1st Annual Canadian Quality Congress

ASQ is sponsoring a quality conference that is a little bit closer to home. The 1st Annual Canadian Quality Congress is being held in Vancouver on August 19-21, 2009 at the University of British Columbia. The conference theme is: Focus on Future: Quality, Innovation and Social Responsibility.

This is a first ever Canadian event and it is good to see Canada getting involved this way in the world stage. This conference will gather together world leaders in the quality management field invited from 25 countries around the world. It should be an interesting and educational event to attend and a fantastic networking opportunity for quality professionals around the world.

Keynote Speakers include:

• Dr. Jim Harrington
  Title: The Impossible Dream
  Abstract:
  A rare insight into the importance of having a vision and a dream and what can be accomplished if you are going to excel in what you do. People and organizations need to have a dream that defines how good they can be. In order to have the motivation to achieve it, the impossible can be accomplished if you dream big enough, work hard enough and don’t give up; it is the best route to excellence.



• Dr. Tito Conti
  Title: Systems Thinking in Quality Management
  Abstract:
  Present quality thinking is still too much limited to the process level. The view of the whole organizational system and the broader systems which the organization is part of, is often inadequate. The problem affects companies, and more so when they become large and complex. If we move upwards to the ever more complex sociopolitical/trade/ financial systems, the need of injecting more systems thinking into management and managing for quality becomes very evident.



• Sister Mary Jean Ryan
  Title: SSM Healthcare Journey to Excellence
  Abstract:
  In 1990, SSM Health Care was a little-known healthcare system in the Midwest portion of the United States. In 2002, it became the first ever healthcare recipient of Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, the highest award for quality in United States. In a presentation filled with true stories, the President /CEO of SSM Healthcare will illustrate what it takes to lead change in today’s world.



• Masaaki Imai
  Title: Kaizen: A Road Map for World Class Performance
  Abstract:
  The message behind Kaizen is to do it better; make it better; improve it, even if it is not broken. Because if we do not, we cannot compete with those who do.
  
  Almost ninety percent of all problems encountered in the traditional systems are attributable to the very system that is employed to do the job; and no amount of efforts to solve their quality problems will lead to good results. Mr. Imai will explain the modern way to do things better and at the same time how to save bundles.



• Peter Merrill
  Title: Innovation Generation
  Abstract:
  It is not the strongest that survive, nor the most intelligent, but those most responsive to change. Innovation means responding to today's market change and getting new ideas. In today's market place it is the most innovative that will surive.
  
  The organization must find its own market opportunities and your customers will probably not even recognize those opportunities. Breakthrough innovation then comes from developing solutions which are radical and often comes from 'connecting' to a different market environment.

For more information: http://www.canadianqualitycongress.com/