Insights on Quality, Inspections, and Industrial Execution
The Steelhead Quality Solutions blog explores practical strategies for QA/QC, quality management systems (QMS), inspections, asset integrity, and project execution. We share real-world insights from the field to help teams reduce rework, improve compliance, and build quality systems that actually work.
Categories
- Audit & Compliance
- Business Strategy
- Continual Improvement
- Continuous Improvement
- Digital & Modern QMS
- Document Control
- Fractional Quality Management
- Nonconformance & CAPA
- Process Improvement & Mapping
- QMS Fundamentals
- Quality Management
- Quality Metrics & Performance
- Safety & Operational Excellence
- Supplier & Vendor Quality
Contract Review for Quality: Catch Requirements Before You Mobilize
Contract review isn't just a legal hurdle; it is the moment you decide whether a project will be profitable or plagued by rework.
ISO 9001 Certification Prep: When to Bring in Fractional Support
ISO 9001 certification shouldn't require a full-time hire you don't need; it requires a system that actually works for your team.
Proving Competence Without the Paperwork Pile-Up
Competence records don’t have to be complicated. Learn how to prove your people are qualified with simple, role-based systems that work in the field and withstand audits.
Integrating CAPA and Continuous Improvement: Turning Corrective Actions into Growth
Most companies fix problems with CAPA, but the real advantage comes when those fixes drive continuous improvement across the entire organization.
Change Control Without the Chaos: A Practical Approach for Small Teams
By keeping change control lightweight, visible, and tied to real operational impact, Steelhead helps teams improve their systems without creating confusion across sites.
Inspection & Test Plans That Field Crews Actually Use
How to build Inspection and Test Plans that field crews actually use, and why getting them right prevents rework, delays, and turnover headaches.
Quality Hold Points: The Simple Way to Prevent Rework on Projects
Rework is rarely caused by one big mistake; it’s usually a small miss that slips downstream, and quality hold points are the simple fix that stops it early.
ISO 9001 vs. CSA Z299: What’s the Difference in Quality Standards?
ISO 9001 and CSA Z299 are not interchangeable, and understanding the difference helps you choose the right quality approach for your project, your clients, and your long-term compliance strategy.
NCRs That Get Closed: Writing Nonconformance Reports That Drive Action
Stop writing NCRs that stall, and start writing reports that make the next decision obvious, fast, and easy to close.
What Does “Continual Improvement” Actually Mean?
Confused about “continual improvement” in ISO 9001 versus other forms of process improvement? This quick breakdown makes the difference clear and shows how to build improvement into your QMS for long-term results.
From Complaints to Improvements: Leveraging Customer Feedback for Quality
Turn customer feedback into a clear quality advantage by spotting trends early, fixing root causes, and showing clients their input leads to real improvements.
Why Process Mapping Is a Hidden Quality Superpower
Process mapping turns your day to day workflow into a clear picture, so you can spot hidden delays, prevent quality escapes, and strengthen your system fast.
Quality Management Trends to Watch in 2026
Quality management is changing fast, and 2026 will reward the teams who get ahead of digital QMS, virtual audits, stronger supply chain oversight, and the push to align quality with sustainability before issues hit the floor.
Quality and Safety: Two Sides of the Same Coin
If you are treating quality and safety as separate priorities, you are likely missing the simplest way to reduce risk, strengthen performance, and make work run smoother.
What Metrics Should a Canadian QMS Report to Leadership?
When your QMS tracks and reports the right indicators, leadership gains the information they need to make informed choices. Let Steelhead build you a QMS dashboard that speaks your leadership’s language.
How Do We Blend Manual & Automated QA in Our Operations?
Learn how Steelhead helps you cut the busywork, keep the judgment calls where they belong, and design a QA system where your people and your technology actually work together.
Staying Audit Ready Through Better Quality Systems
A strong quality system keeps you audit ready year round by centralizing documents, standardizing forms, and giving your team the tools they need to stay aligned and confident.
How Do We Manage Documentation Effectively in a Distributed Workforce
Effective documentation in a distributed workforce comes from centralized digital tools, strong version control, and consistent training so every worker accesses the right information at the right time.
Quality Assurance vs Quality Control: What’s the Difference?
Quality Assurance builds the process right and Quality Control checks the results. When you understand how these two roles work together, your entire quality system becomes stronger, clearer, and far more effective.
The Case for Fractional Quality Management: Why One Quality Manager Isn’t Enough
Relying on one person to manage all of quality is a recipe for burnout and blind spots. Fractional quality support gives your organization the depth, coverage, and expertise needed to build a stronger, more resilient QMS without overwhelming any single employee.