Tag Archives: Quality

Photo of ASQ Raleigh SIG meeting attendees

Six Sigma SIG — February 2025

Event, SIG, , , ,

It’s been a while since we had our Six Sigma Special Interest Group (SIG) meeting. This month’s topic was “How Effective is Lean Six Sigma?” We had 18 people attending at the NC Biotech Center, which sponsors ASQ Raleigh and has a state-of-art conference center for the event.

The attendees represented various industries such as life sciences, semiconductors, and manufacturing. About one third were non-ASQ members, and 40+% were first-time attendees.

To help build the Quality community, four ASQ Raleigh member leaders (i.e. volunteers who make things happen) welcomed the audience and gave an introduction of ASQ and ASQ Raleigh.

Given the range of attendee’s experience in Continuous Improvement, the meeting started with a 30-minute refresher on the Lean and Six Sigma methodologies, prompting reactions and ideas on the challenges and opportunities in the current environment, which was the focus of the break-out session.

After about 50 minutes of active discussion, three break-out groups shared their key takeaways, touching various questions, such as

  • How to help change the culture?
  • How can Lean Six Sigma help drive change?
  • How do we address the challenges related to bringing back manufacturing to the US?
  • How do we gain buy-in from senior management?
  • How to apply Lean and/or Six Sigma in non-manufacturing, such as R&D and IT?
  • What kinds of incentives are effective for different demographics?

A few ideas emerged as potential topics for future events.

  • What is a Kaizen event? How do you lead such events?
  • How do you align or prioritize Continuous Improvement effort or projects?
  • What could business process re-engineering look like now (compared to the 90’s)?
  • How can Lean Six Sigma help R&D, Quality, and tech transfer?
  • How do we engage people in Continuous Improvement?

Thanks to all participants for their contributions. We will have many ideas to work from.

The next event will be the monthly Quality Special Interest Group at Frontier RTP on Thursday, March 13.

ASQ Raleigh Life Sciences Special Interest Group Meeting — March 21, 2025

, , , ,

This event is free and open to the public. No ASQ membership is required. ASQ members will receive RU credit for attending.  Register here.

Title: Integrating Data Science and Quality to Achieve Organization Excellence: A Practical Plan for Success

Presenter: Milton Krivokuca DBA

Summary:

Critical Quality 4.0 Components of a Digital Transformation

Digital transformation is not an abstract or theoretical journey. Objectives cannot be effectively developed without first analyzing data to establish a baseline for digital transformation. Data science, various types of analytics, and the emergence of multiple data sources can be confusing and intimidating for leaders faced with another challenge of “Where do we begin?” This presentation examines the key critical Quality 4.0 focused components of data analysis. The distilling of information as it flows is a process. This workshop examines the development of a data analysis process with human intervention, integrated with the critical components of data science and quality as the basis for an effective digital transformation.

This two-hour workshop includes moderated breakout sessions.

Discussion sessions focus on assessing the current state of a digital transformation plan and how a plan is required for various types of organizations, including the integration of human factors as related to artificial intelligence.

Breakout discussions will evaluate the correlation between an effective data scientist and a skilled quality professional. The skills overlap required for this functional position in an organization addresses the question of would a data scientist be more effective through a foundation in quality or a foundation in IT?

Who Should Attend:

· Managers responsible for planning, implementing or managing an organization s digital transformation.

· Quality professionals who desire to expand their careers to include data science and how data science integrates with quality as organizational excellence.

· Data engineers and programmers will recognize the existing resources within an organization available to them within organizations that can support an effective digital transformation.

Agenda:

12:30 – 1:00 pm Registration and networking

1:00 – 1:20 pm Introduction

1:20 – 1:50 pm Break-out and review of results

1:50 – 2:00 pm Break

2:00 – 2:20 pm Continued presentation

2:20 – 2:40 pm Break-out discussion

2:40 – 3:00 pm Closure and Q&A

 

Milton Krivokuca DBA

Presenter Bio:

Dr. Milton Krivokuca, is the Interim Program Coordinator for the Master of Science Quality Assurance program at California State University Dominguez Hills, Carson, CA. He is a recognized Quality 4.0 thought leader. He has instructed master’s classes in critical thinking and quality theories at several universities. Dr. Krivokuca frequently presents results of his quality related research through papers and presentations. He is past chair of ASQ Quality Management Division, an ASQ Fellow, ASQ 2024 Grant Award recipient, ASQ Section 700 Simon Collier Award recipient, ASQ Section 701 Quality Guru of the Year Award, and Quality Magazine’s 2024 Quality Professional of the Year. Dr. Krivokuca’s degrees include an MA, MBA, and a DBA. He has earned 10 ASQ professional certifications.

Photo of ASQ Raleigh SIG meeting attendees

SIG Meeting — February 2025

Event, SIG, , ,

This month we had a smaller group of six participants at our regular time (Thursday evening) and location (Frontier RTP). As usual, we had a very active discussion on a variety of topics as well as the opportunity to get to know each other.

One of the participants worked in software quality, which triggered much discussion about the challenges in understanding and managing quality when so much of what we do depends on technology — automation, software, artificial intelligence, etc.

When the discussion moved to R&D management, a key question was “what are considered in R&D management?” [R&D here refers to scientific discovery and development for commercialization.] It could include vision and strategy for the organization, product portfolio (or in pharma the pipeline!), project management, facility/laboratory management, knowledge and data management, talent, … and certainly quality management.

What’s interesting was that the discussion often brought up the role of Quality, quality culture, and how Quality could/should enable cross-functional activities involving marketing, R&D, and manufacturing.

Are you interested in these topics? Do you have some perspectives to share with others? We hope you join us in future events.

We will have our next meeting on March 13, 2025.

ASQ Raleigh Special Interest Group Meeting — March 13, 2025

, , ,

The SIG event is participant-driven — we will have open discussion around topics related to the quality profession. We may have a theme but no formal speakers or agenda. Everyone is encouraged to participate in the discussion. So bring your questions and ideas to share with other participants.

Theme of the month:  Shingo — How does it avoid “improvement fatigue”

This event is free and open to anyone who is interested in the quality profession. No ASQ membership is required. ASQ members will receive RU credit for participation.

We will meet at Frontier RTP (first floor) at 4:30pm or whenever you can join us. It will be during Frontier RTP’s weekly Out of Office event. It’s a great opportunity to connect with people in the triangle community. More information will be provided to the registered attendees before the event.

Register here.

 

ASQ Raleigh Six Sigma SIG Meeting — February 25, 2025

, , ,

This event is free and open to the public. No ASQ membership is required. ASQ members will receive RU credit for attending.   Register here.

Title: How effective is Lean Six Sigma?

Presenter/facilitator: Fang Zhou

Summary:

In the past few decades, Lean Six Sigma has been widely used for continuous improvement by many organizations in various industries around the world. However, the results vary greatly.

At this SIG meeting, we will give a brief introduction of Lean and Six Sigma methodologies, followed by a break-out group discussion on the challenges and opportunities in applying them in the real world. Both novice and experts are encouraged to share their questions, experiences, and perspectives.

Agenda:

  • 5:00 – 5:15 pm Registration and Networking
  • 5:15 – 5:20 pm ASQ Raleigh overview
  • 5:20 – 5:50 pm Introduction to Lean and Six Sigma
  • 5:50 – 6:00 pm Break
  • 6:00 – 6:30 pm Break-out discussion
  • 6:30 – 6:45 pm Report-out
  • 6:45 – 7:00 pm Wrap-up

Presenter Bio:

Fang Zhou is a certified Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt and has over 20 years of experience in the life sciences industry. As a scientist and engineer, he had various roles in R&D, manufacturing, quality, and continuous improvement. As a management consultant, he has helped global organizations deploy Lean Six Sigma and develop internal capabilities, including training and coaching project leaders.

Fang Zhou received his Ph.D. in Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry from Yale University and his Bachelor of Chemical Engineering and Master of Science in Analytics from Georgia Institute of Technology. He is also a certified Project Management Professional (PMP).

Fang Zhou is currently Vice-Chair of the ASQ Raleigh Section and has been co-chair of ASQ Raleigh Six Sigma and Life Sciences Special Interest Groups since 2019.

Photo of ASQ Raleigh SIG meeting attendees

First SIG Meeting of 2025

Event, SIG, ,

The ASQ Raleigh Special Interest Group (SIG) kicked off the New Year with a meeting at Frontier RTP on January 9. We welcomed some new faces and non-members and had a record turnout of 11 people representing mostly the life sciences and semiconductor industries.

We had two hours of active discussion while enjoying free beverages offered by Frontier RTP’s weekly Out of Office event. The meeting’s theme was Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA), a topic many quality professionals deal with regularly. Some points of discussion included

  • What is risk?
  • How do we deal with assessor’s bias?
  • How do we prioritize risks?
  • Who are the stakeholders, and what are their interests and perspectives on risk?
  • What other tools are used to manage risks?

Since launching this monthly in-person event in 2024, we have seen an increasing number of participants. Thanks to all who led and contributed to the discussion!

We will have our next meeting on February 13. The theme will be R&D Management. Hope to see you there!

ASQ Raleigh Special Interest Group Meeting — February 13, 2025

, , ,

The SIG event is participant-driven — we will have open discussion around topics related to the quality profession. We may have a theme but no formal speakers or agenda. Everyone is encouraged to participate in the discussion. So bring your questions and ideas to share with other participants.

Theme of the month: R&D Management

This event is free and open to anyone who is interested in the quality profession. No ASQ membership is required. ASQ members will receive RU credit for participation.

We will meet at Frontier RTP (first floor) at 4:30pm or whenever you can join us. It will be during Frontier RTP’s weekly Out of Office event. It’s a great opportunity to connect with people in the triangle community. More information will be provided to the registered attendees before the event.

Register here.

ASQ Raleigh Special Interest Group Meeting — January 9, 2025

, , ,

The SIG event is participant-driven — we will have open discussion around topics related to the quality profession. We may have a theme but no formal speakers or agenda.   Everyone is encouraged to participate in the discussion. So bring your questions and ideas to share with other participants.

Theme of the month: Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA)

This event is free and open to anyone who is interested in the quality profession. No ASQ membership is required. ASQ members will receive RU credit for participation.

We will meet at Frontier RTP (first floor) at 4:30pm or whenever you can join us. It will be during Frontier RTP’s weekly Out of Office event. It’s a great opportunity to connect with people in the triangle community. More information will be provided to the registered attendees before the event.

Register here.

ASQ Raleigh Special Interest Group Meeting — December 12, 2024

, ,

The SIG event is participant-driven — we will have open discussion around topics related to the quality profession. No formal speakers or agenda. Everyone is encouraged to participate in the discussion. So bring your questions and ideas to share with other participants.

This event is free and open to anyone who is interested in the quality profession. No ASQ membership is required. ASQ members will receive RU credit for participation.

We will meet at Frontier RTP (first floor) at 4:30pm or whenever you can join us. It will be during Frontier RTP’s weekly Out of Office event. It’s a great opportunity to connect with people in the triangle community. More information will be provided to the registered attendees before the event.

Register here.