CERM® Risk Insights

In May of 2015, we finished ISO: Risk Based Thinking book.  We answer more than 300 questions about risk, quality, RBT, risk based auditing, and certification.  We will start answering questions that we get weekly.

SO WHY YOU?

So, what gives us credence since ISO 9001:2015 is coming out in 4 months.  Well ….   We coined and trademarked the expression: Future of Quality: Risk®.  We used the expression CERM: Risk Based Problem Solving | Risk Based Decision Making years before ISO developed Risk Based Thinking.   Twenty years ago, we wrote best selling ISO books.  We worked with the first ISO CB’s in 1987.  Anyway, you get the idea, we’ve been in this business a long time. [Read more…]

Guest Post by Stuart Rosenberg (first posted on CERM ® RISK INSIGHTS – reposted here with permission)

The supply chains of most companies, large and small, exploit a world of opportunities.  But increasing global exposure comes with an increasing range of risks.  These companies’ complex networks of suppliers and customers are as diverse as the goods and resources they manage.  Within the same supply chain, giant multinational companies can sit side-by side with small to medium enterprises (SMEs). Yet among companies large and small there is growing awareness that extreme weather and a changing climate pose new risks and opportunities to old ways of doing business. [Read more…]

Guest Post by John Ayers (first posted on CERM ® RISK INSIGHTS – reposted here with permission)

Most companies have policies and procedures for concurrent engineering but many are ineffective for various reasons resulting in poor implementation of improved producibilty in their products. I have made this observation based on working for a variety of companies in different industries. Three examples of different approaches I encountered are presented below for your consideration. Two of the examples were used by defense companies, one of which I consider excellent and the other poor. One method was used by a commercial company is one I consider to be very good. [Read more…]

Guest Post by James Kline (first posted on CERM ® RISK INSIGHTS – reposted here with permission)

On March 28, 1979, there was a cascading failure in reactor number 2 at Three Mile Island.

This failure allowed large amounts of nuclear reactor coolant to escape. The accident coalesced the anti-nuclear movement and ultimately caused the decline in nuclear plant construction in the United States. [Read more…]

Guest Post by John Ayers (first posted on CERM ® RISK INSIGHTS – reposted here with permission)

Introduction

Risk management involves the identification of risks, prioritization of the risks based on probability of occurrence and impact of occurrence, and mitigation plans to control the risks.  Once identified and prioritized the question then becomes which risks should be incorporated into the schedule and which ones should be included in the risk register?

The general rule of thumb I have used requires risks with a 50% or greater probability of occurrence to be incorporated into the schedule. The other risks are entered into the risk register. [Read more…]

Guest Post by Geary Sikich (first posted on CERM ® RISK INSIGHTS – reposted here with permission)

Unpredictability is the New Normal

As the world approaches 7 billion in population this year, there is an ever-increasing demand for food, energy and a voice in how things are run. How do these changes affect business continuity planners, you may be asking?

The simple answer is, they will have far-reaching effects on how business continuity planning is conducted.

No longer can we be satisfied with the assurance that our “hot site” is available, or that we can maintain business operations in the face of a pandemic; or that we can deal with the aftermath of a natural disaster. [Read more…]