Blogs

Summary of Key 2024 Columbia Basin ASQ Accomplishments and Activities

By Jo Haberstok posted 12/09/24
SUMMARY OF KEY 2024 COLUMBIA BASIN ASQ ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND ACTIVITIES by Jo Haberstok Our Columbia Basin Section has about completed another successful year. So… what did our section actually do in 2024? Here are some of the highlights (as of early December): Earned ASQ Silver Level PEP recognition for our 2023 achievements · Held six virtual section meetings – with great speakers – and two in-person site visits · Gained 14 new section members · Shared information about over 60 ASQ section/division virtual meetings/events and encouraged everyone ...

Section News and Views

By Jo Haberstok posted 12/09/24
S ection News and Views by Jo Haberstok Can you believe it’s almost December already? It has been another exciting year for our Columbia Basin ASQ section. We will not be holding a section meeting in December, due to all the other family and holiday events and activities happening. We encourage you to participate virtually in some of the events and opportunities offered by other ASQ divisions/sections this month. Please welcome and congratulate our 2025 section leadership team, which includes both elected and appointed officers and team leads. A big “Thank You!” to everyone who stepped up to serve in these important roles: ...

December 12 - Phoenix ASQ Virtual Event: "Key Performance Indicators Versus Objectives and Key Results"

By Jo Haberstok posted 12/09/24
KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS VS OBJECTIVES AND KEY RESULTS Phoenix ASQ Virtual Meeting December 12 from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm PST KPIs and OKRs are valuable tools for performance management , but they serve different purposes. KPIs provide ongoing metrics for monitoring overall performance, while OKRs are goal-setting frameworks designed to drive specific, measurable outcomes within defined timeframes. Some organizations use a combination of both to create a comprehensive performance management strategy. Thinking of it another way, KPIs are like a business report card. They tell how well you are doing in hitting your goals. ...

December 11 - Virtual Webinar - "Employee Engagement Through Work Standards"

By Jo Haberstok posted 12/09/24
EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT THROUGH WORK STANDARDS Seattle AME Virtual Webinar December 11 from 9:00 am to 10:00 am PST The webinar by Dr. Christoph Roser will address the question of what employee engagement really is and will distinguish it from related concepts like employee safety, happiness, satisfaction, and wellbeing. The origins of Lean management will be explored, highlighting its roots in Toyota and the significant improvements it brought to the automotive industry. A major success story for employee engagement is the NUMMI joint venture between GM and Toyota, which transformed one of the worst-performing plants in the US into a ...

December 17 - Virtual "Ask the Experts" about Servant Leadership

By Jo Haberstok posted 12/09/24
A CASE FOR SERVANT LEADERSHIP Ask the Experts Hybrid Event December 17 from 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm PDT in Kennewick Ask the Experts is a series of monthly workshops that provide information on crucial business topics, offered free of charge to the Tri-Cities business community through the Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce and funded by STCU. Each session features two or three local professionals who have demonstrated expertise in the featured monthly topic and are willing to share what they have learned, as well as answer questions from participants. Servant Leaders sometimes get a bad rap. They may be thought of as ...

December 2024 Columbia Basin ASQ Newsletter

By Jo Haberstok posted 11/25/24
The December 2024 Columbia Basin ASQ newsletter is now available. We do not plan to hold a section meeting in December, as we know many of you will be busy with other holiday activities and events. There are several virtual meetings and webinars being offered by other ASQ sections, divisions and organizations in December – lots of opportunities for learning and growth! And remember… Recertification Units (RUs) can be earned for participating in meetings/events, viewing your monthly free member gifts, or by serving in a section leadership or team member role. Happy Holidays!

November 2024 Columbia Basin ASQ Newsletter

By Jo Haberstok posted 11/15/24
The November 2024 Columbia Basin ASQ newsletter is now available. Hope you can join us for our Site Visit/Tour at Lampson International in Pasco on Friday, November 8. Space is very limited, and reservations are required by November 1; send an email to denise.clements@aecom.com to get added to the list. There are several virtual meetings and webinars being offered by other ASQ sections, divisions and organizations in November – lots of opportunities for learning and growth! And remember… Recertification Units (RUs) can be earned for participating in meetings/events, viewing your monthly free member gifts, or by serving ...

November 8 - Columbia Basin Site Visit/Tour at Lampson International in Pasco WA

By Jo Haberstok posted 10/22/24
Get your reservations in soon - space is very limited for this upcoming site visit! Columbia Basin ASQ Section 0614 SITE VISIT/TOUR Date: Friday, November 8, 2024 Check-in: 1:50 pm PST Tour Starts at 2:00 pm PST There is no charge for attendance, but space is very limited, and registration is required by November 1. Send an email to denise.clements@aecom.com . Site Visit to Lampson International Operations Facility 2250 E. Crane Street (Port of Pasco area) Pasco Washington Lampson International is committed to providing the highest possible customer ...

October 2024 Columbia Basin Newsletter

By Jo Haberstok posted 09/27/24
The October 2024 Columbia Basin ASQ Newsletter is now available! Be sure to get signed up for our October 16 virtual meeting/presentation: "Cementing Quality as a Cultural Goal rather than a Policy Driven Process." Reservations must be received by October 13. Send an email to denise.clements@aecom.com. There are several virtual meetings and webinars being offered by other ASQ divisions and organizations this month – lots of opportunities for learning and growing! And remember… Recertification Units (RUs) can be earned for participating in meetings/events, viewing your monthly free member gifts, or by serving in a section leadership or ...

October 16 - Virtual Meeting/Presentation: "Cementing Quality as a Cultural Goal rather than a Policy Driven Process"

By Jo Haberstok posted 09/27/24
Columbia Basin ASQ Section 0614 Virtual Meeting & Presentation as part of ASQ Pacific Region Date: Wednesday, October 16, 2024 Time: 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm PDT There is no charge for attendance, but registration is required by October 13. Send an email to denise.clements@aecom.com . "Cementing Quality as a Cultural Goal rather than a Policy Driven Process" Presenter: Denise Clements , CMQ-OE Vice President, Quality Director Americas, AECOM When you walk into the lobby of about any company, you will probably see posters stating ...

Good Neighbor Day is September 28!

By Jo Haberstok posted 09/03/24
CELEBRATE GOOD NEIGHBOR DAY – September 28 Good neighborliness defines how pleasant and comfortable our neighborhood is ‑ neighbors can make or break your experience of living in an area. Being a good neighbor helps us build solid and long‑lasting relationships. Good neighbors are like umbrellas on a rainy day, lending a helping hand in times of emergency. Previous generations tended to engage their neighbors in a lot of activities. They invited them to parties and balls, went riding with them, worked on their farms, invited them over for dinner, and took care of their homes whenever they went away. Nowadays, with everyone’s ...

September 2024 Columbia Basin ASQ Newsletter

By Jo Haberstok posted 09/03/24
The September 2024 Columbia Basin ASQ Newsletter is now available! Be sure to get signed up for our September 14 Site Visit to Ice Harbor Brewery in Kennewick. Reservations must be received by September 9. Send an email to denise.clements@aecom.com. There are several virtual meetings and webinars being offered by other ASQ divisions and organizations this month – lots of opportunities for learning and growing! And remember… Recertification Units (RUs) can be earned for participating in meetings/events, viewing your monthly free member gifts, or by serving in a section leadership or team member role.

September 14 - Site Visit to Ice Harbor Brewery & Pub

By Jo Haberstok posted 08/19/24
Hope you can join us for this fun and educational site visit! Date: Saturday, September 14, 2024 Check-in: 1:20 pm PDT Tour Starts at 1:30 pm PDT Note: Following the tour, everyone is invited to meet in the Pub for a late no-host lunch and socializing/networking. There is no charge for attendance, but space is limited, and registration is required by September 9 . Send an email to denise.clements@aecom.com . “Don’t Worry…Be Hoppy!” Site Visit to Ice Harbor Brewery 10 East Bruneau Avenue – Kennewick, Washington Join us on Saturday, September 14, ...

August 2024 Columbia Basin ASQ Newslettr

By Jo Haberstok posted 07/25/24
The August 2024 Columbia Basin ASQ newsletter is now available. We are still officially on “summer break” from holding any section meetings this month, but we are already taking reservations for our September 14 Site Visit to Ice Harbor Brewery in Kennewick. Space is limited, so be sure to sign up soon. There are several virtual meetings and webinars being offered by other ASQ divisions and organizations this month – lots of opportunities for learning and growing! And remember… Recertification Units (RUs) can be earned for participating in meetings/events, viewing your monthly free member gifts, or by serving in a section leadership ...

August is National Wellness Month

By Jo Haberstok posted 07/25/24
AUGUST IS NATIONAL WELLNESS MONTH The American Psychological Association’s dictionary entry states that wellness is a “ dynamic state of physical, mental, and social well-being.” However, the creator of the wellness model with eight dimensions, Margaret Swarbrick, suggested a more nuanced and practical definition: “ A conscious, deliberate process that requires a person to become aware of and make choices for a more satisfying lifestyle.” Based on Swarbrick’s eight dimensions, here are some key aspects of wellness: Physical Wellness : Maintaining a healthy body through regular exercise, proper nutrition, and adequate sleep are ...

August 20 - Medical Device Division Hybrid Webinar: "Guerilla Tactics for Quality Leadership"

By Jo Haberstok posted 07/25/24
Check out this hybrid/virtual webinar on August 20 from ASQ's Medical Device Division GUERILLA TACTICS FOR QUALITY LEADERSHIP: GETTING THINGS DONE WITHOUT FORMAL AUTHORITY Hybrid ASQ Medical Device Division Webinar August 20 from 8:00 am to 10:00 am PDT The term “guerilla tactics” may conjure images of ragtag armed fighters skulking about the jungle to ambush a better outfitted target. Obviously, that’s not what this workshop is about when it comes to changing your organization’s culture around quality. A better definition in this context, paraphrased from Google’s Dictionary, is that of a member of a small independent ...

August 9 - Six Sigma Forum Virtual Webinar: " Are You Attracted to the Lure of Using AI?"

By Jo Haberstok posted 07/25/24
Check out this virtual webinar with ASQ's Six Sigma Forum on August 9! ARE YOU ATTRACTED TO THE LURE OF USING AI? ASQ Six Sigma Forum Virtual Webinar August 9 from 9:00 am to 10:00 am PDT In case you missed the incredibly popular and highly rated session from the 2024 Lean Six Sigma conference, here is your chance to experience it. The lure of Artificial Intelligence (AI) exists in many facets of our lives-- both personally and professionally. AI is often involved in one of the top news stories of the day. Just the mention of AI in a business report makes stock prices leap. But really - how good is AI? ...

August 6 - Virtual Webinar (ASQ Inspection Division) "Modeling & Reducing Variation in Product Development and Manufacturing"

By Jo Haberstok posted 07/25/24
Check out this Virtual Webinar on August 6! MODELING AND REDUCING VARIATION IN PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT AND MANUFACTURING ASQ Inspection Division Virtual Webinar August 6 from 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm PDT Engineers are taught to create designs that meet customer specifications. When doing so, the focus is usually on the nominal values rather than variation. We need designs that are insensitive to variability in the inputs; for example, an engineer choosing nominal values for the resistors in a voltage divider that minimizes the variation of the output voltage. Much of the literature on robustness is dedicated to experimental ...

Thinking about Taking a Certification Exam?

By Jo Haberstok posted 07/25/24
PREPARING FOR ASQ CERTIFICATION EXAMS Are you considering getting certified through ASQ? Not sure which exam to pursue? ASQ offers several options and resources to help individuals prepare for exams, including books and training. The Certification Pathway Tool is a great place to start. Answer a few questions about your field(s) of interest (e.g., Management, Foundational Quality, Engineering, Six Sigma, Auditing, Inspector/Technician), educational background, and years of work experience, and it will show/suggest the ASQ certification(s) that you may be eligible to apply for.

July 2024 Columbia Basin ASQ Newsletter

By Jo Haberstok posted 06/29/24
The July 2024 Columbia Basin ASQ newsletter is now available. We are officially on “summer break” from holding any section meetings in July and August. Keep checking our website for information about future meetings/events. There are several virtual meetings and webinars being offered by other ASQ divisions and organizations this month – lots of opportunities for learning and growing. NOTE: We have rescheduled our section’s site visit to Ice Harbor Brewery in Kennewick to September 14 – be sure to check out the announcement in the newsletter (and make your reservations soon)! And remember… Recertification Units (RUs) can ...