QUALITY MATTERS The Monthly Newsletter of Section 0511 May, 1995 MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR As many of you know, the new year for ASQC is fast approaching. This year has brought us the start and continuation of many outstanding programs: ISO 9000 User's Group, Measurement of Organizational Performance Workshop, and the National Quality Month Celebration to name a scant few. As the new year approaches, we strive to maintain our current level of activity and grow to meet new needs. A new slate of officers for Section 0511 will be rising to meet that challenge, and we need your help to make it work. Several committees remain open at this point: Programs, Newsletter, Publicity, Professional Liaison, and Student Activities. Your help and support would be greatly appreciated. During previous focus groups and through our surveys, we have found that members often join ASQC with peer networking as a prime motivation. In order to better target the needs of specific groups within our membership (and help to trim our biggest contin uing cost -- mailings), the Board has decided to focus the mail/information we send out by Special Interest Groups (SIGs). We plan to use the ASQC Division codes as the SIGs to focus our mailings. You don't need to join an ASQC Division in order to get our Section mailings -- look for the enclosed card to choose as many SIGs as you like. And you'll always be able to change or identify more SIGs for mailings. The Executive Board is hoping this will be an expedient way to meet your needs and hold down the costs. If you attended April's dinner meeting, you already know that Eugene Lynch of Metters Industries, Inc. has won our "Name the Newsletter" contest with QUALITY MATTERS. He will be our guest for dinner at the May dinner meeting. All the entries were creative, thoughtful and much appreciated. Thanks to all who took the time and energy to enter. As always, your Executive Board welcomes your comments, complaints, and "attaboys." You're always welcome to call me at the numbers listed on the front page of this newsletter [Electronic readers: see the end of this file]. Until next month . . .Mary Ann Stasiak *** EDUCATION UPDATE Join your fellow quality professionals in an intensive workshop on strategic quality planning. Using the case study approach, you will first be placed in the role of Quality Award examiner to review and evaluate the strategic quality planning of a National Quality Award applicant. After reviewing the Award criteria, you will use both individual and group scoring to determine a rating for the organization's strategic quality planning. Based upon your evaluation, you will then shift to your consultant's hat to recommend a strategic quality plan for the following year and to revise the next year's quality award application accordingly. You will then rate the new strategy using the new Award criteria. We will then compare your recommended strategic quality plan with the actual national award winning entry. Cost is $10 for Section members, $15 for non-members for workshop materials and refreshments. *** ASQC Section 0511 Meetings Calendar May, 1995 --------- ASQC Section 0511 Regular Executive Board Meeting: Thursday, May 4, 1995 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm Location: Intertek Board Room ASQC Section 0511 Workshop: Saturday, May 6, 1995 10:00 am - 1 pm Topic: Orienting and Welcoming New Members Speakers: Henry Kling, Dr. Joan Cassidy Cost: $10.00 Registration: Call Henry Kling (703) 360-9134 MOP Study Group: Wednesday, May 10, 1995 7:00 pm- 9:00 pm Topic: Organizational Performance Measurement Location: VSE Corp, 2550 Huntington Ave., Alexandria, VA Coordinator: Robert Wise, Ph.D. Registration: For info & directions, call (703) 549-3824, ext. 305 ASQC Section 0511 Workshop: Saturday, May 13, 1995 9:00 am till 12 Noon Topic: Strategic Planning Instructor: William R. Taylor Location: Fairfax County Government Center, Fairfax, VA Cost: $10 members; $15 non-members Registration: Barbara Lembcke, GMU, 703-993-8834 by 5/8/95 Dinner Meeting: Wednesday, May 17, 1995 6:30 - 9:00 pm Topic: Software Maturity Model Speaker: TBA Cost: $15.00 Location: Silver Plate Restaurant, Fairfax, VA Registration: Intertek (703) 591-1320 by noon, Mon. May 15 ASQC National: Annual Quality Congress May 22-24, 1995 Location: Cincinnati Convention Center, Cincinnati, OH For conference brochure, call ASQC National at 1-800-248-1946 June, 1995 ---------- ASQC Section 0511 Regular Exec. Board Meeting Thursday, June 1, 1995 7:00 pm till 9:00 pm Intertek Board Room MOP Study Group: Wednesday, June 14, 1995 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Topic: Organizational Performance Measurement Location: VSE Corp, 2550 Huntington Ave., Alexandria, VA Coordinator: Robert Wise, Ph.D. Registration: For info & directions, call (703) 549-3824, ext. 305 Dinner Meeting: Wednesday, June 21, 1995 6:30 - 9:00 pm Topic: Internal Communications Speaker: TBA Cost: $15.00 Location: Silver Plate Restaurant, Fairfax, VA Registration: Intertek (703) 591-1320 by noon, Mon. June 19 ASQC Section 0511 Workshop: Saturday, 24 June 1995 Topic: Training Managers to Facilitate Instructor: Joseph Wrobel Cost: $10 ASQC members; $15 non-members Location: New Fairfax County Government Center Registration: Call Jim Wilson, (w) 703-330-4222 or (h) 703-255-9560 August or September, 1995 ------------------------- Dr. W. Edwards Deming Memorial Lecture (tentative): August or September, 1995 Topic, Lecturer, Cost & Location: TBA July, 1995 ---------- MOP Study Group: Wednesday, July 12, 1995 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Topic: Organizational Performance Measurement Location: VSE Corp, 2550 Huntington Ave., Alexandria, VA Coordinator: Robert Wise, Ph.D. Registration: For info & directions, call (703) 549-3824, ext. 305 Dinner Meeting: Wednesday, July 19, 1995 6:30 - 9:00 pm Topic: Business Process Re-Engineering Speaker: TBA Cost: $15.00 Location: Silver Plate Restaurant, Fairfax, VA Registration: Intertek (703) 591-1320 by noon, Mon. July 17 October, 1995 ------------- NQM '95 Conference Thursday, October 26, 1995 Topic: Quality Happens through People Location, etc: TBA *** EDUCATION UPDATE Your Education Committee is planning a multi-year Education Plan. We have identified 7 education tracks to pursue. Each track was developed from the last membership survey of interests and needs. We envision each track will have parallel development and delivery. It will go in the direction of participant's interests and will probably go from basic to intermediate to advanced information. We plan to use a variety of learning methods. Each track will go as long as there is interest by participants, then we will start over again or develop new tracks. We will need wide membership participation to develop and deliver these multiple, multi-year, diverse tracks. We need your participation in your track of interest. Stay Tuned! *** HEALTH CARE ACTIVITIES The Section Education Committee has added a representative from the Health Care Group to assist in developing courses of interest to Health Care professionals in the Section. If you have suggestions, please call: Abbie Beamer at 703-321-2629; or Dave Simmons at 703-938-5227 PLAN TO ATTEND THIS UPCOMING EDUCATION COMMITTEE WORKSHOP TITLE: Training Managers to Facilitate PURPOSE: Learn a process for facilitating problem-solving groups INSTRUCTOR: Joe Wrobel DATE/TIME: Saturday, 24 June 1995 9:00 am till 12 noon LOCATION: Fairfax County Government Center, Fairfax, VA COST: $10.00 ASQC Members; $15.00 non-members Includes refreshments and workshop materials REGISTRATION: Jim Wilson (w) 703-330-4222 or (h) 703-255-9560 *** Editor's Note: The following article appeared in last month's _Quality Matters_. Unfortunately, the author was mis-identified as Section 0511 Vice-Chair Barbara Lembcke. The author is Dr. James A. Mustachio, Director of Continuing Education at Northern Virginia Community College. --- QUALITY STANDARDS IN EDUCATION by Dr. James A. Mustachio Have you ever considered how a student can transfer academic credits earned in a college in one region of the country to an institution in another part of the country? Why is it that these credits are equivalent? Basically, the answer lies in the accreditation process. Within this century, regional accreditation agencies have taken on the role of evaluating schools and colleges. For example, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools is the recognized accreditating body for 11 states in the southern part of the United States. The principal concerns in accreditation, which is a voluntary process, are "the improvement of educational quality and assurance to the public that institutions meet established standards." (SACS Criteria Manual, 1989-90., p.7) The way the process works, in brief, is that each member institution periodically undergoes a self-study based on several criteria established by the accrediting body. These criteria include: institutional purpose, institutional effectiveness, educational programs, faculty, library and other support services, student services, athletics, administration, financial resources, and physical resources. The institution prepares a written report, based on the criteria, which is evaluated by a committee of peer educators from other institutions. Successful completion of the procedures results in accreditation for the institution. Currently this accreditation process is under some scrutiny from various sources and may undergo some significant changes in the near future. *** COMMUNICATIONS FROM ASQC REGIONAL DIRECTOR STEVE BAILEY: Mark your calendars for Saturday, June 3. That is when the ASQC Section and Division Leadership Training session will be in the Washington, D.C. area. This session will be similiar to the Region 5 session held in Harrisburg last July; but also different enough for folks who attended last year to benefit. For example, ASQC Chairman of the Board Jack West (rather than ASQC President Dave Luther) will be discussing the Strategic Plan. I will be ASQC's Vice-President of Divisions and Technical Committees in 1995-96. Your new Regional Director will be Ernie Perry. So the June 3 session will be sort of a "swan song" for me, but I won't be disappearing! Let me know how I can be of help. *** ORIENTATION WORKSHOP New Members - Old Timers - and Everyone Else Come to this exercise and hear: Dr. Joan Cassidy Henry Kling Roger St. Pierre as they present those lessons learned the hard way, those things you wish somebody told you on your first day at work in the quality profession. Saturday, 6 May, 1995 10:00 am until 1:00 pm Dress Informally Price is $10.00 Call Henry (703) 360-9134 for reservations *** Notes from April 19, 1995 Dinner Meeting from Professional Liaison Barba Affourtit: The April dinner meeting was a joint meeting of the Northern Virginia 0511 Chapter of ASQC and the Washington Deming Study Group. Attendees were enlightened by the presentation of Heero Hacquebord, a student of Dr. W. Edwards Deming and a speaker during Dr. Deming's seminars. An international consultant in continuous improvement, Heero currently teaches Statistical Thinking for Leaders for numerous organizations including the Department of Defense. Heero began by conceptualizing the system of profound knowledge as four interrelated elements which must be utilized simultaneously. The System of Profound Knowledge is the most effective theory for leadership. According to Heero, if we do not change the way our organizations are led, we are doomed to become a third world country. Deming taught us that management is prediction. Decisions made today affect tomorrow's performance. How can a leader know whether a decision will optimize future performance? Heero contends that "There is no such thing as a correct answer when dealing with a social system." All theories are correct in a given sense. The problem is that five different answers result in five different futures. Leaders need profound knowledge to apply the appropriate theory and thereby select the best answer. According to Heero, some people need extrinsic motivation in certain situations. The obligation of a leader is to visit people, learn their individual differences, offer extrinsic motivation when appropriate, and facilitate the continual development of intrinsic motivation. The newsletter of the Washington Deming Study Group will feature a more detailed article on Heero's presentation. *** Highlights of the past and coming months from Electronic Media Chair Bill Casti: The number of users accesses to the Online Quality Resources at QUALITY.ORG, for the month of March, exceeded 10,000; For the first time, an ASQC Division (Measurement Quality) has requested the creation of an e-mail discussion list for its members (for info on the list, send me an e-mail message); The electronic outreach efforts of Section 0511 were mentioned -- and your Electronic Media Chairman quoted -- in the March issue of Quality Digest magazine (if you want a copy of the magazine, send $1.50 in postage to Bill Casti, at: POB 1412, Herndon, VA 22070); Your Electronic Media Chairman will be making two brief presentations to ASQC National committees, prior to the start of the American Quality Congress in Cincinnati next month, speaking on "The System Capabilities of QUALITY.ORG and Its Benefits to ASQC Members;" Three more ASQC sections have requested and been assigned e-mail addresses through us: Section 1112 (Central Savannah River, Augusta GA) e-mail: asqc1112@quality.org Section 1113 (Raleigh, NC) e-mail: asqc1113@quality.org Section 1408 (Oklahoma City, OK) e-mail: asqc1408@quality.org Our Section Treasurer's office now joins the other Board and Committee positions which can be reached via e-mail, as follows; vice-chair@quality.org to reach Vice-Chair Barbara Lembcke secretary@quality.org to reach Secretary Patty Adair treasurer@quality.org to reach Treasurer Roger Semplak education@quality.org to reach Education Chair Jim Wilson healthcare@quality.org to reach Healthcare Chair Dave Simmons NQM95@quality.org to reach National Quality Month '95 Chair Bill Eastham e-media@quality.org to reach Electronic Media Chair Bill Casti *** Officers and Board Members Contact List --------------------------------------- Chairperson: Mary Ann Stasiak (703) 604-2210 Vice-Chair: Barbara Lembcke (703) 993-8834 Email: vice-chair@quality.org Secretary: Patty Adair (703) 528-0765 Email: secretary@quality.org Treasurer: Roger Semplak (703) 491-8227 Email: treasurer@quality.org Auditor: John Matthewson (703) 534-3614 Membership: Henry Kling (703) 360-9134 Programs: Russ Carstensen (703) 739-0084 Education: Jim Wilson (703) 330-4222 Email: education@quality.org Publicity: Harvey Shaw (703) 892-2740 NQM Coordinator: Bill Eastham (703) 323-5803 Email: NQM95@quality.org Certification: Dallas Frederick (703) 750-4273 SMP/Historian: Walter Mendus (703) 354-5932 Professional Liaison: Barba Affourtit (703) 778-0318 Email: liaison@quality.org Electronic Media: Bill Casti (703) 513-5673 Email: e-media@quality.org Healthcare: Dave Simmons (703) 938-5227 Email: healthcare@quality.org Student Activities: Bob Gahagan (703) 281-9090 Region 5 Director: Ernest Perry (610) 371-7060 *** end ***