Theme

The New Role of Quality: Tomorrow's Applications of Proven Quality Tools

The challenges of today have brought many to re-examine the role that quality can play in the organizations and communities that we work and live in. In the face of these challenges, some people are getting back to the basics, and others are looking for innovation and creativity to pave the way. Today, more than ever, quality has a role to play. Whether traditional or new, conservative or inventive, quality is critical.

Focus

Global

As the globalization of industries and markets continue, so too do the challenges that this phenomenon brings.  Management of international supply chains and the globalization of outsourced production and services create new opportunities and new complexities to management systems. This focus area explores how quality tools and approaches can be leveraged to bring structure and stability to organizations and management systems that touch and are touched by multiple countries and varying cultures. Possible topics within this focus area may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Outsourcing and off shoring
• Business process outsourcing
• Distribution
• Transport
• Logistics
• Operations
• Supply chain management
• Supplier/vendor management scorecards
• Risk management and the international supply chain

Risk Management

Today’s challenges bring uncertainty and increased sensitivity to risk. Organizations that demonstrate the ability to effectively identify, assess, and prioritize risk are least likely to be inhibited by it and more likely to fully realize the opportunities they have. This focus area is developed to celebrate the role that quality can play in minimizing and understanding risk and its impact. Possible topics within this focus area may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Risk assessment
• Risk abatement
• Supply chain risk
• Balancing quality, cost, and risk

Building a Quality Culture

Quality efforts and initiatives within an organization are common, but it is only through the establishment of a quality culture that the true impact of quality can be realized. This focus area examines how to create and sustain an environment in which quality is more than just an activity, but instead is a part of the culture of the organization. Possible topics within this focus area may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• The human side of quality
• Creating and sustaining a healthy work environment/Build teamwork and empowerment
• Building/maintaining a culture to support quality
• Achieving consensus and buy-in
• The impact of transparency
• Full engagement of all levels of organizations
• Leadership
• Effective communication
• Communication tools
• Confrontation conversations
• Crucial conversations

Organizational Excellence

At its most basic level, excellence, like quality, is simple. It is not, however, easy. Quality tools and techniques are critical components to any organizational effort to both foster and sustain excellence.  This focus area demonstrates how quality can be utilized in the pursuit of organizational excellence. Possible topics within this focus area may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Positioning for rapid change
• Customer satisfaction and perception
• Applying quality principles in small and mid-size companies
• Strategic planning methods and techniques
• Employee development
• Optimizing work force performance through effective management and technology

Quality Basics

Understanding the basic rules, tools, and fundamentals of quality are keys to its efficacy. This focus area explores proven and practical applications that demonstrate quality’s primary elements. Possible topics within this focus area may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Nontraditional applications of the 7 basic quality tools
• The how to’s of quality
• New issues, same quality tools