Detroit, New York
& the lessons I’m taking
to Indiana.

Detroit and New York, I’m leaving with a lot more knowledge and a few good Navy laughs 😂

These audit trips took me deeper into steel processing, stretcher leveling, milling, turning on a lathe, and precision micromachining for medical-device applications. I’m sharing the learning, not company information, private audit details, or conclusions about anybody’s certification.

What I learned: follow the work and the evidence

I learned more about following material back to its origin as it moves through processing, and how calibrated tools, drawing requirements, and inspection records connect to the finished work. Measurability and traceability mean a lot more when you get to understand the processes behind them.

For me, measurability starts with a clear question: what are we checking, and against which requirement? Traceability asks whether we can follow the connection—from the material and the process to the record that explains what happened. A number without context does not tell the whole story.

That is one reason I enjoy auditing. I get to keep learning how the work actually happens, then connect what people explain with the evidence that supports it. The lesson travels with me; confidential information does not.

The economy has people behind it. So does quality.

It also brings the economy into focus for me: the people, suppliers, transportation, and skilled work that keep things moving. Auditing gives me a chance to understand those connections firsthand.

And diplomacy matters. Listening, asking good questions, and having respectful conversations are a big part of why I enjoy this work. I get to keep learning while building on the experience I bring.

A useful question is not a gotcha. I want to understand the process before jumping to a conclusion. Being respectful and being evidence-focused belong together.

A little aviation history. A lot of Navy memories.

The aviation-history stop brought back some F-18 Charlie memories too. I called my friends, and we joked and laughed about Navy life and how I wasn’t always the best plane captain lol. Some stories never get old.

Shout-out to my PRs! Seeing the flight helmets and oxygen masks had me reminiscing about our HGU helmets and MBU masks. Eight years of Navy life gives you plenty to look back on.

The photos here are from that aviation-history stop—not client facilities or audit evidence. The helmet display contains historical equipment; my HGU/MBU comments are memories of my own Navy experience, not an identification of the items pictured.

FROM CURIOSITY TO ACTION

Want to move toward this kind of work? Start here.

You can build understanding one practical step at a time. Here is a starting route—not a shortcut around experience or qualification requirements.

1. 01

   Choose a direction before choosing a course

   Are you exploring quality, manufacturing, auditing, or a new role that builds on your military experience? Write down one target role. Compare its actual requirements with your experience, and identify one gap to work on.

   Build your career next-step plan →
2. 02

   Practice asking questions and reading evidence

   Start with a free communication or quality exercise. Practice separating what you observed from what you still need to confirm. If drawings or technical information are new to you, work through the introductory technical lessons.

   Explore free professional learning →
3. 03

   Make one useful work sample

   Use a fictional or non-confidential process. Describe its purpose, owner, requirement, measure, and evidence. Keep your example labeled as learning practice—not employment experience or an actual audit result.

   Open the free Quality Practice Kit →
4. 04

   Check the next step against real requirements

   Review current course details, prerequisites and fees. For an auditing role, check the employer’s or relevant certification body's qualification and experience requirements. Training can support your development; a course alone does not make someone a qualified auditor or guarantee a job.

   Explore training pathways →

For companies: start with a useful document, not a blank page

If you need a practical starting point for your quality system, explore our QMS document-template options. A template still needs to be adapted, reviewed and controlled for your business. Use the page to see what is available and request a scoped package; pricing and delivery are confirmed before any purchase. It is not instant checkout or a certification guarantee.

Looking for a smaller first step? Tell me which affordable support option you would use.

Join me. Keep learning, and bring your questions.

You do not have to wait until you know everything to take a useful next step. Start with the free resources, save your work, and tell me what you want to understand next. If you’re a veteran, career changer, business owner, or quality professional, I’d like to hear which part connects with your experience.

The email link opens your email app; it does not send automatically. You can also write directly to triddick@riddickanco.com. Please keep company names, customer information and private audit details out of public feedback.

Good learning, good memories, and more experience to take into the next assignment.

See you later, Detroit and New York. Indiana, we’re coming to you next!