The Quality Advisor

Systems Theory Practical Application

2017-09-29T07:49:00.000-04:00

Surprise! I subscribe to the systems theory where organizations can be described and managed as systems of interrelated processes. “Systems theorists believe that organizations can be categorized as systems with their parts interacting to achieve systemic objectives” (Bush, 2006, p. 47). I have worked in education and in a number of different industries which gives me some unique insights

West Michigan's Most Influential Quality Professionals: A Panel Discussion on Contemporary Issues in Quality

2017-04-16T12:19:00.000-04:00

Every fall and spring semester the ASQ student branch at Ferris State University in Grand Rapids, MI sponsors this panel discussion. This informative event is FREE and is well attended by students and other interested parties. The event is televised on GRCCTV and is posted on either Vimeo or YouTube. Enjoy the video. Ferris Quality Panel from collegechannel on Vimeo.

The Water We Drink: Does Quality Matter?

2016-09-05T13:42:00.001-04:00

Please check out this video if you are at all interested in the quality of the water you drink.

West Michigan's Most Influential Quality Professionals: A Panel Discussion on Contemporary Issues in Quality

2016-04-01T08:48:00.001-04:00

Another great ASQ Student Branch Sponsored event at Ferris State University in Grand Rapids, MI. March 23 was the latest installment of this event held each and ever fall and spring semester at Ferris State University on the Grand Rapids, MI campus. This video can be found on YouTube and the event will again be televised on GRCC-TV. We share it here for your viewing

Correlation Does Not Equal Causation

2016-03-19T10:57:00.001-04:00

In his March 9 A View from the Q blog post, titled Encourage the Next Generation of STEM Professionals, ASQ CEO, Bill Troy indicates: “

Global Influence: Career Advice on New Year's Eve

2015-01-24T14:41:00.001-05:00

On New Year's Eve I was contacted by a gentlemen from Nigeria who reached out to me for advice on how to move his career forward. Needless to say, I was honored to have someone from more than 6,000 miles away seeking my advice on anything, let alone career advice. His inquiry came to me via an email from LinkedIn where the gentlemen, we will call him Solomon, must have found me and my

West Michigan's Most Influential Quality Professionals: A Panel Discussion on Contemporary Issues in Quality

2014-11-11T23:17:00.001-05:00

Watch the video and see what today's students want to know about the quality profession and how quality professionals address contemporary issues in Quality.

How My Current Students Define Quality

2014-09-03T16:52:00.001-04:00

Another semester of instructing outstanding undergraduate and graduate students at Ferris State University is underway. This semester I have three courses and 85 students; 44 of these students are in MGMT 370 Quality/Operations Management. As is usual, I would explain to my students in this course that if you asked 10 different quality professionals to define quality you would get 10

ASQ Influential Voices Contribution: Future of Quality - Evolution or Revolution?

2014-08-30T16:48:00.000-04:00

In his August 6 post, ASQ CEO, Bill Troy compares his perspective on Quality to that of De Tocqueville’s perspective on democracy. Bill Troy writes, “In 1835, Alexis De Tocqueville, a French political writer, wrote his classic work, Democracy in America. His observations about America were a fascinating window into the times and issues of the day.” Bill Troy adds, “Part of the power

ASQ Influential Voices Contribution: Quality and Education - It's Like Herding Cats!

2014-07-01T22:53:00.002-04:00

In her May 12, 2014 View from the Q blog post, guest blogger, Julia McIntosh, indicated an “especially ‘hot topic’ emerged during the last keynote” of ASQ’s World Conference on Quality and Improvement in Dallas, TX. The topic had to do with the link between quality and education. Keynote speaker, Michelle Rhee, spoke about the poor quality of education in many U.S. schools. “Low-quality

24 New ASQ Fellows Honored at the World Conference on Quality and Improvement in Dallas, TX.

2014-05-04T16:08:00.000-04:00

West Michigan's Most Influential Quality Professionals (Spring '14): A Panel Discussion on Contemporary Issues in Quality

2014-03-09T11:23:00.000-04:00

The top ten questions today’s business students have for the Quality profession. Get the answer to these questions and more here… The Questions: What does Quality mean to you? How do you define it? How have you ensured sustainment of quality improvement? In what areas do you feel most companies are sorely lacking in their Quality management? What advice do you have

ASQ Influential Voices Contribution: As Goes Manufacturing; So Goes Quality

2014-02-15T15:02:00.000-05:00

In his January View from the Q blog post, ASQ CEO, Paul Borawski, highlighted results from ASQ’s recently released manufacturing outlook survey. ASQ conducts this survey every year. Borawski writes, “Results from 2013: Sixty-five percent of manufacturers experienced revenue growth in 2013, but–you knew there was a ‘but’–nearly half still consider the economy the biggest challenge.” He adds, “In

2014 ASQ Fellows Announced (reprint from ASQ's Friday Fast Facts)

2014-01-18T15:40:00.001-05:00

Twenty-four ASQ members have completed the rigorous process and have been named ASQ Fellows for contributing to the advancement of quality. The new Fellows will be recognized at ASQ’s World Conference on Quality and Improvement in May 2014. Congratulations to all new ASQ Fellows! Click on the following link to access the list of new ASQ Fellows and to read the description of their remarkable

Dinner with ASQ Quality Colleagues in Milaukee,WI.

2013-11-09T21:26:00.001-05:00

Panel Discussion: West Michigan's Most Influential Quality Professionals

2013-10-29T21:48:00.001-04:00

On October 16 the Student Branch of the American Society for Quality (ASQ) at Ferris State University in Grand Rapids, MI sponsored a panel discussion. This panel featured West Michigan's Most Influential Quality Professionals. Panelists addressed questions prepared and prioritized by my MGMT 370 Quality/Operations Management students at Ferris State University.

ASQ Influential Voices Contribution: Quality's Application in Other Fields?

2013-10-28T20:43:00.000-04:00

In his October 3 View from the Q blog post, ASQ CEO, Paul Borawski, discussed the role of quality in new fields such as innovation and social responsibility. Other examples cited include a new interest group for quality in athletics and a proposed customer service body of knowledge. Borawski asks, “What new fields or disciplines could most reap the benefits of quality tools and techniques

ASQ Influential Voices Contribution: Sustaining Long-Term Quality (Literally)

2013-09-14T07:49:00.001-04:00

Nearly 100 attendees turn out to celebrate the ASQ Section 1001 (Grand Rapids) 60th Birthday! ASQ members and member leaders past and present turn out to salute the Grand Rapids section for its sustained prominence in West Michigan as a beacon of sustained excellence. Many local business leaders and ASQ CEO, Paul Borawski, turned out to recognize the section's many achievements. &

Grand Rapids ASQ Section 1001 Celebrates 60th Birthday

2013-09-07T12:55:00.000-04:00

At its ASQ Presents Event! ™ held September 12 the Grand Rapids Section of the American Society for Quality (ASQ) will commemorate 60 years of service to the Greater Grand Rapids community with a birthday celebration. This event will be held at the Bluff Conference and Banquet Center in Grand Rapids, MI. This event will include a great line-up of keynote speakers, including Grand Rapids area

ASQ Influential Voices Contribution: Is Quality Training Part of the Equation?

2013-08-30T22:19:00.000-04:00

In his August 5 View from the Q blog post, ASQ CEO, Paul Borawski, asks, “Who [in your organization] encourages you to pursue professional training?” Paul quotes ASQ’s Global State of Quality research, which states “Organizations that govern quality with a centralized group are roughly 30 percent more likely to provide quality training to staff than organizations where a senior

The View from Sabbatical: Good Things on the Horizon

2013-08-29T21:44:00.000-04:00

Sabbatical (boat's name), where Quality concepts incubate! It's the start of a new school semester at Ferris State University and our days on Sabbatical (our boat's name) are numbered. We put the boat in storage about mid-October, which is pushing it a bit for West Michigan. No worries! We have so many "Quality" activities to look forward to in the coming weeks and months. Reflecting

ASQ Influential Voices Contribution: How I Explain My Job?

2013-07-05T12:43:00.003-04:00

In his June 19 View from the Q blog post, ASQ CEO, Paul Borawski, writes, “So you’re at a cocktail party… Okay, your children’s school concert. You’re chatting with an acquaintance and they ask: ‘What do you?’” Paul’s question is how do we quality professionals explain our jobs in casual conversations? In my previous post I wrote that as “…a quality professional I have a habit of

ASQ Influential Voices Contribution: Quality's Most Needed Answer

2013-06-29T14:01:00.000-04:00

In his June 7 View from the Q blog post, ASQ CEO, Paul Borawski wrote about early findings from the ASQ’s Global State of Quality Research. This research is something ASQ undertakes every three years. Paul indicates this research and the fact that ASQ is refreshing its strategy for the coming year has given him cause to think strategically and globally about “the dynamic nature of