Comments for The Quality Guru http://www.thequalityguru.com/wordpress “This blog provides an open member discussion forum on quality, environment, health and safety, food safety & HACCP, CMMI, aviation and project management related issues. Members are encouraged to discuss personal experiences, real life case studies, published resources, success stories and problems on hand. We are confident this forum will help practitioners with fact based decision making in their journey to continual process improvement that supports organizational business goals and Operational Excellence. Tue, 21 Dec 2010 02:32:04 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 Comment on White Paper Released on ISO 14064 Energy Auditing by rogerralph http://www.thequalityguru.com/wordpress/?p=101&cpage=1#comment-2123 rogerralph Tue, 21 Dec 2010 02:32:04 +0000 http://www.thequalityguru.com/wordpress/?p=101#comment-2123 Addressing the global issue of a carbon constrained economy will require highly trained and multi skilled operatives. There are far reaching economic, social and environmental issues that are still debated now in camera in the "scientific methods" circles. The big step remains -- putting a price on pollution. Conflict of interest is difficult to define and avoid when the triple bottom line has such a variation of perspectives. To have robust, transparent and reliable data there is a need to avoid the vagaries of computer modelling, broaden the issues base and include energy costing and all green house gas emissions. Food security will be of world wide importance. Benchmarking, such as the work being done by Australia's CSIRO in farming and horticulture will be paramount in areas of resource sustainability, recycle and reuse and soil improvement and productivity. Business will see these issues as opportunities not responsibilities. Value must be seen over impact thus, robust, reliable and accurate auditing will come from sound competency based training which will result in the credibility of continual improvement and ongoing profitability and sustainability. Addressing the global issue of a carbon constrained economy will require highly trained and multi skilled operatives.
There are far reaching economic, social and environmental issues that are still debated now in camera in the “scientific methods” circles. The big step remains — putting a price on pollution. Conflict of interest is difficult to define and avoid when the triple bottom line has such a variation of perspectives.

To have robust, transparent and reliable data there is a need to avoid the vagaries of computer modelling, broaden the issues base and include energy costing and all green house gas emissions.

Food security will be of world wide importance. Benchmarking, such as the work being done by Australia’s CSIRO in farming and horticulture will be paramount in areas of resource sustainability, recycle and reuse and soil improvement and productivity.

Business will see these issues as opportunities not responsibilities. Value must be seen over impact thus, robust, reliable and accurate auditing will come from sound competency based training which will result in the credibility of continual improvement and ongoing profitability and sustainability.

]]> Comment on ACI Global announces the release of “MyDiploma” by admin http://www.thequalityguru.com/wordpress/?p=103&cpage=1#comment-2122 admin Sun, 19 Dec 2010 22:19:43 +0000 http://www.thequalityguru.com/wordpress/?p=103#comment-2122 Hello Jon, Yes all our training examination and assessments are done online with the video stream validating a person’s competence. Our new product "MyDiploma" allows us to comply with the International Standard ISO/IEC 17024 "Conformity Assessment - general requirements for bodies operating certification of persons". ISO/IEC 17024 states that the examination of "Competence" must involve the assessment by written, oral, practical, observational or other means. ACI Global provides written (online e-learning materials), oral (Skype role plays), practical (live audits and activities) and now Observational (MyDiploma) video evidence to determine the candidate ability to apply the knowledge gained in a real live situation such as an “Audit” or “Event”. We do this by having the candidate provide video evidence of all Key Competencies and related elements of competency together with performance criteria previously examined. This allows ACI Global to “Validate” a persons “Skill” in line with the International Conformity Assessment Standard ISO/IEC 17024. MyDiploma is included in the price of a person’s course or programme and along with a three year professional leadership development guarantee and their own personal facilitator makes for extremely good value. Hello Jon, Yes all our training examination and assessments are done online with the video stream validating a person’s competence. Our new product “MyDiploma” allows us to comply with the International Standard ISO/IEC 17024 “Conformity Assessment – general requirements for bodies operating certification of persons”.

ISO/IEC 17024 states that the examination of “Competence” must involve the assessment by written, oral, practical, observational or other means.

ACI Global provides written (online e-learning materials), oral (Skype role plays), practical (live audits and activities) and now Observational (MyDiploma) video evidence to determine the candidate ability to apply the knowledge gained in a real live situation such as an “Audit” or “Event”.

We do this by having the candidate provide video evidence of all Key Competencies and related elements of competency together with performance criteria previously examined. This allows ACI Global to “Validate” a persons “Skill” in line with the International Conformity Assessment Standard ISO/IEC 17024.

MyDiploma is included in the price of a person’s course or programme and along with a three year professional leadership development guarantee and their own personal facilitator makes for extremely good value.

]]> Comment on ACI Global announces the release of “MyDiploma” by jonb http://www.thequalityguru.com/wordpress/?p=103&cpage=1#comment-2121 jonb Fri, 17 Dec 2010 10:47:00 +0000 http://www.thequalityguru.com/wordpress/?p=103#comment-2121 Very interesting. So, after going through you training modules I can be assessed by you ..... on-line, or by video shots? And get a diploma? At no additional cost??? Very interesting. So, after going through you training modules I can be assessed by you ….. on-line, or by video shots? And get a diploma? At no additional cost???

]]> Comment on Why not competency based training? by Debra Hay Hampton http://www.thequalityguru.com/wordpress/?p=91&cpage=1#comment-2050 Debra Hay Hampton Tue, 06 Apr 2010 21:34:25 +0000 http://www.thequalityguru.com/wordpress/?p=91#comment-2050 Good thoughts. Competency is composed of three elements: Abilities, Skill and Knowledge. Training may not have anything to do with assessing competency unless the assessment finds the individual lacking. Then of couse actions must be taken to attempt to make them competent. Training implies providing information so that it can become knowledge and give the person a skill. If the person has weak abilities, chances are the knowledge nor the skill will stick. An organization must think of each job or function in the organization and determine the a.s.k. needed for that job or function. Through this exercise people can better be placed with a chance to succeed. This creates a win-win for all. Good thoughts. Competency is composed of three elements: Abilities, Skill and Knowledge. Training may not have anything to do with assessing competency unless the assessment finds the individual lacking. Then of couse actions must be taken to attempt to make them competent.

Training implies providing information so that it can become knowledge and give the person a skill. If the person has weak abilities, chances are the knowledge nor the skill will stick.

An organization must think of each job or function in the organization and determine the a.s.k. needed for that job or function. Through this exercise people can better be placed with a chance to succeed. This creates a win-win for all.

]]> Comment on Does Money effect our understanding of Peoples Culture’s by Debra Hay Hampton http://www.thequalityguru.com/wordpress/?p=93&cpage=1#comment-2049 Debra Hay Hampton Tue, 06 Apr 2010 21:07:11 +0000 http://www.thequalityguru.com/wordpress/?p=93#comment-2049 Well, so much for getting conversation going in this blog. It has been Easter Weekend here. I live in Southern Georgia which is in the SouthEastern section of the US. Most people comprehend more when I tell them I'm 4 hours South of Atlanta and 5 hours North of Disney World. Easter is a time when families gather, eat together and celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. My weekend was very special in that my 3 daughters were home. One lives 14 hours drive away. One lives 30 hours drive away and one 10 hours drive away. They all live in the US. It is a large land mass. Times for all of us to be together are rare. Hence, I cook days before they come and finish the cooking when they arrive. Much laughter, many board games and little sleep later it all ends. They go home and I crash the next day for hours. It is a necessary ritual. It is Tuesday and I'm back out for work. I am on my way to Monterrey Mexico to audit a company to the ISO 9001 standard. It is an interesting country. The guides pick me up at the airport and transport me everywhere I go. I go there every six months for the audit. I will audit their sister facility next week in Tennessee. To borrow a word from Ian, Cheerio! Well, so much for getting conversation going in this blog. It has been Easter Weekend here. I live in Southern Georgia which is in the SouthEastern section of the US. Most people comprehend more when I tell them I’m 4 hours South of Atlanta and 5 hours North of Disney World.

Easter is a time when families gather, eat together and celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

My weekend was very special in that my 3 daughters were home. One lives 14 hours drive away. One lives 30 hours drive away and one 10 hours drive away. They all live in the US. It is a large land mass. Times for all of us to be together are rare. Hence, I cook days before they come and finish the cooking when they arrive. Much laughter, many board games and little sleep later it all ends. They go home and I crash the next day for hours. It is a necessary ritual.

It is Tuesday and I’m back out for work. I am on my way to Monterrey Mexico to audit a company to the ISO 9001 standard. It is an interesting country. The guides pick me up at the airport and transport me everywhere I go. I go there every six months for the audit. I will audit their sister facility next week in Tennessee.

To borrow a word from Ian, Cheerio!

]]> Comment on Does Money effect our understanding of Peoples Culture’s by Debra Hay Hampton http://www.thequalityguru.com/wordpress/?p=93&cpage=1#comment-2044 Debra Hay Hampton Wed, 31 Mar 2010 14:15:18 +0000 http://www.thequalityguru.com/wordpress/?p=93#comment-2044 As ian and I crafted this message, we struggled with the words. I live in the USA. I've just completed my taxes and have found I owe more than most people in the world make in a year. I realize what taxes provide but, it made me think. Does everyone in the world have to pay taxes? Do you have a time of the year when you have to get all of your papers together and report on your earnings? Is it a paper nightmare? I'd love to hear from you on what stresses if any that you must go through as a citizen of your country and culture? Could I get some insight into your culture by understanding your tax responsibilities? As you see I have many questions. I am sure your answers will trigger even more. I look forward to getting to know my fellow bloggers through understanding their financial responsibilities. I can already think of more questions... In USA they use a rule of thumb that your housing should never cost more than 1/4 of your income. We don't follow that sometimes and people get in trouble. How about in your land? As ian and I crafted this message, we struggled with the words. I live in the USA. I’ve just completed my taxes and have found I owe more than most people in the world make in a year. I realize what taxes provide but, it made me think. Does everyone in the world have to pay taxes? Do you have a time of the year when you have to get all of your papers together and report on your earnings? Is it a paper nightmare? I’d love to hear from you on what stresses if any that you must go through as a citizen of your country and culture? Could I get some insight into your culture by understanding your tax responsibilities? As you see I have many questions. I am sure your answers will trigger even more. I look forward to getting to know my fellow bloggers through understanding their financial responsibilities. I can already think of more questions… In USA they use a rule of thumb that your housing should never cost more than 1/4 of your income. We don’t follow that sometimes and people get in trouble. How about in your land?

]]> Comment on PDCA in Project Management by 9001Quality http://www.thequalityguru.com/wordpress/?p=69&cpage=1#comment-2043 9001Quality Wed, 31 Mar 2010 07:39:31 +0000 http://www.thequalityguru.com/wordpress/?p=69#comment-2043 You took the word right out of my blog… But seriously, all said and written is right. But I am missing more specifications regarding the PDCA process itself and its basic principles. Before implementing it in a project be sure that you are acquainted with the basic elements. <a href='http://www.9001quality.com/continual-improvement.html' rel="nofollow"> In case you are interested.</a> You took the word right out of my blog…

But seriously, all said and written is right. But I am missing more specifications regarding the PDCA process itself and its basic principles. Before implementing it in a project be sure that you are acquainted with the basic elements. In case you are interested.

]]> Comment on PDCA in Project Management by Ribhu Nath Lavania http://www.thequalityguru.com/wordpress/?p=69&cpage=1#comment-2040 Ribhu Nath Lavania Sun, 21 Feb 2010 10:13:28 +0000 http://www.thequalityguru.com/wordpress/?p=69#comment-2040 I agree with Jon when he recommends applying the 8 QMPs to project management to ensure success. PRINCE2 and CMMI-Development are the two frameworks I have witnessed to ensure the success of projects. There is a recent research paper published by Harvard Business School (see Quality Mentors library at http://swqualitymentors.com/Documents/The%20Experience%20Trap-HBR%20Feb,%202008.pdf ) saying that number of years of experience does not ensure success of projects, continuous training and management oversight does. In my experience, metrics based project management and management oversight are the biggest enablers of success of projects of any domain or technology. Continuous and effective communication plays an important role, especially in the multi- location/ multi- cultural projects. See the article "23 Powerful Tips for Working in Multi-Cultural Teams" in Quality Mentors library at http://swqualitymentors.com/ManagingCulturalDiversity.aspx . Incidentally, the course "Quality for Excellence in Project Management" being offered by ACI Global strongly supports the views expressed in this comment and those from Jon. I agree with Jon when he recommends applying the 8 QMPs to project management to ensure success. PRINCE2 and CMMI-Development are the two frameworks I have witnessed to ensure the success of projects. There is a recent research paper published by Harvard Business School (see Quality Mentors library at http://swqualitymentors.com/Documents/The%20Experience%20Trap-HBR%20Feb,%202008.pdf ) saying that number of years of experience does not ensure success of projects, continuous training and management oversight does. In my experience, metrics based project management and management oversight are the biggest enablers of success of projects of any domain or technology. Continuous and effective communication plays an important role, especially in the multi- location/ multi- cultural projects. See the article “23 Powerful Tips for Working in Multi-Cultural Teams” in Quality Mentors library at http://swqualitymentors.com/ManagingCulturalDiversity.aspx . Incidentally, the course “Quality for Excellence in Project Management” being offered by ACI Global strongly supports the views expressed in this comment and those from Jon.

]]> Comment on ACI Global Releases Aviation White Paper “Competency Based Training” by Aussie Skyhawks http://www.thequalityguru.com/wordpress/?p=51&cpage=1#comment-2039 Aussie Skyhawks Sat, 20 Feb 2010 07:46:22 +0000 http://www.thequalityguru.com/wordpress/?p=51#comment-2039 Thank-you Ivan, Your response gives me confidence you have considered all the stakeholders for the route you have chosen & that all the necessary checks and balances will be in place. I wish you & ACI Global the best of luck Steve Thank-you Ivan,
Your response gives me confidence you have considered all the stakeholders for the route you have chosen & that all the necessary checks and balances will be in place.

I wish you & ACI Global the best of luck
Steve

]]> Comment on PDCA in Project Management by jonb http://www.thequalityguru.com/wordpress/?p=69&cpage=1#comment-2038 jonb Fri, 19 Feb 2010 10:53:30 +0000 http://www.thequalityguru.com/wordpress/?p=69#comment-2038 In my experience the reason many projects are "not so successful" are the same as many ISO QMS's are "not so successful", namely lack of management support, opbectives, organisation and communication. So, it seems like a good idea to apply the 8 ISO Quality Management Principles to Project Management. This can be done in many ways - like using the PDCA cycle. Another method where we could say the 8 QMP's are merged into traditional Project Management systems is PRINCE2 (Projects in Controlled Environments). Here the focus is on the Business Case, organisation and communication, and greatly supports the somewhat too "technical" traditional Project Managment systems. More information can be found for example on: http://www.prince2.com/what-is-prince2.asp In my experience the reason many projects are “not so successful” are the same as many ISO QMS’s are “not so successful”, namely lack of management support, opbectives, organisation and communication. So, it seems like a good idea to apply the 8 ISO Quality Management Principles to Project Management. This can be done in many ways – like using the PDCA cycle.

Another method where we could say the 8 QMP’s are merged into traditional Project Management systems is PRINCE2 (Projects in Controlled Environments). Here the focus is on the Business Case, organisation and communication, and greatly supports the somewhat too “technical” traditional Project Managment systems.

More information can be found for example on: http://www.prince2.com/what-is-prince2.asp

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