Is there any difference between software and manufacturing?

Last week we participated in a preparation session for an upcoming webinar. The person we will be presenting with is involved Quality Management for Products while I was representing Software.

It was quite surprising how similar we sounded in terms of what we do:

1. Product Planning Phase turning into Requirements.

2. Design Phase
3. Testing Phase
4. Production Phase
5. End-of-Life

• We both wanted measurements and opportunity to institute process improvement.
• We both looked at the entire lifecycle.
• We both looked at training as a method of attaining Quality objectives.
• We both end up with a product.
• We both wanted to add process improvement at all stages.

There does not seem to be a lot of difference. But, then again, we took our Quality Assurance from Crosby, Deming and Juran.

If you have input on the above, you might want to consider our survey.

Photo by Maria Jose Oyarzun on Unsplash

Was it a Hack or Poor Testing?

Recently we went to a restaurant for a quick dessert (pick up only at the current time). Usually this restaurant is quite fast and we have our order and are out within a few minutes. This time, to minimize the number of people in the restaurant, only one person went in and the rest of us stayed in the car. For a little while we did not worry – it was a busy time and there was a line up at the drive through and quite a few cars in the parking lot. However, by the time we had been sitting for 20 minutes catching up on mail, reviewing calendars, and reading it began to seem like a long time. The lightening storm to the north was quite good to watch also so that passed some time.

Then we began to get text messages from the person inside.

When they came out, with the order in hand, we got the full story.

1. Order was submitted at the counter (not via the machine) and a receipt with number obtained.
2. Many other people were also waiting.
3. Drive through orders were being run out to the two waiting spaces (which was probably an indication of problems).
4. Then the trouble began.
5. The orders were disappearing from the screen one by one.
6. Then the entire screen went blank.
7. Once that happened, no orders were filled.
8. The person in the restaurant had to go back to the counter to get the order filled and eventually came out with it.

• Was it a one time Hack of the system?
• Was it some sort of bug?
• Was it the storm affecting the system – there was a lot of lightening?

We never found out but we did hear that there had been a similar problem a month earlier when another family member went to the restaurant to pick up supper. That seemed to be too coincidental so we suspect poor testing.

If you have input on the above, you might want to consider our survey.

Photo by Charles Deluvio on Unsplash

Why is Shift Left not occurring?

Recently NVP contributed to a blog on why Shift Left was not occurring. Speaking as someone who has experienced it from a Test Lead position, our concern was the inability to free up resources while still continuing with existing testing. The full article can be found here.

If you have input on the above, you might want to consider our survey.

Photo by Charles Deluvio on Unsplash

Recently I was asked to provide a short history of a local Quality Assurance organization.

Starting with the previous organization, I went through the 25-year history in about 5 minutes. The one major overriding change in those 25 years was the advent of the internet that created a vast information trove that is free to all. Prior to that, people were isolated within their organizations with limited contact with people with the same interests in other organizations. Solutions to problems were generally home-grown.

Having provided that very brief synopsis we were left with three questions about the purpose of the organization:

1. Are we an organization dedicated to networking?
2. Are we an education organization?
3. Are we a social organization?

Unfortunately we do not have enough of the history documented to determine what has been the best use of the time. Clearly my synopsis was based on what I remembered and I was not always in attendance at all the meetings or always on the board. So the question is still open.

If you have input on the above, you might want to consider our survey.

Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash