ASQ Global State of Quality Research to identify corporate progress and challenges in the 21st Century

Inaugural research launched as part of World Quality Month agenda

Milwaukee, Wis. — ASQ, the leading authority on quality in all fields, organizations and industries, is launching a first-of-its-kind survey that will provide a comprehensive view on the current state — and future opportunities — of quality and continuous improvement around the world.

The ASQ Global State of Quality Research project will assemble data and case studies to help organizations worldwide benchmark their use of and results from quality and continuous improvement tools, techniques, and management systems. The unprecedented research will identify progress and success, as well as challenges and opportunities companies, industry sectors and regions face as they implement and track the results of quality improvement and performance excellence initiatives.

The Global State of Quality report will help organizations compare their quality processes, programs and resource to other companies within their industry, region and economic sectors. The research plan will encompass data gathered from corporations in at least 16 countries, representing at least 80 percent of the global gross domestic product.

To participate in the study, visit www.asq.org/globalresearch.

Initial results will be unveiled in May 2013, at ASQ’s World Conference on Quality and Improvement in Indianapolis, Ind., U.S.A.

The project was launched as part of World Quality Month, an annual, worldwide celebration of quality and its impact in the world. World Quality Month is observed by ASQ and a host of leading quality organizations, professional societies and academic programs each November.

ASQ CEO Paul Borawski pointed to the importance and impact of the forthcoming research, and its timely fielding, beginning this month.

“World Quality Month is a time to celebrate quality and an opportunity to look ahead to the future of the quality community, its growth and prominence in business and industry,” Borawski said. “The ASQ Global State of Quality Research project will enhance the awareness and understanding of how quality tools, techniques and processes advance business today, and in our future, around the world. ASQ is honored to take a leadership role in the worldwide celebration, and in this new worldwide research to make the case for quality.”

To conduct and manage the research and report, ASQ is partnering with APQC, a leader in research, benchmarking, process improvement and knowledge management. APQC methodologies have proven successful in a variety of industries, including business, education, health care and government.

The inaugural project is sponsored by ASQ Enterprise Quality Roundtable Members Abbott Laboratories, CareFusion, The Coca-Cola Company, Tata Group and Xerox Corp. In addition to the ASQ Enterprise members collaboration, the project is being supported by the European Organization for Quality, German Society for Quality, Slovenian Quality and Excellence Association, Regional Program of Quality and Productivity, Israel Society for Quality, Portuguese Association for Quality, Finnish Quality Association, Chartered Quality Institute, Czech Society for Quality and Ukrainian Association for Quality.

About World Quality Month
World Quality Month is an annual celebration that acknowledges the efforts and accomplishments of the global quality community, showcasing how quality makes a difference in the world. ASQ, its many World Partner organizations, quality thought leaders, and stakeholders in the global quality community commemorated the inaugural World Quality Month in November 2010. For more information, visit www.worldqualitymonth.org.

About ASQ
ASQ is a global community of people dedicated to quality who share the ideas and tools that make our world work better. With millions of individual and organizational members of the community in 150 countries, ASQ has the reputation and reach to bring together the diverse quality champions who are transforming the world’s corporations, organizations and communities to meet tomorrow’s critical challenges. ASQ is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wis., with national service centers in China, India and Mexico. Learn more about ASQ’s members, mission, technologies and training at www.asq.org.

About APQC
APQC is a member-based nonprofit and one of the world’s leading proponents of benchmarking, best practices, and knowledge management. Working with more than 500 member organizations worldwide in all industries, APQC provides organizations with the information they need to work smarter, faster, and with greater confidence. Visit us at www.apqc.org for more information.