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Specifically About Quality

Agata Lewkowska Ph.D. and Christopher Scott

48 episodes

“Specifically About Quality” , a podcast for quality managers, engineers, auditors, and operational leaders who want to build stronger quality systems and make a real impact on their organizations.

More about the show

Join hosts Agata Lewkowska Ph.D. and Christopher Scott, experts in quality management and operational excellence, as they tackle real-world quality challenges.

Brought to you by Qualitywise.pl — offering expert training, audits, and consulting for the automotive and manufacturing industries.

Follow us and start making quality a true business driver.

Produced by "We See Sound"

Episodes

  1. 046. The Role of HR in IATF 16949 – Why Quality Starts with People

    · 23 min · S3 E46

    HR is often seen as a support function. But in IATF 16949, people, competence, awareness, and organizational culture are essential elements of an effective quality management system. In this episode of Specifically…

  2. 045. Training Within Industry – The Forgotten System Behind Operational Excellence

    · 27 min · S3 E45

    Every organization trains its people. But not every organization trains them in a way that builds consistent performance, preserves knowledge, and delivers the same quality every single time. In this episode of…

  3. 044. CQI Special Processes – Why You Can't Inspect Quality Into the Product

    · 24 min · S3 E44

    Special processes are among the most critical operations in automotive manufacturing. Welding, heat treatment, coating, painting, molding, soldering – once completed, their quality often cannot be fully verified…

  4. 043. Customer Complaints – Turning Complaints into Competitive Advantage

    · 33 min · S3 E43

    Customer complaints are inevitable. No organization wants to receive them, yet every complaint is an opportunity to learn, improve, and strengthen customer trust—if it is handled correctly. In this episode of…

  5. 042. IATF 16949 Rules No. 6

    · 28 min · S3 E42

    What Actually Changes and How to Prepare? IATF 16949 Rules define how certification works in practice. Updates to the Rules may seem technical – yet they have a direct impact on audits, expectations, and how…

  6. 041. TISAX & Cybersecurity – From Requirement to Real System Capability

    · 14 min · S3 E41

    Cybersecurity is no longer optional in automotive. TISAX requirements are becoming standard – and yet many organizations still treat them as a documentation exercise rather than a real system capability. In this…

  7. 040. VDA 6.8 – The Supply Chain Audit in Automotive

    · 15 min · S3 E40

    Supply chain performance is critical in automotive. Parts, materials, logistics flows – everything must work together reliably, and yet many organizations still struggle with instability beyond their own production…

  8. 039. AI In Quality – From Hype To Control

    · 15 min · S2 E39

    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…

  9. 038. Advanced Problem-Solving: From 8D to System Optimization

    · 22 min · S2 E37

    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…

  10. 037. Top 10 Nonconformities In IATF 16949 Audits

    · 29 min · S2 E37

    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…

  11. 036. Cost of Poor Quality

    · 22 min · S2 E36

    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…

  12. 035. VDA 6.3 – The Most Demanding Process Audit in Automotive

    · 17 min · S2 E35

    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…

  13. 034. Product Regulatory Compliance

    · 23 min · S2 E34

    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…

  14. 033. Effective Onboarding for Quality Roles – How to Turn a New Hire Into a Trusted Quality Professional

    · 14 min · S1 E33

    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…

  15. 032. Building Measurement Credibility – Why Your Data Is Either Protecting You or Destroying You

    · 18 min · S2 E32

    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…

  16. 031. The Human Side of Nonconformities – Why Good People Create Bad Results

    · 13 min · S2 E31

    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…

  17. 030. Effective A3 Report – From Firefighting to Structured Problem Solving

    · 17 min · S2 E30

    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…

  18. 029. When Everything Stops: Contingency Planning & Crisis Leadership in Automotive

    · 18 min · S2 E29

    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…

  19. 028. Error-Proofing in Automotive – Designing Processes That Physically Protect the Customer

    · 13 min · S2 E28

    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…

  20. 027. ISO 19011 – What Great Auditors Actually Do

    · 20 min · S2 E27

    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…

  21. 026. VDA FFA – When the Failure Happens in the Field

    · 39 min · S2 E26

    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…

  22. 025. Change Management – Why Quality Changes Fail and How to Make Them Stick

    · 15 min · S2 E25

    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…

  23. 024. PPAP in Real Life - From Customer Expectations to Approval Without Firefighting

    · 18 min · S2 E24

    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…

  24. 023. Strategic Supplier Development – From Audits to Real Partnerships

    · 18 min · S2 E23

    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…

  25. 022. APQP in Real Life

    · 19 min · S2 E22

    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…

  26. 021. Managing Requalification and Revalidations

    · 16 min · S2 E21

    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…

  27. 020. Core Tools: Why They Don’t Work Together (And How to Finally Make Them Add Value)

    · 18 min · S2 E20

    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…

  28. 019. Building a Strong Management Review Process

    · 18 min · S2 E19

    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…

  29. 018. How to Align KPIs with Quality Outcomes

    · 16 min · S2 E18

    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…

  30. 017. New Year, New Activities in Your QMS: How to Refresh and Refocus

    · 18 min · S1 E17

    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…

  31. Specifically About Quality Season 2 Update 2026

    · 0:33 · Trailer

    🎙️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…

  32. 016. Quality on the Gemba: What to Look for During Shopfloor Walks

    · 25 min · S1 E16

    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…

  33. 015. Internal Audits That Actually Add Value

    · 20 min · S1 E15

    Internal audits don’t have to be a paperwork exercise. Learn how to plan and execute audits that reveal improvement opportunities, engage process owners, and strengthen your QMS. This episode includes tips for…

  34. 014. From Firefighting to Stability: Building Process Ownership

    · 17 min · S1 E14

    Tired of constant firefighting? This episode shows how to shift from reactive problem-solving to stable processes by building process ownership at every level. The hosts Agata Lewkowska Ph.D. and Christopher Scott…

  35. 013. How to Use 8D to Solve Problems for Good

    · 17 min · S1 E13

    Many 8D reports fail to prevent recurrence. Agata Lewkowska Ph.D. and Christopher Scott explain how to use 8D as a real problem-solving tool—covering root cause analysis, verification, and cross-functional teamwork.…

  36. 012. Layered Process Audits: A Sleeping Giant in Your QMS

    · 15 min · S1 E12

    LPAs can be a game-changer if done right. This episode reveals how to design, implement, and sustain an LPA program that prevents problems and builds ownership. Learn the pitfalls to avoid and how to make LPAs more…

  37. 011. SPC in Real Life: Using Data to Prevent Problems

    · 24 min · S1 E11

    Statistical Process Control (SPC) is not charts—it’s a mindset. Agata Lewkowska Ph.D. and Christopher Scott show how to choose the right charts, interpret data correctly, and engage operators in prevention. From…

  38. 010. Managing Special Characteristics Without Losing Your Mind

    · 20 min · S1 E10

    Special characteristics can feel like an overwhelming requirement. This episode breaks down how to identify, monitor, and control them without drowning in bureaucracy. The hosts Agata Lewkowska Ph.D. and Christopher…

  39. 009. Control Plans That Drive Real Improvement

    · 17 min · S1 E9

    A Control Plan can be more than a compliance document—it can be a driver of process stability. Agata Lewkowska Ph.D. and Christopher Scott explain how to design Control Plans that are clear, data-driven, and linked to…

  40. 008. FMEA Failures: Why It’s Still Not Working (and How to Fix It)

    · 20 min · S1 E8

    Why do so many FMEAs fail to prevent problems? Our hosts Agata Lewkowska Ph.D. and Christopher Scott expose the root causes—from poor cross-functional involvement to copy-paste syndrome—and share a practical approach…

  41. 007. Strategic Quality Planning: From Vision to Execution

    · 20 min · S1 E7

    Great quality results start with a clear strategy. Agata Lewkowska Ph.D. and Christopher Scott explain how to set a quality vision, translate it into measurable objectives, and create an action plan that engages the…

  42. 006. How to Build a Risk-Based Thinking Culture

    · 20 min · S1 E6

    Risk-based thinking is more than a compliance requirement—it’s a competitive advantage. In this episode, learn how to integrate risk awareness into daily decision-making, link risks to KPIs, and use risk tools…

  43. 005. How to Prepare for a Customer Audit Without Panic

    · 21 min · S1 E5

    Customer audits don’t have to mean sleepless nights. Agata Lewkowska Ph.D. and Christopher Scott walk you through preparation strategies that work—covering documentation, shop floor readiness, team training, and mock…

  44. 004. Top Mistakes in IATF 16949 Implementation

    · 28 min · S1 E3

    Implementing IATF 16949:2016 is one of the biggest challenges for any automotive supplier. While the standard sets out clear requirements, the reality in many organizations looks very different. Instead of a robust,…

  45. 003. The Quality Manager’s Guide to Working With Production Teams

    · 24 min · S1 E3

    Quality managers and production teams often have different priorities—but they must work together for success. Agata Lewkowska Ph.D. and Christopher Scott discuss how to build trust, improve communication, and align…

  46. 002. Why Quality Is Everyone’s Job—But Still No One’s Priority

    · 21 min · S1 E2

    If “quality is everyone’s job” is just a slogan in your company, this episode will change that. Agata Lewkowska Ph.D. and Christopher Scott explore why quality often gets sidelined, how silo thinking hurts results, and…

  47. 001. Developing a Quality Culture: Where to Start?

    · 28 min · S1 E1

    Discover the first steps to creating a strong quality culture in your organization. Hosts Agata Lewkowska Ph.D. and Christopher Scott share proven strategies for engaging leadership, empowering teams, and embedding…

  48. Welcome to Specifically About Quality!

    · 2:39 · Trailer

    In this Qualitywise Podcast Trailer, your hosts, Agata Lewkowska Ph.D. & Christopher Scott highlights the core discussion topics throughout Season 1 - Specifically About Quality. Join us on this 20-episode journey…

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