the quality process. Steve delivers that message in a one-two-three knockout punch.

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I love this book. It is a great companion to Steve’s previous “Survival is not Mandatory” book on lean. This is a must read for my management staff as it puts us all squarely on the same page in a very short period of time. American manufacturing needs to get back on track delivering quality products in the most efficient means possible. The “Quality 101 Handbook” is this recipe for success.

Steve’s writing style delivers the message in a logical and interesting manner that allows you to clearly understand the history of the quality organization and the basis of how it all fits together. Before you read any other quality book, I highly recommend the “Quality 101 Handbook” as the first one you pick up.

 

walt.jpgWalt Custer - President, Custer Consulting Group

To the Point, Useful and Fun
Steve Williams' "Quality 101 Handbook" is a pleasure to read. It is packed with practical, hands-on information presented in a concise," this is how you do it” format. His book is obviously written “from the trenches” based upon his 35+ years of electronics industry experience.

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Steve’s engineering, manufacturing, quality and strategic sourcing experience permeates his writing as does his obvious passion for organizational excellence.  Steve is especially skilled at sourcing quality materials and services at “least total cost” for his employer.  To accomplish this he has focused on developing strong, mutually beneficial, “win-win” relationships between his company and its suppliers.

When I agreed to review Steve’s book my first reaction was that I would do it because I respected Steve but that his writings really would not apply to Custer Consulting Group’s small market research business.  It was very wrong!  Steve’s discussion of the methodology of organizational change and the need for “lean practices” caused me to reexamine “the way we have always done things’ with an emphasis on eliminating non value-added activities.

I would encourage you to scan the Quality 101 Handbook’s table of contents and then jump right into the first chapter.  The book is a “quick read.”  Key topics include the methodology of organizational change, an excellent history of the TQM pioneers, practical discussions of ISO certification and how to train your employees to prepare for, respond  (and behave) in an audit, lean practices and the skill of “delighting” your customers.  Added benefits include guidelines for creating good documentation, a handy quality toolbox and an excellent glossary  

I am happy to endorse Steve’s handbook.  In addition to providing a wealth of practical information in an easy to digest format, Steve is also a very nice guy with a good sense of humor and excellent communication skills.   This all shows though in his book!

 

greg.jpgGreg Masciana - Electronics Group Director, Quality - Crane Aerospace & Electronics Certified Six Sigma Master Black Belt

Steve Williams' newest book, "Quality 101 Handbook", fills two important gaps in the culture of Quality. I am often asked to recommend one book for someone interested in learning what Quality is all about. But how to choose between legendary Founding Fathers of modern quality such as Crosby, Deming, Ishikawa, Juran, Ohno, Shewhart, Shingo? Steve's book is the answer.

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The first gap addressed by the "Quality 101 Handbook" is to neatly show how the seemingly different philosophies and approaches of the quality gurus actually work together for companies seeking a competitive advantage. Steve does an excellent job weaving historical perspectives with modern business needs to describe a comprehensive quality system that I have personally witnessed him implement. I particularly appreciated how the book shows the synergy of Lean and Six Sigma, and why Quality needs both. Often overlooked by other writings is the second gap filled by Steve's book, clearly describing exactly HOW to implement the key elements of an effective quality system. While many experts specify WHAT must be done, Steve does not hesitate to also provide solid examples of proven techniques and templates that any company can implement. I know the reader will benefit, and I look forward to recommending Steve's "Quality 101 Handbook" to a whole new generation of quality-minded professionals!

 

joef.jpgJoe Fjelstad - President/Owner, Verdant Electronics

Quality, like beauty, is often in the eyes of the beholder. We can have differing views on what it is depending on whether or not an item meets our needs and expectations. In fact, one definition of quality is simply "Fitness for use".


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Quality can also be a bit like Plato's Cave where the observer is forced to interpret the nature of something by looking at its shadow.  In that regard, what Steve Williams has done with his latest offering Quality 101 Handbook is to turn towards the light to examine the fundamentals of quality in a clear and concise way though a well-constructed review, reconstruction and re-presentation of the most important concepts that one must master to achieve the myriad benefits quality on the manufacturing floor.  Drawing from the key concepts and ideas of the last century's Olympians of Quality: Shewhart, Deming, Juran, Crosby, Ishikawa and Shingo, Steve Williams has crafted a highly readable and even entertaining book on the management of quality throughout a manufacturing system. Perhaps most important is that the book provides a clear set of practical guidelines for achieving quality based on the hands on experiences of the author over his extensive career in quality management. One could spend many hundreds of dollars and long months or years reading on traditional textbooks on quality and but reading and following the lessons laid out in this singularly delightful  book on this vitally important topic will most assuredly get the reader further down the road to quality in a much shorter time. It is most highly recommended reading. 

 

chris.jpgChris Luttrell, MBA, ARM, CRM, CLU Risk Manager

Steve Williams Quality 101 Handbook is an easy read and a great resource, providing the essential basics of all quality programs past and present in a format appropriate for the beginning student or the seasoned quality professional. The many useful examples lend insight into Steve’s clever wit while accessing his wealth of practical experience and expertise in this field. In my experience Steve correctly advocates the success of any quality program is “all about the dollars” and this handbook gives the practitioner the tools to successfully promote their ideas to any audience.

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Having used many of these tools as a risk manager in government and with iconic Fortune 500 manufacturers like
Harley-Davidson, I found this Handbook provides many familiar problems and the practical application of these tools to create company specific solutions.

 Most importantly, Steve accurately describes how a company’s ability to survive in today’s global marketplace depends upon all employees accepting responsibility for quality.  This handbook is an excellent addition to their tool belt.

Congratulations Steve on this offering, it is a welcome addition to the collective intelligence of the quality community.