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New Zealand Quality Day Presentations

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From the President

Something Old, Something New

Although, under the new Constitution, the normal term for directors is two years, the inaugural Board decided at the outset that half of us would step down at the end of the first year under the new structure. The intention was to set up a system of rotation whereby an election is held annually for new directors, to join the existing ones serving the second year of their term. Not only does this ensure continuity in terms of experience, but hopefully will also facilitate regular injections of new 'blood' and fresh ideas.

The results of the recent elections were reported in last month's issue of QNewZ and I am pleased to welcome two new members to this year's Board, Nigel Grigg and Nigel Wyse. The latter is 'new' only in the sense that he is a first-time director under the new structure, having previously served as President in 00/04 on the old National Council.

This year we will continue with the portfolio structure that has already proved very successful in clarifying the roles and responsibilities of Board members. At our first meeting in April the officers and portfolio chairs were confirmed as follows:

President/Board Services Roger Atkinson
Vice President/Board Chair Joe Hollander
Education Services Kelly Mara
Information Services Michael Voss
Membership Services Nigel Wyse
Professional Recognition Dan Forsman
GM/Secretary/Treasurer Helen Baines

The other Board members are Lynley Coburn, Ceillhe Sperath and Nigel Grigg, who are variously deputy chairs and/or members of one or more of the portfolio committees.

By the time this goes to print I shall be on an extended overseas trip, so will miss the Organisation's Annual General Meeting scheduled for 10 June in Auckland. However, I am confident that Joe Hollander will ably hold the fort while I am away. The AGM will be held in conjunction with a NZ Quality Day seminar being organised by the Northern Branch, emulating the highly successful event mounted for our 30th anniversary celebrations in Christchurch last year. I urge as many of you as possible to support this event - particularly those of our Northern members who may not be able to participate in the National Conference in Queenstown later in the year.

Whilst on the subject of the National Conference (22 - 4 October, 2008), we have received both positive and negative feedback on the choice of venue. The adverse comment relates to affordability for our members, based on the perception that Queenstown is not only physically remote from the main population centres, but is also the 'highest priced town in the country'. Remoteness is of course relative to where one resides and, while Queenstown may seem remote to those from the more Northern parts of the country, this is not necessarily the case for people from Christchurch or Dunedin, for instance. As has already been pointed out elsewhere, we have always endeavoured to make the event as accessible as possible to all of our members (as well as potential new members) by rotating the venue around the country and not just confining it to the main centres.

In respect to costs, whilst conference participation is never a cheap undertaking, I believe that the NZOQ event is always extremely good value for money. Many equivalent conferences would cost the same for one day as our NZOQ one does for two and a half days. As far as travel and accommodation are concerned, there is a wide range of alternatives for the budget-conscious visitor. Providing one books early enough, airfares from Auckland for instance can be obtained for as low as $119 each way, and there is a $40 shuttle bus service from Christchurch which has the added bonus of the breathtaking scenery through the Mackenzie Basin and Central Otago. And even the conference hotel itself offers a range of accommodation options, from luxury suites to budget rooms, at prices that would be hard, if not impossible, to match at equivalent venues in any of the main centres.

Finally, if you haven't already noted it, the timing of this year's conference coincides with the beginning of Labour Weekend. In addition to participating in a world-class conference in one of the most magical settings in New Zealand, those unfamiliar with the area will also have the opportunity to enjoy the long weekend by further exploring the delights of the Fiordland and Southern Lakes district. So, get planning!!

See you there!!

Roger Atkinson, NZOQ President

New Zealand Quality Day 2008

10th June, 2008

Novotel, 72-112 Greenlane East, Ellerslie (off Greenlane Motorway Exit roundabout)

NZOQ Northern branch is hosting this year's New Zealand Quality Day in Auckland followed by the National NZOQ AGM. The day will focus on personal and organisational development, business improvement and innovation as a build up to our NZOQ signature event in Queenstown

Click here to download the registration flyer. (157 kilobytes)

NZ Quality Day 2008 is a full day of dynamic presentations based on the quality journeys of varied and successful leading organisations as well as knowledge sharing from some of our leading educational institutions. This annual NZOQ event is always an inspiring and energising event for business improvement, change, quality, risk, health & safety managers, practitioners and entrepreneurs! Come along and celebrate NZ Quality Day with us on the 10 June 2008!

For further information, contact Ceillhe Sperath.

Top Ten NZOQ Member Benefits

  1. Discounted training
  2. QNewZ magazine
  3. Branch meetings and networking
  4. Professional recognition
  5. Scholarships
  6. Beca-NZOQ and Tait-NZOQ Prizes
  7. Awards
  8. Six-Sigma Certification
  9. Web-site
  10. E-zine

Coming soon to your inbox, the NZOQ e-zine, which will complement QNewZ and help to keep members fully informed in a timely, relevant manner.

Spot-On Trophy 2008

Best regional branch forum for learning, sharing and growing

Eligibility and Entry

For further information, contact Helen Baines.

Beca-NZOQ and Tait-NZOQ Prizes 2008

Applications for this year's awards close on 30 June 2008.

Tait-NZOQ Quality Prize

The Tait-NZOQ Quality Prize recognises an outstanding published article on a practical quality topic and is sponsored by Tait Electronics Ltd and NZOQ. While members whose articles have been published in QNewZ will automatically be eligible for the prize, papers published in journals other than those produced by NZOQ will also be eligible, providing the applicant is the main author and that a copy of the paper (indicating where it was published) is also submitted.

Beca-NZOQ Prize

This prize is awarded to a member who has published an article on a theoretical topic and is sponsored by Beca and NZOQ. The winner receives $1000 plus a trophy. To be eligible for this prize a member must have had their article published either in QNewZ or a recognised publication between the period January 007 to 20 June 2008.

However, members who published in journals other than those produced by NZOQ should ensure that they send a copy of the paper indicating where it was published.

The criteria for each award was published in the January/February QNewZ.

For further information, contact Helen Baines.

New Mid-Year Intake for Certificate in Quality Assurance

Click here to download the new brochure. (283 kilobytes)

The Certificate in Quality Assurance provides you with a broad understanding of quality management and a wide range of practical skills that you can apply to management quality in your workplace. The programme contains the knowledge and skills for professional registration as a Certificed Quality Practitioner.

Towards Sustainability with carboNZero

Landcare Research have developed a programme to help businesses meet government imposed emission targets as Sam Bridgman, Sustainability Advisor - carboNZero Programme, Landcare Research explains:

Talk of climate change has now moved into the mainstream and seldom does a day go by without media interest about the issue. News items generally highlight the possible implications of global warming to people both in New Zealand and around the world.

This has made ordinary New Zealanders very aware that they must reduce their global impact and seek to buy products and services from companies that show their environmental credentials. This has led to more companies choosing to use Landcare Research’s carboNZero programme.

The carboNZero programme gives the assurance of a quality product, backed up by solid science. There are currently more than 350 companies and individuals using the programme to reduce their carbon footprint, increase business and improve the environment.

Recently, when Christchurch International Airport wanted to become carbon neutral they looked for a world leading scheme and team who could assist them to achieve their goal. They decided to consult Landcare Research’s carboNZero programme because it applies international best practice to the annual certification process in measuring, managing and mitigating a company’s greenhouse gas emissions, explains Christchurch International Airport chief executive, Rene Bakx.

‘The involvement of world-renowned scientists provides authority, credibility and integrity. Furthermore, the carboNZero programme is transparent, and has achieved international recognition. We are satisfied that the ethos underlying the programme is solid and international best practice.’

Business manager for the carboNZero programme, Mike Tournier adds, ‘While reducing the impacts of New Zealand business on climate change and other environmental issues can appear daunting, they can in fact be managed and implemented successfully.’

The Government’s recent policy announcement of an emissions trading scheme, as well as other initiatives to combat the effects of climate change, has heightened interest in this issue and placed the spotlight clearly on the New Zealand economy. Businesses – both large and small – will now be required to reduce their contributions to this very significant problem.

Thinking about climate change and how it affects individual businesses is now central to ensuring good governance, more effective marketing and increased profit. However, because it is a new field it can be perceived as carrying significant risk, uncertainty, fear and doubt. These uncertainties are often based on poor information on what the specific problem is and its implications for the planet.

How does climate change affect my business?

The underlying cause of climate change is the release of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels. Prior to our reliance on those fuels, the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere came and went through a cycle including plants and animals, meaning overall levels were largely stable.

Carbon dioxide acts like the glass in a glasshouse – letting in heat to the Earth’s surface but stopping it being reflected back into space. That effectively results in a warmer planet with more solar energy and stronger but less predictable weather events. Impacts include increasing average temperatures, rising sea levels, and more extreme weather patterns.

But the key point is to first understand the fundamentals of carbon, carbon accounting and carbon trading before applying that knowledge to one’s own business model. ‘Not many people have a grasp of what all those things are, or what they mean and there are even fewer providers in the market space offering reputable consulting advice. The key first step is to undertake a background check on who is a reputable provider of advice, and Landcare Research and the carboNZero programme are clearly at the top end for credibility,’ adds Mike.

He also believes the risk of misinformation and poor advice is extremely high and he predicts that significant investments in time and money could be wasted, or worse still reputations could be left in tatters if New Zealand companies get it wrong. Organisations like the carboNZero programme are strongly placed to provide practical and strategic advice because they have reliable and internationally respected science backing their work.

So how does my business meet these targets?

The technical manager for carboNZero, Professor Ann Smith says there are four steps that your business must undertake to gain carboNZero certification; measuring your greenhouse gas profile, managing emissions, mitigating the effects by buying carbon credits and finally, marketing the fact that your business is carboNZero certified and this is verified through strict third party auditing.

Because the carboNZero programme meets recognised international standards, participants can therefore show overseas clients that their carbon measurement and reduction meets the requirements of an international standard and has been independently audited. In fact, potential auditors are examined before they can rate businesses hoping to gain certification.

Mike assures businesses that the carboNZero programme also offers a level of flexibility that no other similar programme can match.

‘Smaller organisations can choose a self assessment option, courtesy of an online calculator meaning a quicker and cheaper result but providing the opportunity for the organisation to market itself as participating in the carboNZero programme. Self-assessed organisations calculate their greenhouse gas emissions, establish a formal reduction plan and offset emissions by purchasing carbon credits.’

However, larger organisations may opt for full certification. This also begins with calculating greenhouse gas emissions and developing a reduction plan both of which are then audited by qualified environmental auditors.

The next step, which is optional for those who want to leverage the full potential of being certified carbon neutral, is buying carbon credits to offset the effects of the remaining emissions. The carboNZero programme retains control over this to ensure the carbon credits are sourced from reputable sellers who have generated genuine carbon reductions. Once the credits have been purchased the organisation receives its certification enabling it to use the carboNZero logo and market itself.

Furthermore, some businesses apply carboNZero certification to all operations while others apply the certification to specific parts. These include:

  1. entire business or organisation;
  2. partial business: certification can be used for a specific part of the business such as corporate operations;
  3. product: certification for a particular product produced by the organisation such as a wine;
  4. service: certification of a particular service offered by the organisation such as vehicle leasing;
  5. event: certification can be used for one-off events such as a conference or concert.

Measurement – accounting for greenhouse gas emissions

Prof. Smith says undertaking carboNZero certification is not a drain on business resources. Most of the measurement is straightforward and it’s relatively easy to convert your existing financial records into a greenhouse gas account. Spending on electricity, fuel and air travel is converted using standard conversion factors. On completion, the business will have a detailed and accurate greenhouse gas emissions inventory which is used as the basis for ongoing management plans.

Management – reducing greenhouse gas emissions

This is where potential cost savings are identified. While the primary goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, it often eventuates that efficiencies and cost savings are identified.

Auditing – verifying the business’s greenhouse gas assertion

Auditing is the most important part of the certification process because if businesses are doing all they claim, they must be able to stand up to scrutiny. Its stringency is vital to protect the reputation of the programme and ensures it complies with international best practice. Auditors verify the greenhouse gas emissions profile and also ensure the requirements of the management stage have been met. This includes confirming a long-term intention to reduce impacts on climate change and verifying the intended reduction measures. Finally, they ensure the organisation invests in suitable mitigation measures for any unavoidable emissions.

Mitigation - offsetting greenhouse gas emissions

Landcare Research sources high quality carbon credits for the participant, enough to compensate for the unavoidable emissions. The carbon credits are bought and sold in units of one tonne of carbon dioxide. It is important the credits are cancelled so they can’t be used again or sold again, known as ‘double-dipping’.

Where do carbon credits come from?

The carbon credits must come from projects that meet Kyoto Protocol principles of ‘additionality’ and permanence, and they must be verified by a qualified third party auditor against a recognised international standard such as ISO 14064 part 2, the Gold Standard or the Voluntary Carbon Standard.

The carboNZero programme uses carbon credits from Projects to Reduce Emissions (PRE), a government programme supporting emissions reduction activities like windfarms and landfill gas projects that generate alternative electricity.

Alternatively, carbon credits are sourced from the EBEX21 project (Emissions Biodiversity Exchange in the 21st Century). EBEX21 doesn’t plant trees, instead it chooses sites that will naturally regenerate into forest, typically privately owned farmland that’s been retired from production. The majority of the revenue is given to the landowner to replace the income lost from retiring the land. ‘Integrity of the carbon credits is vital, with some exporters now required to prove carbon neutral status to gain access to British supermarkets. If the credits are shown to be “junk credits” then it’s possible the business will be in breach of contract but more importantly the damage to your company brand and its reputation could be significant,’ adds Mike.

‘Your business has to be able to stand up to severe scrutiny if it is to go down the path of reducing and offsetting ... and purchasing other than valid carbon credits means there’s a high probability the investment is wasted. More than that, there’s danger of lasting damage to your brand.’

Marketing carboNZero status

If an organisation has passed all the requirements, it has the right to be called a carboNZero certified business. For certified products and services, the certification mark or logo can then be used under licence on relevant products, packaging, advertising and signage.

Benefits of carboNZero certification include:

For further information, contact carboNZero.

Revision of ISO 9001

The most recent revision of the AS/NZS ISO 9001 international standard is nearing release as Michael Voss explains:

The revision of AS/NZS ISO 9001 has involved the TC 176 committee working with represent- atives from 65 countries. And with 900,000 ISO 9001 certificates issued in 170 countries and economies worldwide there are a lot of organisations that will be affected. If your organisation has ISO 9001 certification then it will potentially be affected by the release of this new standard. The draft is available on the Standards NZ website and will eventually supersede AS/NZS ISO 9001:2000. (http://shop.standards.co.nz/drafts/DR08005-DR08005.pdf)

So what is the background to this revision?

One of the key objectives placed on this revision is that any organisation that has fully implemented ISO 9001:2000 does not have to make changes to its quality management system in order to comply with the new revision. This latest revision only aims to improve clarity and consistency of wording and requirements, and to improve compatibility with the current environmental management system standard ISO 14001.

What process was used to decide on what to change?

The ISO revision process was based on the findings of a formal survey worldwide, a justification study and evaluation of impacts and benefits. The terms of reference permitted only very limited changes restricted to the level of an amendment. Despite this restriction, ISO have determined that this change is to be classified as a ‘technical revision’, i.e. a new revision.

The committee reports that in some cases editorial changes may appear minor in the original English language version but resolve difficulties when being translated into other languages, and/or in interpreting requirements in different industries and applications. For example, the DIS now uses ‘statutory and regulatory requirements’, and uses ‘measuring equipment’ in lieu of ‘measuring devices’.

So what has actually changed?

  1. In the introduction, the ‘business environment, changes in that environment, and risks associated with that environment’ have been added to the list of influences that need to be considered in the design and implemen- tation of the organisation’s quality management system. This is consistent with the move to integrate quality management with environmental management, risk management and the rest of the business as a whole.
  2. Mention is made of the usefulness of ISO 9004 particularly in managing the sustainable success of an organisation. ISO 9004 is recommended as a guide for organisations whose top management wishes to extend the benefits of ISO 9001 in pursuit of systematic and continual improvement of the organisation’s overall performance.
  3. The need to meet statutory requirements as a well as customer and regulatory requirements has been added to the General section. A note also appears to clarify that statutory and regulatory requirements may be expressed as legal requirements.
  4. Reference to the supplier-organisation- customer supply chain has now been removed.
  5. With the use of outsourcing increasing in organisations today, the standard now clarifies that control over outsourced processes does not absolve the organisation of its responsibility to conform to all customer, statutory and regulatory requirements.
  6. Reference is made that the general documentation requirements include records, and more specifically records determined by the organisation to be necessary to ensure the effective planning, operation and control of its processes.
  7. It also clarifies that a document or procedure may include the requirements for one or more procedures. Also a requirement for a documented procedure may be covered by more than one document.
  8. It is further clarified that only those external documents ‘determined by the organisation to be necessary’ for the planning and operation of the quality management system need to be identified and their distribution controlled.
  9. The management representative has to be a member of the organisation’s management, closing the possibility of having this function outsourced.
  10. The term ‘product conformity’ has been replaced by ‘conformity to product requirements’, which may be affected directly or indirectly by personnel performing any task within the quality management system.
  11. The organisation is now required to provide training or take other action to achieve the necessary competence only where applicable. It is, however, responsible to ensure that the necessary competence has been achieved.
  12. Infrastructure now includes information systems.
  13. The work environment relates to conditions under which work is performed including physical, environmental and other factors such as noise, temperature, humidity, lighting, or weather.
  14. Measurement is added as a requirement in the planning of product realization.
  15. Post delivery activities are clarified to include, for example, actions under warranty provisions, contractual obligations such as maintenance services, and supplementary services such as recycling or final disposal.
  16. A note mentions that design and development review, verification and validation have distinct purposes. They may, however, be conducted and recorded separately or in any combination.
  17. A note is added under ‘Design and development outputs’ that Information for production and service provision may include details for the preservation of product.
  18. The term ‘measuring equipment’ replaces ‘measuring devices’.
  19. The status of product throughout the entire product realization process needs to be controlled with respect to monitoring and measurement requirements.
  20. Customer property can also include personal data.
  21. A note under ‘Control of monitoring and measuring equipment’ includes ‘Confirmation of the ability of computer software to satisfy the intended application would typically include its verification and configuration management to maintain its suitability for use’.
  22. Customer perception is described to include obtaining input from sources such as customer satisfaction surveys, customer data on delivered product quality, user opinion surveys, lost business analysis, compliments, warranty claims, dealer reports.
  23. The internal audit procedure needs to define the responsibilities and requirements for planning and conducting audits, establishing records and reporting results. Also reference is made to ISO 19011 for guidance.
  24. When determining suitable methods for monitoring and measuring processes, the organisation should consider the type and extent appropriate to each of its processes in relation to their impact on the conformity to product requirements and on the effectiveness of the quality management system.
  25. An additional way is added to those describing how the organisation can deal with non-conforming product. This is ‘by taking action appropriate to the effects, or potential effects, of the nonconformity when nonconforming product is detected after delivery or use has started’.

So what happens next?

The latest draft is open for public comment until 25 February 2008. Providing the public comments received are minor then the final stages of release will be fast tracked and will occur sometime during 2008. We can then expect that the new revision will have changes as described above.

Eight years has been a long time for this revision to come out, particularly given the relatively minor changes involved. I only hope that ISO can come closer to meeting its five year target next time.

For further information, contact Michael Voss.

Membership Services Committee

The NZOQ Membership Services Committee has representation from each of the regional branches and from Head Office. We report to the Board Services committee by teleconference on a monthly basis. This enables all the committees to ensure that we are working together with our overlapping goals and that we are focused on achieving our objectives – to increase membership, retain membership and to increase NZOQ profile.

Working with a detailed action plan to maintain the momentum and provide direction, we are very much on target to improving overall membership services.

Key priorities

We decided to focus on the following key priorities during the past year:

Because each of the above four priorities are interlinked, we agreed to address each one in turn while considering its impact on the other three.

Member benefits

One of our NZOQ members had the necessary skills and expertise to be able to conduct an investigation and exploration of similarly structured organisations in New Zealand. The results of that research into member benefits resulted in our being able to identify strengths and opportunities for NZOQ.

We can inform you that NZOQ stands in good stead with regard to the level of membership support and activity it offers members. One of our key strengths is our branches – especially their activities. Another key strength is our membership magazine, QNewZ.

We are also particularly strong with regard to our education programmes which offer relevant training at favourable costs for members. And it is pleasing to see an increasing demand for NZOQ training both for public courses and our in-house programmes. For more information refer to the article on page 4 in this QNewZ or contact head office for further information. Because our needs are not all the same, we can tailor course contents to meet the needs of a particular industry and/or organisation.

Professional relationships

Leading on from this initial research, further research has now been undertaken on the benefits of professional relationships. We are endeavoring to increase and enhance the profile of NZOQ within key business sectors. And it is an area that we have identified needs to be further developed on behalf of our members.

We are currently working on developing stronger networks with allied professional associations and we have rejoined APOQ.

We are also noticing an increased interest in and support for our 2008 conference from other significant membership based organisations. This has been possible because we are reaffirming and building stronger relationships with organisations who previously worked with NZOQ. We are also developing new relationships with other organisations who share compatible interests. This ongoing work will undoubtedly continue to grow our relationship base, refresh our networks and areas of interest.

Also, these strong professional relationships will give our members access to new dimensions of interest such as speakers, site visits etc. It will further provide us with the opportunity to meet with members of these organisations and learn-share-grow our knowledge and skills within a wider audience.

Branches and new members

Carol Johnson, our part-time Membership Officer, is continually updating the data base with details of new members which she forwards to the relevant branches. This ensures that the most accurate record of branch members is passed on to the branch to ensure timely dissemination of information about meetings etc.

She has also been busy contacting all our members to ensure that our current data base has your correct details. We do encourage you to keep Carol informed of any changes to your place of work and address.

We are also looking at standardising our promotional flyers, which keep our members informed, to thereby encourage active participation in NZOQ activities.

The recent focus on membership services has already seen an increased level of activity within branches. This has also led to improved communication between branches. We are now seeing a re-invigoration of branches, committees and membership. In the March QNewZ there were reports from branches and the next report is due in June. There are certainly a lot of excellent offerings ahead.

Conference 2008

You will have seen the ongoing call for papers for our October 2008 Conference in Queenstown. This has created a high level of interest and it is pleasing to see a good representation of papers offered by our members, as well as others in the quality fraternity. This is promising to be the quality event of the year – start now in planning to be there!

The preliminary line up of speakers is looking particularly interesting – a good variety and some very notable presenters. The timing of the conference is very favourable for those members looking to add some leisure time in Queenstown

For further information, contact Lynley Coburn.

CQA Exam Results 2007

NZOQ would like to congratulate the following recipients who successfully completed their Certifcate of Quality Assurance in 2007:

Emily Tufly
Samanthi Nagahaulla
Rupesh Patel
Jude Ward
Aaron Hine
Shailesh Patel
Jenny Price
Shalendra Naidu
Denise Hudson
Joanne Kara
Stephen Shirley
Fran Robertson
Jonelle Crawford
Jeremy Haselden
Ailena Seymour
Susan Romanoff
Anne-Maree Harris
Jo Walker
Amit Jaiswal 		Rakesh Taneja
Helen Smith
Jessica Kereama
Dillon Te Kani
Meena Sivapalan
Simon Tries
Gurudatt Dharvotcar
Ros Murrell
Christopher Kamuti
Olivia Teddy
Manuel Tenorio
Vanessa Jones
Chris Sorensen
Darryl Cook
Seuhelen Seupule
Maxine Wilkins
Avinash Thakur
Richard Ward
Domnic D'Silva 		Elena Bacanaru
Samina Kuvelkar
Adele Caspers
Tracey Newton
John Baker
Chris Cummings
Mel Jonson
Mohammed Shahid
Mitul Shah
Olga Lanina
Tracey Zhang
George Tarr
Fiona Cundy
Hemaben Panchal
Jon Thompson
Tile McCarthy
Harpreet Gangyan
Jimmy Asimit
Sowmya Guntuka 		Rupinder Kaur
Viraf Mohta
Rubia Paranthaaman
Craig Nash
Trevor Callanan
Sara Fenn
Erica Fosbender
Sunil Mehrotra
David Dorreen
Abraham Fenn
Jay Abando
Cheryl Guile
Santanu Maiti
Darryl Solomon
Carol Tiatia
David Foster

One Hundred Years Of Juran

The Guru of Quality

He’s witnessed two world wars, numerous other military conflicts, the rise (and fall) of countless new inventions, humans’ first space explorations and 17 U.S. presidents. He’s survived anti-Semitism, poverty, emigration, the childhood loss of his mother and the Great Depression. Living through 100 years of such profound changes and events would be noteworthy enough. But Joseph M. Juran has been much more than just a casual observer. He has participated vigorously in and contributed extensively to the growth of industry, society and — perhaps most importantly to us — quality.

'100 Years of Juran' by Debbie Phillips-Donaldson (436 kilobytes)

Joseph M. Juran’s life story includes overcoming many obstacles to become one of quality’s most influential pioneers and leaders. As he approaches his 100th birthday, he shares — through his memoirs and in an exclusive interview— insights and highlights from his long, productive career, plus advice for quality professionals.

Spot-On Trophy 2008

Best regional branch forum for learning, sharing and growing

Applications for this coveted trophy must be in by 31 May 2008.

The Spot-On trophy is awarded at each Annual Conference of NZOQ to the Branch committee or member who delivered the forum that presented the best opportunity for member learning, sharing, and growth. The trophy is awarded to the member or committee for a period of one year. The trophy is returned to NZOQ National ofÞce by 31 August each year.

A 'forum' is defined as any of the following: newsletter, special interest group, chat group, site visit programme, seminar series or any other event that meets the criteria below.

Criteria

Eligibility and Entry

Audit Cycle Extended

NZOQ has just been advised that their New Zealand Qualifications Authority audit cycle has been extended from a two year to a three year cycle.

"This is a great result that those outside of education and NZQA might not realise the profound significance of. A three year cycle is the top tier for audits, with fewer than 30% of NZQA providers being in this category. It gets no better than this!" explains Dan Forsman, who helped prepare NZOQ for the audit.

The NZQA audit is a requirement for all education providers and NZOQ is a provider of tertiary education through its Certifi cate of Quality Assurance.

"Although NZOQ is primarily a professional membership organisation it also provides education. The prime example of this is the tertiary-recognised Certificate in Quality Assurance offered in collaboration with Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology."

To ensure the credibility of the CQA, in 1999 the NZOQ sought registration as a private training organisation (PTE). "As a private training organisation this allows us to promote the organisation to stakeholders, clients and members as a bonafide tertiary provider that is recognised by government."

Dan adds that previously NZOQ was on a two year audit cycle and the recent decision by NZQA to move to a three year cycle demonstrates that the government's lead education quality body has the utmost faith in NZOQ as a PTE.

"NZQA's own website reveals that fewer than 30% of registered providers are on a three year cycle with the vast majority being on one year or two year spans."

This is great news for members of NZOQ, recipients of CQAs and those commencing study for this highly regarded professional qualification in quality assurance.

Beca-NZOQ and Tait-NZOQ Prizes 2008

To be eligible for these prizes members must have had a paper or article published in QNewZ or other eligible publication during the period January 2007 to June 2008. So there is still plenty of time to dust off that manuscript, polish it up and submit it for publication prior to the closing date of 30 June 2008. Both awards will be presented at the NZOQ conference in Queenstown this year.

Tait-NZOQ Quality Prize

The Tait-NZOQ Quality Prize recognises an outstanding published article on a practical quality topic and is sponsored by Tait Electronics Ltd and NZOQ.

While members whose articles have been published in QNewZ will automatically be eligible for the prize, papers published in journals other than those produced by NZOQ will also be eligible, providing the applicant is the main author and that a copy of the paper (indicating where it was published) is also submitted. For this year's award there is still plenty of time to submit an article for publication and therefore, consideration. However, we ask that you indicate your intention to the editor at the time of submitting the article. Please read the following rules to ensure that your article meets the criteria for consideration:

The prize is open to any person or group of persons who are members of NZOQ or work for an NZOQ member company, who have published a paper, article or report about work completed during the period January 2007 to 30 June 2008.

The Award consists of a suitable trophy and $1,000 cash.

Beca-NZOQ Prize

This prize is awarded to a member who has published an article on a theoretical topic and is sponsored by Beca and NZOQ.

The winner receives $1000 plus a trophy.

To be eligible for this prize a member must have had their article published either in QNewZ or a recognised publication between the period January 2007 to 30 June 2008.

However, members who published in journals other than those produced by NZOQ should ensure that they send a copy of the paper indicating where it was published.

There is still plenty of time to submit an article to QNewZ for publication before 30 June. However, it is vital that the editor is aware of your intention to apply for this award to ensure that it is printed before the closing date.

Please read the following rules to ensure that your article meets the criteria for consideration:

The Award consists of a suitable trophy and $1,000 cash.

For further information, contact Helen Baines.

Project Manager for Conference

The Board wishes to announce that Michael Voss has been appointed to the position of Project Manager - NZOQ Conference. Part of his role will be to help manage conference activities.

For further information, contact Michael Voss.

Certificate in Quality Assurance 2008

For people wanting quality information and training in quality

This course develops a wide range of practical skills that can be applied to manage quality in all types of organisations and industries.

By correspondence nationally with classroom options available in Auckland, Hamilton, Palmerston North, Wellington and Christchurch and other locations if numbers permit.

Certificate in Quality Assurance brochure (278 kilobytes)

Enrolments

Classroom sessions start week commencing 11 February — these are for 2 hours once a week after office hours. The course runs from 11 February to 6 December 2008.

From the President

2007 — A Year in Reflection

Although at the time of writing there are still two months to go until year-end, I am happy to report that the 30th year of the Organisation's existence can already be adjudged another success. We marked our 30th anniversary in June with a well-attended NZ Quality Day seminar, hosted by the Canterbury Branch in Christchurch. This was followed by the National AGM and a cocktail hour, with a celebratory dinner in the evening. Judging by the number of 'old' faces there, it seems that the Organisation's relative longevity should be no surprise.

I am also pleased to report that our fist full year under the revised Constitution and its associated new governance structure is working well and that your Board, with Joe Hollander's fim chairmanship, has quickly taken on a much more strategic focus than was the case with its predecessor National Council's. In November we carried out our fist annual strategic review, which will be reported on in the next QNewz.

With our core business centred around our educational programme, Kelly Mara and the Education Services subcommittee have made great strides in further developing our existing courses, including the Certifiate in Quality Assurance (CQA) run in partnership with the Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology, Quality Management and Quality in Healthcare Practical Skills, and our Quality Systems Auditing and Internal Auditor training courses. We also launched our own Six-Sigma practitioners' certifiation programme, with the fist round of assessments now completed.

Having completed a major rebranding exercise last year, the Information Services portfolio has been concentrating on reviewing and developing our relationships with appropriate kindred organisations both in NZ and overseas, and latterly in improving the layout and content of QNewZ, including the employment of a professional editor, Lyn Nikoloff. Although it is early days yet, I am sure you will agree with me that the changes are already apparent and much for the better. Information Services is also working on ongoing improvements to our website (http://www.nzoq.org.nz/) and establishing a seed funding scheme for relevant quality-related research.

Unfortunately it is not all good news on the Information Services front, as Wayne Hutchinson, who has headed this portfolio since its inception last year, has very recently had a change of employment necessitating his tendering his resignation from the Board. Wayne has done a sterling job for the Organisation over the past several years, including leading us through the rebranding exercise, and his presence will be sorely missed. Maybe in the not too distant future we can persuade him to offer his services to the Board once again. In the meantime we thank him for his considerable contribution thus far to the development of the Organisation and wish him all the best in his new career.

The Membership Services portfolio is constantly reviewing the 'Learn – Share – Grow' value proposition and exploring initiatives to attract new members, and of course to retain existing ones. Currently headed by Lynley Coburn, ably supported by Ceillhe Sperath, this subcommittee includes the chairs of each of the regional branches to ensure direct representation from the grassroots membership. Amongst other initiatives, it has projects under way to evaluate current processes and criteria for the recruitment and retention of members, and to ways to extend categories of membership and associated benefis.

The other major project gaining momentum is the planning of our fist national conference for some years, to be held in Queenstown next year from 22 to 24 October. If you were intending to submit a paper or workshop but missed the 30 November deadline, I urge you to contact our General Manager, Helen Baines (helen.baines@nzoq.org.nz), as there are still a few gaps in the programme.

NZOQ conferences have become legendary for their excellent value for money, variety and quality programmes, and their social and networking opportunities. The 2008 event promises even better and has already attracted considerable interest both locally and internationally; this one will be a must for everyone! Don't forget to take advantage of the considerable savings to be made with 'early bird' registrations.

Before closing this report, I should draw members' attention to the pending 2008 Board elections and encourage any of you who feel you have a contribution to make at the national level to seriously consider standing.

Although the new Constitution allows the six elected directors to serve for a maximum term of two years, in the interests of continuity it has been agreed that three directors will step down at the end of this fist year, with the option of offering themselves for re-election. In this way it is intended to set up an annual election cycle, with three directors halfway through their two-year term and three seats up for election.

Every board needs regular injections of new people and although Board members are unpaid, the work carries with it other potential rewards, including personal growth and the satisfaction of contributing to the leadership of a successful organisation. If you feel you have the relevant skills and experience and are willing to put in the time and hard work required, you are urged to put yourself forward when nominations open early next year.

Finally, on behalf of the Board, our best wishes for the festive season, a happy and safe summer break and a bumper 2008.

Roger Atkinson, NZOQ President.

We Need Your Help!

QNewZ Contributions

We are keen to hear from members or organisations that have found a powerful way of utilising a quality tool. Because we want QNewZ to cater for the varied needs and interests of NZOQ members we also need your input. Here are some ways in which you can help:

QNewZ is your newsletter and we want to continue to make it interesting, relevant and a rollicking good read. We look forward to receiving your contributions in 2008!

For more information, contact the editor.

Conference Scholarship Winner Elated!

Ros Murrell — NZOQ Conference Scholarship Winner

Ros Murrell has worked to make community homes a safer environment for people with intellectual disabilities and / or mental health issues, and is a worthy recipient of the NZOQ Conference Scholarship, as Lyn Nikoloff explains: Winner of the NZOQ Conference Scholarship, Ros Murrell, Project Manager for the PACT Group in Otago, has spent thirty years in the health sector working with people who have an intellectual disability.

Ros is looking forward to attending the NZOQ conference in Queenstown. 'It is such a thrill to win the scholarship because I didn't expect to win. I am honoured to be given this opportunity to attend the conference where I am looking forward to meeting other people in the fild I work in. The conference will also reinforce the quality aspect of my work; and I will hear lots of new messages about ways of better improving quality for both our clients and staff at PACT!'

Ros began her extensive career in the health sector at Cherry Farm. By the 1990s Ros was working in community housing, due to a policy decision by the Ministry of Health to move care for people with intellectual disabilities from an institutional framework to community housing. 'I set up the fist house for people with an intellectual disability for the PACT Trust in 1994. Then one day the manager asked me to carry out staff appraisals. I had no idea what to do!' she explains.

This led to extramural study for fie years as Ros completed her NZ Institute of Management Certifiate in Supervisory Management. Meanwhile she juggled her study with full time work, her young family and farming.

Upon completing the NZIM, Ros was promoted to Operations Manager at PACT. 'The Trustees asked me to implement the ACC Workplace Safety Practices standards which aimed to reduce injury in the workplace. There had to be a big mind-shift about injuries for the staff from no process for incidents to incident reporting.'

While staff initially saw the incident report as extra paperwork, with encouragement from Ros they began to see there was a positive outcome because there was a clear reduction in the number of injuries. 'The incident report made staff stop after an incident had occurred and complete the paperwork. By reflcting on the causes of the incident, staff were able to explore how the injury could be prevented in the future and then to put that process into practice.'

Ros was sent to the West Coast as a relieving manager late in 2002. While there she was involved in restructuring the community houses.

PACT then asked Ros to implement the Ministry of Health standards to gain certifiation. She was given 15 months to complete the work before being audited. 'This required everybody to take on board the new systems and this was a challenge as PACT is responsible for the day to day care for 800-plus people with intellectual disabilities and / or mental health issues, and 380 staff'.

In 2006 two things happened which would lead Ros to apply for the NZOQ Conference Scholarship in 2007. First, Ros enrolled in the NZOQ Certifiate in Quality Assurance. She admits that the CQA has been a huge workload but she has enjoyed the challenge and is now looking forward to implementing in 2008 some of her new ideas.

Second, Ros had a dream to set up a database of incident reports from throughout PACT and her line manager encouraged her to apply for this project to be implemented. It was given the go ahead and became her CQA project. The database took the early part of 2007 to develop and is now maintained regularly. 'We now have a fantastic database from which I can manually look for trends. This saves me having to read every incident report. The database also helped in the start of the Safe and Supportive Environment project whereby feedback is now given to staff about incidents that have occurred between client-client and staff-client. This has led to us better managing risk.'

Looking ahead to 2008 – Ros is excited about attending the NZOQ conference in Queenstown. But for the moment she has put any further study on hold as there are still plenty of ideas from her CQA yet to be implemented. However, after a year of consolidation and also the stimulation from attending the NZOQ conference there is no doubt that Ros will once again set her sights on another career challenge.

Ros Murrell, winner of the NZOQ Conference Scholarship has shown exceptional fortitude and foresight in her career and we wish her well.