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Hank Kolb, Director, Quality Assurance

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Hank Kolb, Director, Quality Assurance case study examines a manufacturing industrial plant that employs 1,200 people. Hank Kolb was the newly hired director, quality assurance. Kolb was warned by the general manager, Morganthal, about the “lack of a quality attitude” in the plant, and told Kolb that he “should try and do something about this.” Hank Kolb left a very good job to accept this position because he wanted a challenge and thought this company was serious about the importance of quality (Leonard, 1993). Before examining the quality (or lack thereof) within the different layers of the manufacturing plant procedures I feel it would be beneficial to layout each employee and their main roles / steps in the communication and production process. The following is the list of employees discussed within the case study:
• Hank Kolb: Director, Quality Assurance

• Mark Hamler: Kolb’s immediate subordinate as the quality control manager (Hamler’s evaluation form stated “superb technical knowledge; managerial skills lacking.”)

• Mac Evans: Inspector of the line for Greasex

• Wayne Simmons: First-line supervisor

• Morganthal: General Manager (Morganthal warned Kolb, “lack of a quality attitude” and told him “should try and do something about this.” He also expressed his concern for the plant, “We have to improve our quality, it’s costing us a lot of money, I’m sure of it, but I can’t prove it! Hank, you have my full support in this matter; you’re in charge of these quality problems. This downward quality-productivity-turnover spiral has to end!” (Leonard, 1993)
The next step in evaluating the company is to examine the department’s views on the production processes. The following is the list of departments Hank Kolb met with to learn about the plant processes and the information each department provided him:
• From personnel: The operator for the filling

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