Shows
Brand Unmuted Podcast05: Annual Goal Setting for Entrepreneurs Who Struggle with ConsistencyJanuary is PEAK “new year, new you” energy… but we’re here to offer a different take: your business doesn’t need a reset just because the calendar flips.In this episode, we’re walking through how we each plan for the year ahead– from Joanna’s capacity-first, color-coded, one-page calendar system to Dianna’s reflection + goal-setting + vision board + quarterly milestones approach.If annual planning overwhelms you and you struggle to stay consistent with your goals, start here.Topics we cover:Why “fresh start” January messaging can feel weirdly crushing as an entrepreneurJoanna’s c...
2026-01-1331 min
Quality during DesignDefine Kill Criteria to Avoid Zombie ProjectsWhen pursuing aggressive benchmarks, engineers must employ portfolio thinking, running multiple design projects simultaneously. But choosing winners requires a decisive way to eliminate projects that are not feasible to continue innovating, often referred to as a "project killer". In this episode, we analyze Tesla's battery development as a case study. We delve into their use of five clear-cut constraint categories that define failure conditions upfront: the Economic filter, Performance filter, Scalability filter, Resource filter, and System filter. We discuss the challenges engineers face in letting go of projects due to the sunk co...
2025-12-1113 min
You Know Something? with Dena and DiAnna11/07/25 "You Know Something?" with Dena and DiAnnaSHOW NOTESDENA AND DIANNA TALK ABOUT SIDE GIGS, STRANGE HUSTLES, AND ODDBALL JOBS THAT ARE ACTUALLY WORKING FOR PEOPLE TO SUPPLEMENT THEIR INCOME. LISTEN AND GET SOME IDEAS TO HELP YOUR BOTTOMLINE!MENTIONS/LINKSFRUGAL LIVING ON FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/groups/303232399874177/user/100002279885603/FIVERR - https://www.fiverr.com/VOICE 123 - https://voice123.com/TAKE SURVEYS SWAGBUCKS - https://www.swagbucks.com/USERTESTING - https://www.u...
2025-11-0734 minYou Know Something? with Dena and DiAnnaEP: 10/23/25 "You Know Something?" with Dena & DiAnnaSHOW NOTESDena and DiAnna discuss the little baby steps you can take to remove chaos from your life. MENTIONS/LINKS“The Declutter Challenge” by Tanyahomeinspo https://www.instagram.com/tanyahomeinspo/?hl=enWe'd love to hear from you! (Contact us through the links below)Leave us a voicemailFollow us on facebookFollow us on instagramFollow us on tiktokSign up for our newlsetter or Read our Blog We remain proud Ambassadors for www.packleashes.com Use code DandT20 at checkout for 20% off your total order
2025-10-2335 minYou Know Something? with Dena and DiAnnaEP: 10/16/25 "You Know Something" with Dena and DiAnnaSHOW NOTESDena and DiAnna discuss the Latest Health Headlines. Interestinggggg Stuff!EAR SEEDINGhttps://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/oct/01/ear-seeding-can-ancient-wellness-technique-really-de-puff-your-faceGET YOUR EAR SEEDS HERE! - https://amzn.to/46Uf5fgGUA SHA YOUR PUFFINESS AWAYhttps://amzn.to/42GYYPJCHRONIC PAINhttps://penntoday.upenn.edu/news/select-neurons-brainstem-may-hold-key-treating-chronic-painStudy Shows Eating Fiber Helps Improve Inflammation Related To Gum Diseasehttps://www.mindbodygreen.com...
2025-10-1735 min
Styled 4 TravelMeet Dianna your Travel Stylist!Send us a textFrom honeymoon cruises to raising a well-travelled son, from expat life in Ecuador to volunteering in Israel my journey with travel has been anything but ordinary. In this episode, I share how those experiences shaped me as a travel stylist and why I believe every escape should feel effortless, meaningful, and styled just for you.Support the show🎧 Thanks for listening to Styled for Travel!📞 Let's plan your next styled escape: 💫 Tell me how I can style your next escape
2025-08-2609 min
Quality during DesignPractice Makes Improvement in Subjective Probability EstimationsDoes the phrase "Subjective Probability Estimation" make you feel uncomfortable? If you're a data-driven professional, you're likely wary of each of those terms on their own, let alone combining them into one thing. But we sometimes need to do it. And we can practice to get better at it. In this episode, we emphasize the importance of subjective probability estimations in decision-making, especially in situations where concrete data may be unavailable or impractical. We talk about:• Exploring the discomfort of subjective probability estimations • Utilizing Monte Carlo simulations for complex systems analysis...
2025-02-2016 minYou Know Something? with Dena and DiAnnaBOTOX, FILLERS AND THREADS... OH MY!SHOW NOTES
Our first episode of 2025!! We stayed away longer than planned. We missed you. Tia is on a "sabbatical," but our friend, DiAnna is our special co-host on this episode, and hopefully future episodes, until Tia is ready to return.
DiAnna is an "Earthen Angel" (Tia's name for her) and a Injector Nurse for her own Anti-Aging Spa, "DiAnna's Touch of Beauty." DiAnna shares a little about her life and history in the nursing field. And she gives her advice on Anti-Aging Products and Procedures. She also shares inspiration and encouragement, because that's just...
2025-02-051h 09
Quality during DesignSocial Dynamics within Engineering with Yakira Mirabito (A Chat with Cross-Functional Experts)Dianna Deeney interviews Yakira Mirabito about social dynamics within engineering and how it affects decision making. The episode focuses on improving design reviews and making them more inclusive.Yakira explains how things like personalities and power dynamics can really affect decisions made by design teams. She gives advice to engineers on how to prepare for these reviews, such as how to give presentations effectively and encourage helpful feedback from team members. She also highlights useful tools, like the “Identity Wheel,” to help people understand each other's backgrounds and avoid biases when making decisions. The episode is a grea...
2024-12-1244 min
Quality during DesignImproving communication and the workplace with Meagan Pollock (A Chat with Cross-Functional Experts)Communication challenges in engineering? Dianna Deeney interviews Dr. Meagan Pollock about improving communication and the workplace. They explore how improving communication within cross-functional teams involves active listening, continuous learning, and adapting communication styles to create a more inclusive and productive environment.Meagan and Dianna talk about:Diversity Drives Better OutcomesHigh-Performing Teams Prioritize CommunicationCommunication Styles are Shaped by Diverse FactorsThe Role of AI in CommunicationContinuous Growth and ExpansionWhat can you do today?Visit Dr. Pollock's website (EngineerInclusion.com) to access free resources on communication and inclusive leadership.Actively engage in...
2024-10-3141 min
Quality during DesignEngineering Careers: A Panel Discussion with ‘Brilliant!’ and ‘How to Win Friends and Influence People’'Engineering is a field that constantly evolves, and staying ahead requires not only technical skills but also the ability to communicate effectively and work collaboratively. Join Steven Giako and Dianna Deeney in a panel discussion of central themes in the books Brilliant! Shuji Nakamura And the Revolution in Lighting Technology and How to Win Friends and Influence People.How do these two books relate with one another, and what lessons can be learned by combining and contrasting their messages? How can the story in Brilliant! relate to the advice given in How to Win Friends...
2024-09-1954 min
Quality during DesignFrom Solo to Collaboration: Lessons from Nobel Laureate Shuji Nakamura and Dale CarnegieWhat could Shuji Nakamura, the Nobel Prize-winning engineer behind the blue LED, teach you about teamwork and career growth? Discover how transitioning from an independent researcher to a collaborative leader can elevate your professional journey. Join me, Dianna Deeney, as I share insights from a recent event co-hosted for the IEEE Philadelphia Professional Communication Society. We'll uncover valuable lessons from the books "Brilliant!" by Bob Johnstone and Dale Carnegie's classic "How to Win Friends and Influence People," both of which spotlight the transformative power of teamwork and communication.Learn about Shuji Nakamura's career evolution and...
2024-05-3010 min
Quality during DesignBridging Triumph and Trial: A Panel Discussion about Engineering with 'To Engineer is Human' and 'The Wright Brothers'Anne Meixner, Dr. Vaneeta Kaur Grover, and Dianna Deeney join in a panel discussion about engineering and STEM. They met for an engineering book review to discuss the ideas that came from the books themselves and to link literature about engineering to current-day challenges.Uncover the intricacies of engineering's past and present as we dissect To Engineer is Human and The Wright Brothers. Our collective expertise spans the gamut from semiconductor testing to biotechnology statistics, offering a rich tapestry of perspectives on these seminal works. This episode promises a journey through the shared trials and triumphs that...
2024-05-161h 06
Our Unscripted Lives 脚本缺失EP 11 【Our Unscripted Checkpoint】春季突击检查：年初野心勃勃的计划都开始执行了吗？不知不觉居然已经进入夏天了，Dianna和Adelyn的新年计划突击检查才姗姗来迟。我们总愿意在年初许下对新一年的各种期望，写下想要完成的计划。春天已经过完了，是时候问一问自己，我们的行动力配得上自己的野心吗？
【本期主播】
Dianna
Adelyn
【时间轴】
00:00:41 阅读的习惯养成了吗？最近看了哪些书
00:04:01 Dianna看了哪些电影
00:05:01 聊起了电影Matrix里关于自信的能力和力量
00:09:31 Adelyn看了哪些电影
00:11:49 Adelyn每天晒太阳了吗
00:12:11 Dianna的作息调整过来了吗
00:12:25 每日运动计划
00:15:18 今年升职有望吗
00:21:43 Adelyn跟自己的connection
00:22:19 Dianna的旅游计划
00:23:12 Spiritual Awakening
00:29:15 与自然相处
00:30:18 关于本播客
00:31:49 Do more, feel more, think more
00:34:08 红药丸还是蓝药丸
00:42:00 在今年剩下的时间里我们将会
【Dianna手记】
关于节目里Adelyn的提问，Matrix里的红药丸和蓝药丸我会作何选择。录音的时候我的第一反应是我或许没有勇气接受残酷的现实，会选择沉浸在虚假的梦境中。但剪辑的时候重听这一部分我才意识到，随着女性主义意识的觉醒，我们都早已吞下了红药丸。
【本期提到】
- 书
那不勒斯四部曲：我的天才女友 - 埃莱娜·费兰特
那不勒斯四部曲：新名字的故事 - 埃莱娜·费兰特
The Road Less Traveled - M. Scott Peck
Unbound: A Woman's Guide to Power - Kasia Urbaniak
影视
Mr & Mrs Smith
3 Body Problem
House of Ninja
热辣滚烫
周处除三害
Rebecca
Matrix
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
台北故事
Love Death Robot
播客
Sounds of SAND
【音乐】
Step By Step - SoundStreet
【联系我们】
ourunscriptedlives@gmail.com
2024-05-1544 min
Quality during DesignGetting Information for Product Design with Fred Schenkelberg (A Chat with Cross-Functional Experts) - Part 2Dianna Deeney interviews Fred Schenkelberg about getting information for product design, focusing on reliability engineering in new products.This episode is part 2 of 2.This interview is part of our series, “A Chat with Cross Functional Experts". Our focus is speaking with people that are typically part of a cross-functional team within engineering projects. We discuss their viewpoints and perspectives regarding new products, the values they bring to new product development, and how they're involved and work with product design engineering teammates.About FredFred is a Reliability Engineering and Management Co...
2024-04-0424 min
Quality during DesignGetting Information for Product Design with Fred Schenkelberg (A Chat with Cross-Functional Experts) - Part 1Dianna Deeney interviews Fred Schenkelberg about getting information for product design, focusing on reliability engineering in new products.This episode is part 1 of 2.This interview is part of our series, “A Chat with Cross Functional Experts". Our focus is speaking with people that are typically part of a cross-functional team within engineering projects. We discuss their viewpoints and perspectives regarding new products, the values they bring to new product development, and how they're involved and work with product design engineering teammates.About FredFred is a Reliability Engineering and Management Co...
2024-03-2134 min
Love, Nurture, FaithBoundaries, Boundaries, BoundariesHi Family!Krystal & Dianna here :) Welcome to this space, we are so thankful you are here with us. 101 of self love is setting boundaries. Krystal and Dianna talk about the discomfort that setting boundaries can cause and what has helped them in getting through this discomfort. As a mom, Dianna has been able to set boundaries for her self through teaching her daughter the power of her "NO". Tune into this weeks episode to get some tips and hear how boundaries have been life changing for Krystal and Dianna. As you will hear family, Krystal & Dian...
2024-02-271h 13Love, Nurture, FaithBook Club: Un Cambio En La Crianza de HijosHola Familia ! Les damos la bienvenida a Love, Nurture, Faith the Podcast con Krystal y Dianna! Estámos muy felices de que hayas encontrado este espacio ❣️Esta semana tomamos la oportunidad y grabamos este video mientras que nos reunimos para el club de libro 📚 Si estás interesada/o de hacer cambios como mamá/papá este podcast va ser una guía para empezar hacer cambios pequeños. El libro que leímos se llama en inglés “Peaceful Parents, Happy Kids. How to Stop Yelling and...
2024-02-2050 minQuality during DesignWelcome Back! New, upcoming opportunities with FMEA and Quality during DesignQuality during Design isn't just an add-on; it's a fundamental aspect that drives innovation, efficiency, and customer satisfaction!Welcome back from our brief hiatus!One of the highlights of this episode is the introduction of an upcoming FMEA course on Udemy, with The Manufacturing Academy. FMEA, or Failure Modes and Effects Analysis, is a systematic method for evaluating our offerings to identify where and how they might fail and to assess the relative impact of different failures. Dianna's approach to FMEA is not only about adhering to traditional methods but also about addressing the criticisms a...
2024-02-0707 min
Our Unscripted Lives 脚本缺失EP 8 【Our Unscripted Talk】脚本缺失2023年度Unscripted Award颁奖典礼（随心所欲版）新年好呀！度过了愉快的圣诞节和新年假期，Adelyn和Dianna已经各自含泪回归到每日搬砖的打工人生活中一段时间了。万万没想到，脚本缺失新的一年将从回首过去开始。本期节目始于去年12月Adelyn和Dianna的假期生活分享，终于我们的随心所欲年度大事件颁奖。我们精心从2023年的亲身经历中评选出了年度【最具创意奖】【最具影响力奖】【最勇敢奖】【最脱离脚本奖】
【本期主播】
Dianna
Adelyn
【时间轴】
01:05 Dianna带爸妈去看了来温泉里过冬的海牛
01:45 Adelyn跟室友去了蒙特雷小镇
06:35 Adelyn去了她乡的女性创业者分享会
08:21 在假期里重新审视了自己跟工作的关系
14:02 如何把阅读变成习惯
21:36 Dianna又写了一年手帐
24:19 挣钱比花钱更有趣
26:59 小小总结：2023年到底过得怎么样
30:11 颁奖典礼开始
30:26 最具创意奖
31:39 最具影响力奖
32:07 最勇敢奖
32:15 最脱离脚本奖
【音乐】
Meet You Under Eifel Tower by AndyWarner
【联系我们】
ourunscriptedlives@gmail.com
2024-01-3034 minLove, Nurture, FaithPreguntas Para Conocer A Krystal y DiannaHola Hola Familia!Bienvenidas a nuestra podcast,Krystal y Dianna se preguntan unas preguntas personales para que las conoscan mas! De si, estan enamoradas a cual es su opiñon de religion. Negacion de responsabilidad- nuestras respuestas son nuestra verdad y no son intentadas para offender a nadien ❤️❤️ Siguannos https://instagram.com/lovenurturefaith?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==Krystal: https://instagram.com/krystalvegaa?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA%3D%3D&utm_source=qrDianna: https://instagram.com/dianna.nievessGRACIAS POR ESCUCHAR 🙏🏽🤎
2023-12-2619 min
Quality during DesignTiming Reliability in Product Design, with Jeffrey Lewis (A Chat with Cross-Functional Experts)Dianna Deeney interviews Jeffrey Lewis about new product development: how timing the right activities can lead to product success.This interview is part of our series, “A Chat with Cross Functional Experts". Our focus is speaking with people that are typically part of a cross-functional team within engineering projects. We discuss their viewpoints and perspectives regarding new products, the values they bring to new product development, and how they're involved and work with product design engineering teammates.About JeffreyJeff is a senior director of corporate quality at Globus Me...
2023-10-2540 minQuality during DesignDriving Effective Conversations-Three Major Aspects to Consider for DfXGain insights into working effectively with cross-functional teams, collecting invaluable design inputs without succumbing to the overwhelming flow of information. We'll discuss the magic behind the 'concept space', an efficient approach to dissect potential customer experiences, streamlining concept development at the start.What about after that high-level concept development, when we begin our engineering design?Early engineering diagrams can prove instrumental in evaluating modularity, layout, and interactions in product design with a team. Dianna guides us through part of a Quality During Design course lesson, shedding light on how these diagrams can be...
2023-10-1114 min
Quality during DesignSupply Chain Management during Design, with Kevin Bailey (A Chat with Cross-Functional Experts)Dianna Deeney interviews Kevin Bailey, from Design 1st, about supply chain management during design: how product design engineers and product development leadership can be affected by and affect the supply chain for their products.This interview is part of our series, “A Chat with Cross Functional Experts". Our focus is speaking with people that are typically part of a cross-functional team within engineering projects. We discuss their viewpoints and perspectives regarding new products, the values they bring to new product development, and how they're involved and work with product design engineering teammates.Ab...
2023-09-2748 min
Our Unscripted Lives 脚本缺失EP 3 【Our Unscripted Talk】时间来到九月Intro. 过去的两个月 Dianna 和Adelyn 在世界不同角落 Hustle
00：57 - 06：55 Adelyn 在 California 茁壮成长:
- 00：57 “Changes are always good.”
- 01：57 San Francisco is like a movie; Street Photography and Frances Ha Tea party.
08：33 - End. Dianna 分享回国见闻：
- 08：52 国内主流话语下所谓的对于女性来说的顺境 可能是最大的逆境和陷阱。
- 15：20 他人对于我们的expectation V.S. 我们真正想做的。
- 18：02 在国内， 以“知道自己想要什么，不 care 周围声音”的方式生活下去的可能性
- 21：47 好像，自洽就可以？
- 27：13 一种向下的自由：女性主义从未涉足过的生活的样子
- 36：00 在父母身边变回一个小孩
- 38：38 女性主义思想到底给我们带来了什么
- 44：24 时间会告诉我们 到底谁是最叛逆的那个。 (Dianna.)
- 46：08 Adelyn 试图解释，痛苦仅仅是自然中的一环。
- 47：21 ”他们都已经好老好老了“ “Unscripted life 里的 unscripted life. “
- 52：26 Let’s talk about 外婆。
- 57：00 Dianna贵重物品丢失在海关的经历
- 1：02：30 是谁砍了 Dianna 的树？！
2023-09-111h 08
Quality during DesignUnderstanding Cross-Functional CollaborationAre you prepared to untap the potential of cross-functional collaboration in product design? On this episode of Quality during Design, we pull back the curtains on the dynamics of cross-functional teams in product design. Dianna Deeney, your host and seasoned quality professional, shares her insights on navigating the complex world of cross-functional teams, addressing common misconceptions, and maximizing brainstorming through structure. We’re about to take a deep dive into the power of diverse perspectives in shaping a holistic vision for a product. Hear about the concept of internal customers in product design, the process of...
2023-09-0613 min
Quality during DesignStreamlining Design: The Power of Urgency and ImportanceEver felt overwhelmed with the mountain of data during the design process? Wondered how best to prioritize tasks to meet user needs? I'm Dianna Deeney, and this episode of the Quality During Design Podcast promises to guide you through the chaos. We delve deep into the concept of an urgent/important matrix, a simple two-way matrix that can help you align your design priorities based on the user. We get practical, applying this matrix to a real-world scenario - designing a bicycle stand. As we navigate through preliminary user data, we'll explore how tasks can be categorized...
2023-08-1613 min
Quality during DesignInformation Development in Design, with Scott Abel – Part 2 (A Chat with Cross-Functional Experts)Dianna Deeney interviews Scott Abel about why members of the technical documentation team should be brought into product design process earlier rather than later. And to encourage product design teams to incorporate the insights available from technical documentation professionals into their design decisions.This episode is Part 2 of our interview. Part 1 (published earlier) was a discussion involving information development management. This Part 2 focuses on technical communication in design.This interview is part of our series, “A Chat with Cross Functional Experts". Our focus is speaking with people that are typically part of a cross-functional team wi...
2023-08-0934 min
Quality during DesignInformation Development in Design, with Scott Abel – Part 1 (A Chat with Cross-Functional Experts)Dianna Deeney interviews Scott Abel about information development management, a discipline concerned with best practices for managing and coordinating all activities related to the development, production, and distribution of information. He shares ideas, strategies, and best practices for unifying all product information - technical documentation, product specifications, customer support, training, and on-boarding - in a single online knowledge center.This is Part 1 of 2 episodes with Scott. In Part 1 (this episode) we talk about information development management. In Part 2 (next episode), we talk about technical communication as part of product design success.This interview is part...
2023-08-0235 minQuality during DesignCrafting Effective Technical Documents for the Engineering FieldReady to hone your technical writing skills as an engineer? This episode of the Quality During Design podcast is a must-listen! We delve into the critical role of technical communication in engineering, and why written communication skills are non-negotiable for engineers. Join me, Dianna Deeney, as we consider different perspectives to make your technical writing the best it can be.Our chat takes us on a journey through the past, present, and future of technical writing, as we root ourselves in the realities of presenting findings, interpreting data, and making actionable decisions. In the spirit of past...
2023-07-2613 min
Quality during DesignReliability Life Testing in Design: A Deep Dive into Accelerated Stress TestingAre you ready to elevate your understanding of reliability during design to the next level? This episode is an absolute must-listen! I'm your host, Dianna Deeney, and I'll help you dissect the world of reliability life testing in design. We'll explore how the integration of critical reliability data into the decision-making process can revolutionize your design approach.Ever felt confused by accelerated stress testing? You're not alone. This episode will give you an in-depth understanding of this subset of reliability life testing methods and when to use it in your design process. We'll also discuss the importance...
2023-07-1216 min
Quality during DesignReliability Engineering during Design, with Adam Bahret (A Chat with Cross-Functional Experts)Dianna Deeney interviews Adam Bahret about reliability engineering during design: how product design engineers and product development leadership can incorporate reliability engineering.This interview is part of our series, “A Chat with Cross Functional Experts". Our focus is speaking with people that are typically part of a cross-functional team within engineering projects. We discuss their viewpoints and perspectives regarding new products, the values they bring to new product development, and how they're involved and work with product design engineering teammates.About AdamAdam Bahret is the founder of Apex Ri...
2023-06-2145 min
Quality during DesignEngineering with Receptivity, with Sol Rosenbaum (A Chat with Cross-Functional Experts)Dianna Deeney interviews Sol Rosenbaum about engineering with receptivity: how an openness toward others for new impressions and different ideas can lead to a successful engineering career.This interview is part of our series, “A Chat with Cross Functional Experts". Our focus is speaking with people that are typically part of a cross-functional team within engineering projects.About SolSol Rosenbaum graduated with a BS and MS in Mechanical Engineering and is currently the Owner & Managing Engineer of a small firm providing engineering support and energy analysis to commercial properties as pa...
2023-05-1731 min
Quality during DesignCrucial Conversations in Engineering, with Shere Tuckey (A Chat with Cross-Functional Experts)Dianna Deeney and Shere Tuckey talk about Crucial Conversations® in an engineering environment: how to prepare for and have difficult conversations with peers, managers, and everyone else. This interview is part of our series, “A Chat with Cross Functional Experts". Our focus is speaking with people that are typically part of a cross-functional team for new product development. We discuss their viewpoints and perspectives regarding new products, the values they bring to new product development, and how they're involved and work with product design engineering teammates.About ShereShere is a...
2023-02-2238 min
Indie BitesCandle dealer builds $5k MRR software to solve own problem - Dianna Allen & Jeremy Blalock, InventoraIn this episode I’ve got my first ever returning guest with Dianna Allen and first ever double act as we’re joined by her fiance Jeremy Blalock. I spoke to Dianna about a year ago after growing her handmade candle business from $100 to $50k in that year. Since then Dianna is still running TERRA and doubled the revenue in 2021, but has also co-founded Inventora which has just hit $5k MRR. Inventora is inventory tracking system for handmade businesses, solving Dianna’s own problem with TERRA.👉 Join the Indie Feast membership here.What we covered in this e...
2022-03-2715 min
Quality during DesignChoosing Quality Tools (Mind Map vs. Flowchart vs. Spaghetti Diagram)Within our quality toolbox, there are a lot of graphical organizers. Some are better at fulfilling different goals than others. If we have a goal in mind, then we may choose a certain tool. However, we don’t want analysis paralysis about which tool is best to stop us from using any tool at all. I share my 3 general guidelines about choosing a graphical quality tool, how to draw them, and when to use them. Plus, we talk about 3 tools in particular, prompted by a social media ask: mind map, process flowchart, and spaghetti diagram. We g...
2021-11-2414 minQuality during DesignThe DFE Part of DFX (Design For Environment and eXcellence)Design for Excellence (DFX) is a concept that includes many initiatives, like design for usability, design for manufacturability and assembly, and design for environment and disassembly. It’s a focus on doing things right, exceeding customer expectations, optimizing what’s needed while minimizing costs, and continuous improvement. Today we take a deep dive on one of those aspects: design for environment (DFE), including design for disassembly. What are reasons that a business would consider this important, and how does a design engineer fit in? Visit the podcast blog for links to additional reading.Rea...
2021-11-1712 minQuality during DesignResults-Driven Decisions, Faster: Accelerated Stress Testing as a Reliability Life TestThis episode talks about options for reliability life testing, specifically accelerated stress testing. We explore how accelerated stress testing is one subset of other reliability life testing, when it's a good idea, how we can approach doing it, and what we can do with the results.Visit the podcast blog for links and references.Related episodes: Episode 6 “HALT! Watch out for that weakest link” Episode 10 “How to Handle Competing Failure Modes”Episode 30 “Using Failure Rate Functions to Drive Early Design Decisions” Episode 31 “5 Aspects of Good Reliability Goals and Requirements”Episode 36 “When to use DOE (Desi...
2021-11-1015 minQuality during DesignWhen to use DOE (Design of Experiments)What is design of experiments, or DOE? What do we use it for and what is it all about? We talk about when we might want to use it during the design cycle, and we do this without getting into all of the how-to and mathematical equations.Visit the podcast blog for a transcript.Ready to apply this to your project?→ Schedule a free discovery call: Dianna's calendarWant insights like this?→ Subscribe to my newsletter: qualityduringdesign.substack.comLearn the full framework:...
2021-11-0307 min
Quality during DesignDesign for User Tasks using an Urgent/Important MatrixWe’ve collected all sorts of preliminary information about our users that we’re using for a new product design. We may be faced with so much data we’re not sure where to turn first, or what design feature is a priority. There’s a simple, 2-way matrix we can use to help us sort it all out: an urgent/important matrix. We may have used it to prioritize tasks for ourselves or as a management strategy for our team. But, we can also use it to evaluate the tasks our users take when using our product. We talk...
2021-10-2711 minQuality during DesignStatistical vs. Practical SignificanceWhen we’re looking at results (like measures of a characteristic), we need to take care not to get too hung-up on what the statistics is trying to tell us. Yes, statistical tools are a good way for us to make decisions and the results can act as proof for us. But, there’s a practical, engineering side to results, too. We need to evaluate the statistical significance along with the practical significance.We review an example and how to document it.Visit the podcast blog for a transcript and resources.Ready to a...
2021-10-2005 minQuality during DesignHow many do we need to test?In this episode we review sampling for design tests. We talk through a generic thought process for choosing a statistically relevant sample size and propose some basics that we can all learn about to better understand sampling.Our goal is for us to be able to better talk through a sampling scenario with our quality and reliability engineering friends, and to better prepare for the information that they're going to want to know when asked, "How many do we need to test?"Visit the podcast blog for a transcript and more.Ready...
2021-10-1315 minQuality during DesignLife Cycle Costing for Product Design ChoicesIt costs our customers to own our designed products. It costs them initially to purchase it, but it also costs them to use it, maintain it, repair it, and eventually dispose of it. And it costs our company in ways too, like processing, training requirements for customers, and warranty repair costs. Life cycle costing can help our team choose between design alternatives, like alternate design options, features, manufacturing methods or suppliers. This type of analysis is a big topic in certain sectors of design like civil, transportation, construction, and capital equipment. But, we can use it for...
2021-10-0610 min
Quality during Design5 Aspects of Good Reliability Goals and RequirementsGood reliability requirements are going to drive our design decisions relating to the concept, the components, the materials, and other stuff. So, the moment to start defining reliability requirements is early in the design process. But, what makes a well-defined reliability requirement? There are five aspects it should cover: do you know what they are? We'll describe what makes a good reliability requirement and examples of common (but not good) requirements. Visit the podcast blog for links to reliability engineering articles and sites about "No MTBF".Ready to apply this to your pr...
2021-09-2912 minQuality during DesignUsing Failure Rate Functions to Drive Early Design DecisionsWe have good requirements for the reliability of our design. We also have a preliminary design with ideas of how we're going to manufacture it. Is our design idea good enough? Are there things we should do to improve its performance and reliability?For a physical product, there are three general stages in its life cycle. In many cases the failure rates of physical products can be represented by a reliability bathtub curve. This curve is really a plot of a hazard rate function, also known as a failure rate function. We talk about data collection in...
2021-09-2211 min
Quality during DesignTypes of Design Analyses possible with User Process FlowchartsFlowcharting isn't just useful for manufacturing processes. We can use them in lots of ways to help us with design of products and to identify quality characteristics. After all, products are used by people, and the way in which they use them is a process. compare ideal vs. actual flowcharts identify where there is disagreement about correct sequence or steps identify common mistakes/problems at each step to mistake-proof the process and designanalyze cycle time, look for holds or delays, find the critical path We also talk about specific flowchart analyses and how they can be used to an...
2021-09-1512 min
Quality during DesignDesign Tolerances Based on Economics (Using the Taguchi Loss Function)Genichi Taguchi related his measure of quality (variation from the target spec) with economics, called the Taguchi Loss Function. It’s used to calculate the cost (in money) of a certain deviation from a target value. It assumes that the farther our quality characteristic is from our target value, the more costly it is to us.We talk about how we can use the Taguchi Loss Functions as a way for us to set tolerances for our designs. Visit the podcast blog to get an interactive tool and the equations.Ready to apply this to...
2021-09-0809 min
Quality during DesignHow many controls do we need to reduce risk?When we've identified a risk to our design or user process - and that risk can pose a potential harm - how many controls do we need to add?We discuss prevention vs. detection controls, ALARP, as low as possible, and some scenarios where we could (and maybe couldn't) justify a risk as acceptable without adding additional controls.Ready to apply this to your project?→ Schedule a free discovery call: Dianna's calendarWant insights like this?→ Subscribe to my newsletter: qualityduringdesign.substack.comLearn the...
2021-09-0209 minQuality during DesignSolving symptoms instead of causes?How we describe and approach the issues we need to solve can affect how we react to them. We know we’re supposed to be solving for root causes. But are we, instead, really just addressing symptoms? Are we celebrating the quick fix and then moving on without addressing the root of our issue? Recognize the common mishaps of us solving symptoms instead of really getting to the causes. And, clearly describe our problem in two parts (statement and description of facts) to be confident that we’re moving toward solving the causes.Ready to app...
2021-08-2510 min
Quality during DesignDo you have SMART ACORN objectives?Objectives are goalposts of what it is we’re trying to accomplish. Though they’re only a part of planning a project, if we don’t have well-defined and clear objectives, it could lead to us not having the stellar project results we want. Our objective should be a SMART ACORN. We review these two, complementing acronyms as ways to check that we're setting up our project for success. Ready to apply this to your project?→ Schedule a free discovery call: Dianna's calendarWant insights like this?→ Subscribe to my newslette...
2021-08-1806 minQuality during DesignWhy Look to StandardsStandards are everywhere, and lots of organizations are sourcing and creating them. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission held a workshop 2019 that recently made the news, again, in July 2021. It was called “Nixing the Fix: a Workshop on Repair Restrictions”. Here’s what it's about: manufacturers are not creating products with standard parts, or their design is created so its difficult for consumers to repair. Are standards part of the answer? How can we proactively use them them for design? Why should we?See the transcript and a link to the FTC workshop at the podcast...
2021-08-1107 minQuality during DesignGetting the Voice of the CustomerBefore we can link customer needs to design, production, and service of our products, we need to listen to and understand the voice of the customer. We review 6 common VOC collection strategies, and talk about their pros and cons. We also discuss an affinity diagram process, which may help our team organize all of the data to get to customer needs.Visit the podcast blog for a transcript and extra links and citations.Ready to apply this to your project?→ Schedule a free discovery call: Dianna's calendarWant insights lik...
2021-08-0406 minQuality during DesignThe Way We Test MattersWe can look at test methods like a product in and of itself. Because tests also have requirements and need to produce usable results, we validate against those requirements. Validating our test method also ensures that they are precise and accurate. We talk about things to consider when looking at product tests: tying test methods to the product's use environment, standards, and cumulative effects of testing. See the podcast blog for some extra links and articles.Ready to apply this to your project?→ Schedule a free discovery call: Dianna's calendar
2021-07-2807 minQuality during DesignDesigning Specs for QACreating specs for suppliers and producers is generally at the forefront of our thoughts about the activity. But, it's also important to design for our QA friends, too, for inspection.We talk about what acceptance sampling is all about. We also step through a thought process for identifying and creating design features for inspection using FMEA.See the transcript at the podcast blog.Ready to apply this to your project?→ Schedule a free discovery call: Dianna's calendarWant insights like this?→ Subscribe to my newsletter: qual...
2021-07-2108 minQuality during DesignEvery Failure is a GiftWhen designs fail we can take on damaging mindsets while we're deciding our next steps, and this can lead us to bad decisions. We explore this and give some examples of pitfalls. We also talk about what to do within the design-realm to prepare for and combat those mindsets. Finally, I share my mantra when designing activities get tough with failures. Ready to apply this to your project?→ Schedule a free discovery call: Dianna's calendarWant insights like this?→ Subscribe to my newsletter: qualityduringdesign.substack.comLearn...
2021-07-1406 minQuality during DesignUnderstanding the Purposes behind KaizenIn the quality world, kaizen is a tool for continuous improvement under the umbrella of a Lean philosophy. The quality-tool kaizen is just one layer of a larger, overarching idea that we benefit from small, incremental improvements made consistently.Kaizen as a tool involves all employees of the company toward continuous improvement. The way kaizen events are done helps to promote the continuous improvement philosophy throughout the business through its effect on culture, time, proof, and teamwork. We talk more about how this all fits together in the podcast.The podcast blog includes more information...
2021-07-0707 min
Quality during DesignFishbone Diagram: A Supertool to Understand Problems, Potential Solutions, and GoalsA Fishbone Diagram is named for its looks because it resembles the bones of a fish drawn on paper. Its less creative names are Cause-and-Effect Diagram and Ishikawa Diagram. It's popularly known to help with root cause analysis. But, we can also use it to help with goals and to evaluate a potential solution.Why is it a Supertool? Just creating its headings helps us to better define our question. Writing it out as a graphical organizer helps organize jumbled thoughts. And, when paired with a 5W2H approach and the 5-whys, it can help us dig...
2021-06-3007 minQuality during DesignWhat is 'Production Equivalent' and Why Does it Matter?We're in the middle of our design process and we're getting some of the first parts in hand, either from prototyping or benchtops, or our manufacturing cell. Let's test them and finish our verification testing! Maybe we shouldn’t.We talk about the concept of production equivalent: what it means and when it's important to consider.For a transcript and extra links, see the podcast blog.Ready to apply this to your project?→ Schedule a free discovery call: Dianna's calendarWant insights like this?→ Subscribe to my...
2021-06-2310 min
Quality during DesignAbout Visual Quality Standards"A picture is worth a thousand words" is an old saying, and it holds true! Visual standards, visual aids, and quality standards are a great tool, especially in design when communicating the limits of acceptability. This episode explores areas to capture this type of information and how it can be used not just for Quality Assurance and Production, but also for FMEA, root cause analysis, and future field defect investigations (to name a few).Ready to apply this to your project?→ Schedule a free discovery call: Dianna's calendarWa...
2021-06-1605 min