CQI Scotland - NoS Reports
North of Scotland Branch ~ Another Deming - The Funnel Experiment - April 2008
"A packed audience listed to Tony Miller of RGU (Robert Gordon University) introduce and review some of Deming's key points on variation, decrying the lack of understanding by the bulk of current management. He likened it to a young doctor of 150 years ago standing in front of eminent physicians who had just come through the American Civil War and introducing the idea of bacterial infection - something leading to the conclusion that more people had died from infections spread by the doctors themselves than were killed by enemy action!
Tony had two presentations. In the first he outlined problems in getting people (managers) to accept new ideas and thinking, moving onto variation and a demonstration of Deming's funnel experiment in the second. Without understanding variation and addressing its causes, success is a matter of chance and the best approach many managers can take is to do nothing - until you know the process variation, any "adjustments" are likely to lead to greater variation. The targets and benchmarking so beloved by the managers and the government will inevitably make matters worse - just look up lists of successful companies from 20 years ago and count how many are still seen as successes.
Ironically, Deming's ideas are being taught to engineering students, not those studying management - go think..."
Click on the "Reality" thumbnail to see the first presentation and on the "Deming" thumbnail for the second one
(Note requires Adobe Acrobat Reader to view 
)
North of Scotland Branch Visit to Technip's Westhill, Aberdeen - ROV facility - March 2008
Branch members were invited to Technip's Westhill, Aberdeen, complex for a visit to the company's ROV facility. As one of the world's leading subsea construction companies, Technip operate dozens of ROVs* from its boats around the world. Along with the traditional "eyeball" variety, much of their fleet are of the latest "work-class" models, able to operate down to 3000 metres.
The visit started with a tour of their workshop where units are maintained, refurbished or upgraded, followed by a presentation on the technologies employed and the types of work accomplished. Their open construction belies their sophistication and, in many respects, they match the technologies employed in aerospace - and the similarity continues with the terminology as they are "flown" by "ROV pilots".
Which brought us to the final part of the visit - a play with their latest ROV simulator. Modelled on the actual control station found on construction vessels, the simulator allows pilots to practice and hone their skills before deploying the "real-thing" in seas over a mile deep (and risk losing a valuable piece of equipment).
The photos show:
a) A modern ROV*.
b) ROV and TMS** being recovered from the sea.
c) ROV control room.
d) The world of an ROV.
Click on thumbnail to see larger image.
* ROV: Remotely Operated (subsea) Vehicle
** TMS: Tether Management System. The ROV and TMS assembly is lowered
to the work area by winch/crane on an armoured cable; the ROV then flies
around the work site, attached to the TMS by a short (and easily managed)
umbilical. This cuts out the drag of over a mile of umbilical tether and
isolates the ROV from surface swell.
North of Scotland Branch Visit to Garioch Distillery, Oldmeldrum - September 2007
The first meeting of the season began with a visit to the Garioch Distillery situated in Oldmeldrum. One of the oldest Scottish distilleries, established in 1797, it is now part of the Morrison Bowmore Group owned by the Japanese Suntory Company. We were met in the new Visitors Centre and treated to a ‘Wee Nip’ before embarking on an extremely interesting and informative tour of the facility starting with receipt of the Barley and ending with the final barrelled product of pure malt whisky. Back in the Visitor’s Centre a video of the process was shown while samples of Garioch whisky of various ages were tasted (all in the interest of Quality Control).
