Please join ASQ Pittsburgh for a webinar on Thursday, April 9th.
Standards Over Heroics: How the 8-Step Method Creates Leaders, Not Firefighters
Dr. William Harvey
Abstract
What if your biggest “problem” isn’t the problem at all?
Most teams don’t fail at problem solving because they lack tools. They fail because they solve the wrong problems, aim at perfection instead of standards, and confuse opinions with evidence. This highly interactive session reframes problem solving as a leadership capability, not a technical exercise, using the proven 8-Step Problem Solving method as a development engine for people and teams.
Participants will challenge their assumptions about what a problem actually is (hint: not everything that annoys you qualifies), learn how to slice complex gaps into solvable pieces, and discover why targets should be grounded at the point of occurrence, not in wishful thinking. Along the way, we’ll shift from firefighting to pattern recognition, from brainstorming to root cause discipline, and from short-term fixes to standards that stick. Expect practical tools, sharp questions, and a few uncomfortable “aha” moments, including why “loving problems” might be the most dangerous lie we tell ourselves.
If you want fewer recurring issues, stronger thinking on the floor, and a team that learns faster than the problems evolve, this session will change how you define, pursue, and close gaps for good.
Speaker Bio
Dr. William Harvey is a manufacturing and operations leader, educator, and community builder focused on building organizational capability through disciplined problem solving. He is an active member-leader with the ASQ Cincinnati Section, supporting professional development and community engagement across the region. Additionally, William is the Association for Manufacturing Excellence’s 2026 Milwaukee Conference Chair.
William holds CMQ/OE, CQE, RBLP-T, and CPTD certifications, reflecting a practice that integrates quality discipline, leadership development, and adult learning. As an Assistant Professor at the University of Cincinnati and an industry practitioner, he is known for helping leaders move beyond firefighting to develop people, strengthen systems, and close gaps permanently.