Specifically About Quality

Artificial Intelligence is rapidly entering the world of quality.  Predictions, automation, pattern recognition – the potential is huge, yet many organisations are still unsure how to move from hype to real, controlled application.  In this episode of  Specifically About Quality , Agata Lewkowska Ph. D. and Christopher Scott explore what AI in quality actually means in practice and how to use it w...

Problem-solving is a core capability in every automotive organisation.  Methods like 8D are widely used and required – yet many problems still return, escalate, or evolve into more complex issues.  In this episode of  Specifically About Quality , Agata Lewkowska Ph. D. and Christopher Scott explore what advanced problem-solving really means when standard approaches are no longer enough.  From the...

IATF 16949 audits are a critical checkpoint for every automotive n They are structured, rigorous, and highly focused on risk – yet many companies still face the same nonconformities again and again.  In this episode of  Specifically About Quality , Agata Lewkowska Ph. D. invited a Subject Matter Expert, Paul Hardiman. Together, they break down the most common nonconformities found in IATF 16949 au...

The cost of poor quality is rarely fully visible.  Scrap, rework, complaints – these are measured. But many of the most significant losses remain hidden in inefficiencies, delays, and lost opportunities.  In this episode of  Specifically About Quality , Agata Lewkowska Ph. D. and Christopher Scott uncover what cost of poor quality really means in practice and why it is often underestimated in auto...

VDA 6.3 is one of the most recognised processesaudits in automotive. It is structured, detailed, and widely required – yet many s In this episode of Specifically About Quality , Agata Lewkowska Ph. D. and Christopher Scott explain what makes VDA 6.3truly challenging, and how s From the customer’s perspective, weak process auditing means hidden risks remain undetected. A process may look compliant...

Why Quality Cannot Treat It as “Someone Else’s Job”?  Product regulatory compliance is often seen as a separate function.  Legal, engineering, or homologation teams take ownership – while quality assumes it is “handled somewhere else.”  In this episode of  Specifically About Quality , Agata Lewkowska Ph. D. and Christopher Scott explain why this mindset creates serious risk and why quality must pl...

Hiring a new quality professional is only the beginning.  The real challenge starts on the first day – when expectations, processes, and responsibilities must quickly turn into real competence.  In this episode of  Specifically About Quality , Agata Lewkowska Ph. D. and Christopher Scott explore how effective onboarding can transform a new hire into a confident and trusted quality professional.  F...

Measurement data is the foundation of quality decisions.  Capability studies, control charts, inspection results, and test data all rely on one assumption – that the measurement system is trustworthy.  In this episode of  Specifically About Quality , Agata Lewkowska Ph. D. and Christopher Scott explore what measurement credibility really means and why unreliable data can silently undermine even th...

Nonconformities are a normal part of every management system.  They are documented, investigated, and corrected – yet many organisations still focus on  who made the mistake  instead of understanding  why the system allowed it to happen .  In this episode of  Specifically About Quality , Agata Lewkowska Ph. D. and Christopher Scott explore the human side of nonconformities and why well-intentioned...

Problem-solving is a daily reality in automotive organisations.  Issues appear, teams react quickly, actions are taken – yet the same problems often return again and again.  In this episode of  Specifically About Quality , Agata Lewkowska Ph. D. and Christopher Scott explore how the A3 report can transform reactive firefighting into structured, disciplined problem solving.  From the customer’s per...

Production stops.  A key supplier fails. A cyberattack hits. A fire, power outage, or logistics breakdown interrupts the flow. In automotive, disruption is not a question of  if  – but  when .  If this episode resonates with you, don’t stop here.  👉 Subscribe to the QualityWise® newsletter to receive:  episode summaries and key takeaways,  practical checklists and templates,  early access to webi...

Human error is unavoidable.  But customer defects caused by preventable mistakes should not be.  In this episode of  Specifically About Quality , Agata Lewkowska Ph. D. and Christopher Scott explore what error-proofing truly means in automotive manufacturing – beyond awareness training and procedural reminders.  From the customer’s perspective, weak error-proofing means relying on vigilance instea...

Internal audits are a standard requirement in every management system.  They are planned, performed, documented – and yet in many , In this episode of  Specifically About Quality , Agata Lewkowska Ph. D. and Christopher Scott explore what truly distinguishes great auditors in the context of ISO 19011.  From the customer’s perspective, weak auditing means missed risks and false confidence. When aud...

Field failures are every automotive organisation’s nightmare.  A product reaches the customer, something goes wrong, and suddenly the issue is no longer internal – it is visible, costly, and reputationally critical.  In this episode of  Specifically About Quality , Agata Lewkowska Ph. D. and her guests Guilerme Bueno and Hamilton Parise discuss VDA FFA and what really happens when failure occurs i...

Change is constant in automotive organisations.  Process updates, engineering changes, supplier changes, new requirements – and yet many quality changes fail to deliver lasting results.  In this episode of  Specifically About Quality , Agata Lewkowska Ph. D. and Christopher Scott take a closer look at why quality-related changes so often break down after implementation.  From the customer’s perspe...

PPAP is a formal customer requirement in automotive quality.  It defines what must be submitted, reviewed, and approved – yet in many organizations PPAP is treated as a stressful, last-minute activity rather than a confirmation of a stable process.  In this episode of  Specifically About Quality , Agata Lewkowska Ph. D. and Christopher Scott focus on what PPAP looks like in real life, from underst...

Supplier audits are a standard part of automotive quality management. They are planned, executed, reported – and yet in many organisations they rarely lead to real improvement or stronger supplier relationships.  In this episode of Specifically About Quality , Agata Lewkowska Ph. D. and Christopher Scott explore how supplier development should work in practice, beyond audit checklists and scorecar...

APQP is one of the most fundamental Core Tools in automotive quality. It is well known, widely required, and heavily audited – yet in many organisations, it exists mainly as a project file that is closed once SOP is achieved.  In this episode of  Specifically About Quality , Agata Lewkowska Ph. D. and Christopher Scott focus on what APQP looks like in real life, beyond templates, gates, and formal...

Requalification and revalidation are requirements every automotive organisation knows.  In this episode of  Specifically About Quality , Agata Lewkowska Ph. D. and Christopher Scott take a practical look at how requalification and revalidation are really managed in organisations – and why they so often fail to protect the customer.  From the customer’s perspective, weak requalification processes m...

Core Tools are everywhere in automotive quality.  APQP, FMEA, Control Plan, MSA, SPC, PPAP – every organization knows them, every auditor expects them, and yet in many companies they still don’t work together.  In the first episode of Season 2 of  Specifically About Quality , Agata Lewkowska Ph. D. and Christopher Scott tackle one of the most common frustrations in quality management: Core Tools e...

Management review can be more than a compliance meeting—it can be a strategic driver. Agata Lewkowska Ph. D. and Christopher Scott  explain how to prepare, run, and follow up on reviews that engage leadership, track real performance, and set improvement direction.  📩 Subscribe to the podcast newsletter & get free downloads:  https://www.qualitywise.pl/en/podcast-specifically-about-quality/  ...

KPIs shape behavior—so are yours driving quality or just output? Learn how to select, define, and track KPIs that support customer satisfaction, compliance, and process stability. The hosts Agata Lewkowska Ph. D. and Christopher Scott share case studies of KPI systems that really work.  📩 Subscribe to the podcast newsletter & get free downloads:  https://www.qualitywise.pl/en/podcast-specific...

Start the year by energizing your QMS. This episode covers how to set fresh quality priorities, update your core tools, and align improvement initiatives with business goals. Perfect for quality leaders looking to make a strong start.  📩 Subscribe to the podcast newsletter & get free downloads:  https://www.qualitywise.pl/en/podcast-specifically-about-quality/   💼 Book your free consultation...

🎙️With Season 1 finished🏁, Christopher Scott provides a brief update on Season 2 for 2026🚨. In Specifically About Quality, we discuss quality as it actually operates on the shop floor — not just what the standards dictate, but how to apply them effectively without firefighting. Each episode delivers practical insights, real examples, and expert discussions from the automotive world and beyond....

Go beyond a checklist when walking the shop floor. Agata Lewkowska Ph. D. and Christopher Scott explain how to observe processes, ask the right questions, and spot early signs of quality risk. Practical examples help you turn Gemba walks into powerful quality improvement tools.  📩 Subscribe to the podcast newsletter & get free downloads: https://www.qualitywise.pl/en/podcast-specifically-abou...