Press Release: American Society for Quality Automotive Division Announces 2024 Quality Awardees
Quality Leader of the Year
The Quality Leader of the Year Award was established to acknowledge and publicly recognize those leaders in the automotive industry, outside of the quality profession, who exemplify a commitment to the principles and disciplines of quality. A quality leader may be described in a number ways, although certain key words come up frequently in trying to pin down a description. Those key words are: vision, customer-focused, quality philosophy and continuous improvement. A leader in the automotive industry may be described as one who has consistently demonstrated the vision to encourage and to universally apply a customer-focused code in every aspect of business.
This year’s Quality Leader of the Year is Dan Nicholson.
Dan Nicholson retired at the end of 2024 as the General Motors Vice President, Strategic Technology Initiatives. Prior to this appointment, Dan was General Motors Vice President of Global Electrification, Controls, Software and Electronics where he led the organization from 2019 to 2022. Prior to that, Dan was General Motors Vice President, Global Propulsion Systems. In that role he was responsible for all propulsion products including engines, transmissions, fuel cells, electric drive units and batteries. He is on the SAE Board of Directors and serves as Vice President Automotive and was the GM Member Company representative on the USCAR Council and member of the USDRIVE Executive Steering Group.
Quality Professional of the Year
The Quality Professional of the Year Award has been established to recognize individuals in the automotive industry who have made significant contributions in the following areas:
· Leadership or managerial skills in implementing continuous improvement in quality;
· Services provided to the community toward furthering the understanding of quality systems and techniques;
· Support and encouragement of new and innovative ideas leading to the never-ending pursuit of excellence;
· Demonstration of a high regard for team benefits and results.
This year’s Quality Leader of the Year is Dr. Saso Krstovski.
Dr. Saso Krstovski, Associate Dean of Industrial Technologies at Henry Ford College is a highly accomplished engineer with a strong academic foundation and extensive experience in Electrical, Computer, and Industrial Engineering. Throughout his 30-year career in automotive manufacturing he has dedicated himself to improving quality, teaching quality principles, and applying statistical methods to ensure products and services meet high standards. As a certified Ford Level II Master Black-Belt he has been a passionate supporter of the American Society for Quality (ASQ) for over 20 years, crediting much of his expertise in quality to ASQ's seminars and training. Dr. Krstovski holds a Doctorate of Engineering in Manufacturing Systems from Lawrence Technological University and has made significant contributions to both academia and industry.
William P. Koth Award The Koth Award was established by the Automotive Division in recognition of the William P. Koth, AOSmith Corporation, for his many years of dedicated service to the division. The Koth Award is presented each year to a currently active Automotive Division member who has given outstanding personal service for the promotion of the Automotive Division and the American Society for Quality.
This year’s award ceremony will take place March 20th, 2025 at Polish American Cultural Center, 2975 E. Maple Road Troy, MI 48083 starting at 5:30 pm.
Registration Link
If you would like to be a sponsor for this event reach out to Lou Ann Lathrop louannlathrop@live.com
ASQ’s mission is to empower individuals and communities of the world to achieve excellence through quality.
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