Industry Veteran Paul Arrendell Advocates for Systems Over Speed in Technical Fields

In a recent interview, quality executive Paul Arrendell emphasized that productivity in technical fields should prioritize smarter systems over faster execution. With over 30 years of leadership experience at companies including Abbott Diagnostics, KCI Medical, and Becton Dickinson, Arrendell's perspective challenges the prevalent sprint-style workflows in industries like healthcare and manufacturing, where he notes that speed without structure can lead to significant risks such as product recalls, audit failures, and patient harm.

Arrendell's insights are particularly relevant given a 2023 McKinsey report indicating that 40% of engineers in healthcare and manufacturing face high deadline pressure, yet only 12% believe it enhances performance. He warns that such environments cannot rely on rapid, unstructured approaches, stating, "You can't sprint your way through an FDA inspection." Instead, he advocates for systems that guide teams, detect issues early, and foster trust, which are crucial in high-stakes sectors.

The solution, according to Arrendell, lies in implementing simple, scalable, system-based workflows. He describes strategies like transforming complex quality forms into visual checklists with clear deadlines, which reduced internal product hold times by 40% in one instance. He also highlights the importance of tracking process friction rather than merely monitoring time spent. For example, a team discovered that change approvals took 11 days to clear despite the actual changes requiring only 2 hours, and addressing this bottleneck proved more impactful than any productivity tool or deadline pressure.

Arrendell calls on professionals and leaders to focus on systemic improvements rather than technological upgrades. He recommends practical steps such as identifying where work gets stuck, creating shared systems that avoid reliance on "hero mode," turning reports into feedback loops for continuous change, and training for understanding over task completion. He cautions, "If your process only works because two people know the shortcuts, it's not a system. It's a ticking clock." This approach aims to build sustainable performance and reduce errors in critical industries.

For more information on Arrendell's views, the full interview is available at https://24-7pressrelease.com. His message underscores a shift toward systems thinking to address the productivity crisis in technical fields, potentially leading to improved consistency, reduced risks, and better outcomes for teams and end-users alike.