Is debugging a task, or a continuous process?

Early in my so-called EE career, I sat in a workshop led by the director of quality for the Ford truck plant in Louisville, KY, where “Quality is Job #1.” At that time, they were gaining experience in electronic control modules (ECMs) for fuel efficiency and emissions control. Who better to transfer the secrets of Crosby and Deming to a bunch of missile designers?

After one of the sessions, he opened up to a Q&A. One of my colleagues asked him if these methods really worked in improving quality. His response was that quality is a moving target, and that is why we have jobs. He said that even with all the progress Ford had made, he would go down to the end of the F-150 production line and “watch trucks drive away just to convince myself we built stuff that actually worked.” Fortunately, most of what they put out did work.

To read the full article, click here

×
Semiconductor IP