Liza HorielikovaIn this age of information overload, how do you stay up to date on the latest quality management news and trends? We’ve created a list of the top industry experts and influencers that you might find useful to follow.
Note: The list is not rated in any way, and all experts are listed in random order.
1. Jay Arthur – author of QI Macros blog
Jay Arthur, owner and president of consulting firm KnowWare International, is an expert in Lean Six Sigma, Data Analysis, and Excel. He helps companies to solve problems of delay, defects, and deviation using Lean Six Sigma. He is the author of Lean Six Sigma Demystified (2nd edition McGraw-Hill 2011), Lean Six Sigma for Hospitals (2nd edition McGraw-Hill 2016), and the QI Macros Lean Six Sigma SPC Software for Excel.
2. Mark Graban – author of Lean Blog
Lean Blog by Mark Graban is all about improving hospitals and other types of organizations through the Lean methodology and mindsets. The blog changed over time with Mark’s career – from focusing on Lean Management in the manufacturing world, to more on healthcare-related information when Mark moved to that industry.
Mark in the author of award-winning books: Lean Hospitals: Improving Quality, Patient Safety, and Employee Engagement (now in its 3rd edition) and Healthcare Kaizen: Engaging Front-Line Staff in Sustainable Continuous Improvements. Mark’s latest book is titled Measures of Success: React Less, Lead Better, Improve More, and it is Mark’s first book that has an audience outside of healthcare. In September 2020, Mark also launched a new podcast series called “My Favorite Mistake”.
3. Tim McMahon – author of A Lean Journey blog
Tim McMahon is a Lean implementation leader, author, and blogger. He has more than 20 years of experience implementing Lean manufacturing in many industries, including telecom, medical, military/defense, automotive, electrical wiring and distribution, and nuclear and radiation measurement equipment. He is a member of the American Society for Quality (ASQ) and is part of the ASQ Influential Voices program.
Tim is passionate about teaching and sharing his knowledge through his blog, and he has also co-authored The Lean Handbook: A Guide To The Bronze Certification Body Of Knowledge (ASQ Quality Press).
4. Christopher Paris – Founder and VP Operations at Oxebridge
Christopher founded Oxebridge as an ISO 9001 consulting firm, and later added AS9100, ISO 13485, and other services to its offerings. From 2005 till 2014, Christopher was a chief AS9100 architect for SpaceX. Among Christopher’s clients you can also find NASA, Northrup Grumman, GKN Aerospace, and over 300 small and medium enterprises. Currently, Oxebridge is one of the leading sources of independent news related to ISO and aerospace quality management.
Based on 30+ years of experience, Christopher developed the 40-day “Rapid ISO 9001 Implementation Program” and the unique independent ISO Whistleblower Program. He is the author of “Surviving ISO 9001” and “Surviving AS9100 Rev D,” the author of the satirical “EYESORE 9001,” and the creator of the ISO comic strip “The Auditor.”
5. Jamie Flinchbaugh – founder and author of JFlinch
Jamie Flinchbaugh is a Lean advisor, speaker, and author, as well as the founder of JFlinch (a Lean-focused consulting firm) and Old Dutch Group, and a co-founder of the Lean Learning Center – an organization that provides Lean transformation and advisory services and educational programs.
Jamie has helped to build nearly 20 other companies as either a co-founder, board of directors member, advisor, or angel investor. He also has broad experience in various industries, including manufacturing, healthcare, utilities, technology, government, and professional services.
6. Carlos Pereira da Cruz – author of Balanced Scorecard blog
Carlos Pereira da Cruz has more than 25 years of experience working as a consultant, trainer, and auditor with ISO 9001 and ISO 14001. He is the author of several books on ISO 9001 and ISO 14001, as well as strategic management and balanced scorecard.
On his blog, Carlos covers industry trends and goes into discussion about different industry observations that would be interesting for the Portuguese-speaking audience.
7. Christoph Roser – author of All About Lean blog
Christoph Roser is a professor of production management at the Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences. He has worked in several different industry fields, including automotive, machine building, robotics, injection molding, power tools, heating technology, security systems, energy, food, and more. With decades of experience in implementing, researching, and teaching Lean manufacturing, Christoph digs into the Lean manufacturing fundamentals and specific tools on his blog.
8. Bob Emiliani’s blog
Bob Emiliani is a professor of Lean management at Central Connecticut State University. With over 15 years of prior industry experience, he has a very successful academic career. He is the author of 17 books and 47 research papers based on his deep research in the fields of leadership and management, and he also the author of many articles on his blog.
9. Syam Panayickal Prabhu – Managing Director, Senior Consultant, and an expert at Aurion ISO Consultants
Syam Panayickal Prabhu is an ISO expert and business consultant. He was involved in working with several multinational companies in the United Arab Emirates and obtaining ISO certification from several certifying bodies. In his blog, Syam shares tips on how to obtain an ISO certification in UAE, leveraging his extensive experience working in this region.
Hopefully, this list will help you to discover someone who can help you learn how to become better in your profession, and who knows – maybe one day you’ll appear on a similar list.
To learn more about the ISO 9001 and Six Sigma quality management requirements, download this free white paper: ISO 9001:2015 vs. Six Sigma: A comparison.
This article has been modified on Jan 19th, 2021.
