Paul Naysmith

Quality manager

Expro Group

Paul Naysmith is the author of Business Management Tips From an Improvement Ninja and Business Management Tips From a Quality Punk. He’s also a Fellow and Chartered Quality Professional with the UK’s Chartered Quality Institute (CQI), and an honorary member of the South African Quality Institute (SAQI). Connect with him at www.paulnaysmith.com, or follow him on twitter @PNaysmith.

Those who have read Paul’s columns might be wondering why they haven’t heard from him in a while. After his stint working in the United States, he moved back to his homeland of Scotland, where he quickly found a new career in the medical-device industry; became a dad to his first child, Florence; and decided to restore a classic car back to its roadworthy glory. With the help of his current employer, he’s also started the first-of-its-kind quality apprenticeship scheme, which he hopes will become a pipeline for future improvement ninjas and quality punks.

Wed, 01/04/2017 - 12:00
What Is the Hawthorne Effect? And was it as scientific as Taylor’s scientific management?
Thu, 10/24/2013 - 16:35
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away… well, 10 years ago in The Midlands of England, I was introduced to the “Hawthorne Effect.” I remember sitting in the Black Belt class being taught about improvement projects. The course tutor, a wise old…
How Do I Prepare for a Major Quality Failure? The story of Rick Rescorla, a modern hero
Wed, 10/16/2013 - 09:42
“If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs,” Rudyard Kipling begins in “If,” his beautifully written poem for his son. It’s a poem of advice and guidance for becoming a well-rounded adult, and dealing with the crises that life…
How Do I Write Better Investigation Reports? If you can’t prevent the problem, here are some tips for documenting it
Tue, 10/08/2013 - 09:33
It is the end of summer. The golden sun filters through clouds and reflects on a pond, a glimmering silver. Above me, Spanish moss hangs like a wizard’s beard from a giant oak stooping over me, centuries old. The green cathedral canopy against the…
Who Is the Customer of Your Document? A quality manual serves no purpose if no one reads it
Wed, 09/18/2013 - 11:39
Arecent call with an old colleague from Europe got me wondering about a question that few are conscious of: Who is the customer of your quality document? Oh boy, did we have an interesting discussion about quality systems. My friend was developing…
Seven Quality Tools of an Improvement Ninja, Part 3 The control chart
Mon, 03/25/2013 - 13:12
Story update 4/3/2013: The author replaced his earlier chart example with an explanation of how to set up an Xbar chart. Unlike the difficult "third album," the one that is supposed to be a real challenge following the first two musical productions…
Improvement Ninja Series The seven basic quality tools
Wed, 02/13/2013 - 16:19
Seven Quality Tools of an Improvement Ninja, Part 1
The cause and effect diagram Seven Quality Tools of an Improvement Ninja, Part 2
The check sheet Seven Quality Tools of an Improvement Ninja, Part 3
The control chart
Seven Quality Tools of an Improvement Ninja, Part 2 The check sheet
Mon, 02/11/2013 - 12:57
If you haven't read part one of my Improvement Ninja series, don't worry. Unlike The Godfather Part II, you don't need to see the preceding installment to make sense of this article. I continue my journey to enlighten newly initiated quality…
Seven Quality Tools of an Improvement Ninja, Part 1 The cause and effect diagram
Mon, 01/21/2013 - 16:05
Writing articles for Quality Digest Daily has created some positive if unpredicted consequences for me. I’m fortunate that people read what I write and even reach out with feedback. Recently one such reader, just beginning her quality career in…
A Secret Christmas Audit Goes Public The insider scoop on sugar-fueled workers and other North Pole conditions
Mon, 12/17/2012 - 10:46
This is a true exposé from Santa’s mega-factory at the North Pole. The information, apparently smuggled out in a series of notes rolled into scrolls and tucked deep inside elf shoes, was found floating in the open stretches of water known as the…
The Real Men Who Built America A modest proposal for the History channel—and quality managers
Tue, 11/20/2012 - 12:49
My Tuesday evenings have recently been filled thanks to the entertainment provided by the very nice people at the History channel. I’ve been thoroughly entranced by the show, The Men Who Built America. Production quality aside, it’s really an…