# 052 - “All Work is Process” with Larry Mager

- Show: [Let's Combinate](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lets-combinate)
- Published: 2022-09-28
- Length: 53m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lets-combinate/2022-09-28-052-all-work-is-process-with-larry-mager
- Listen: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/letscombinate/episodes/052---All-Work-is-Process-with-Larry-Mager-e1od7pe

## Summary

Larry Mager, Principal and Founder of Mgmt-Ctrl, discusses his application of Predictive Quality Management across medical device, pharmaceutical, and consulting sectors. He argues that while product specifications differ, the underlying quality principles—measuring product, process, and people—are universal. Mager emphasizes using Theory of Constraints to identify and improve specific bottlenecks rather than attempting enterprise-wide improvements simultaneously, which he claims leads to chaos and poor ROI. He also previews his upcoming book on Predictive Quality Management, which aims to provide a strategic, systemic framework for quality leadership.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lets-combinate/2022-09-28-052-all-work-is-process-with-larry-mager#t=0) Introduction: Larry Mager and Mgmt-Ctrl
- [2:42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lets-combinate/2022-09-28-052-all-work-is-process-with-larry-mager#t=162) Pharma vs. Medical Device Quality Management
- [7:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lets-combinate/2022-09-28-052-all-work-is-process-with-larry-mager#t=426) Predictive Quality Management Framework: Product, Process, People
- [15:43](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lets-combinate/2022-09-28-052-all-work-is-process-with-larry-mager#t=943) Company Culture and Quality Management Systems
- [21:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lets-combinate/2022-09-28-052-all-work-is-process-with-larry-mager#t=1261) Theory of Constraints and Cost of Quality
- [29:29](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lets-combinate/2022-09-28-052-all-work-is-process-with-larry-mager#t=1769) Centralized Improvement vs. Local Execution
- [35:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lets-combinate/2022-09-28-052-all-work-is-process-with-larry-mager#t=2120) Management Review and Process Metrics (Compliance, Effectiveness, Efficiency)
- [49:32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lets-combinate/2022-09-28-052-all-work-is-process-with-larry-mager#t=2972) Upcoming Book and Future of Quality Management

## Topics

- [Quality & yield](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/quality-and-yield)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies, companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Mgmt-Ctrl (company)
- Quality Journey (other)
- Quality is Free (other)
- Cost of Poor Quality (other)
- H. James Harrington (other)
- ISO 14971 (other)
- SAP (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Focusing on the Constraint to Drive Meaningful Results](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2022-05-03-focusing-on-the-constraint-to-drive-meaningful-results) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [What are the Opportunities for Improvement (OFI) for Quality?](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2022-02-23-what-are-the-opportunities-for-improvement-ofi-for-quality) (Global Medical Device Podcast)
- [How to Fix a Factory: Influencing the Direction of Your Company  w/ Rob Tracy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2020-07-28-how-to-fix-a-factory-influencing-the-direction-of-your-company-w-rob-tracy) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [#390: Building a Non-BS QMS: 4 Core Principles for MedTech Success with Ashkon Rasooli](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2024-11-07-390-building-a-non-bs-qms-4-core-principles-for-medtech-success-with-ashkon-raso) (Global Medical Device Podcast)
- [Finding the Root Causes of Success Rather Than Failure w/ George Pesansky](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2025-07-15-finding-the-root-causes-of-success-rather-than-failure-w-george-pesansky) (The Manufacturing Executive)

## Citing this page

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