Community Information:
Welcome
ASQ Western Mass
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| Our Mission |
| The Western Massachusetts Section of the American Society for Quality (ASQ) is a group of business professionals dedicated to the advancement of quality. |
You may contact the Leadership Team at ASQWesternMassachusetts@sections.asq.org Please refer to the About Us discussion for more information about our Section.
Table of past Technical Meetings (with links to presentations)
Our Current Local Job Board
Section Leadership Team — 2026
Contact Us
Our Newsletters
UPCOMING EVENT:
When: Tuesday, June 9, from 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM. Sign in and socialize at 5:30 PM, the event starts at 6:00 PM.
Where: Munich Haus, 13 Center St, Chicopee, MA 01013 (in-person only)
Dinner: Starts at 7 pm, $25.00 includes a full meal with 17 choices, drinks are additional
Continuing Education: 0.15 CEU for attendance/participation
Topic: Introduction to AI with Microsoft Copilot, selected by members through our Voice of the Customer surveys.
To register (and be on the mailing list for RU’s), register at https://forms.office.com/r/Sk4NHzv6hu or scan the QR code below
Overview of the Topic:
As part of our Back-to-Basics series, this session on AI with Microsoft Copilot was selected from Voice of the Customer survey feedback. You asked for practical guidance on using AI in everyday work, and this session delivers it.
The presentation covers what Copilot is, how it works across Microsoft 365 apps, and what it can and cannot do. It highlights manufacturing and ISO 9001 applications. It includes how Copilot can streamline quality documentation, simplify audit preparation, support Excel-based data analysis, and develop training materials. The presentation also addresses data security and governance, explaining how Copilot works within existing permissions and compliance requirements.
Attendees will leave with practical prompting techniques, real-world examples of turning raw data into actionable scorecards, and lessons learned from hands-on use. The session also emphasizes that successful AI adoption is a people challenge first and a technology challenge second. While the focus is on Microsoft Copilot, the fundamentals apply to other AI tools as well.
Presenter:
Gary Grubbs is a retired engineer with over 42 years of experience, having worked in diverse fields at Monsanto/Solutia/Eastman. His expertise spans engineering, maintenance, manufacturing, project management, and SAP implementation. Over the past 27 years, he has dedicated himself to quality, holding positions as a quality engineer, lab supervisor, and site quality manager. Gary’s extensive experience encompasses quality systems for industrial chemicals (ISO 9001), automotive (IATF 16949), and pharmaceutical (NSF/IPEC/ANSI 363) industries. Notably, he was a contract quality manager at Eastman’s global automotive design facility in Springfield.
Below is the link to the presentation of our April 14, 2026, Dinner meeting - ASQ Western Mass Section
Auditing 101, Internal, Supplier, and Customer Audits
Below is the link to the presentation from our February Technical Meeting – Quality Trivia Challenge – ASQ Western Mass Section
Quality Trivia Challenge.
Our Annual Plan is now available at the following link:ASQ Community Annual Report 2025
The Hartford Section is offering certification courses. DEADLINE: Sign up by Friday night, January 23, 2026 Do not delay!!
Below is the link to the presentation of our November 11, 2025 , Dinner meeting - ASQ Western Mass Section
Quality 101
Below is the link to the presentation of our September 9 2025 , Dinner meeting - ASQ Western Mass Section
Training, Sometimes it’s More than just Training
Download the 2024 Annual Report here.-ASQ Community Annual Report
Below is the link to the presentation of our June 10, 2025 , Dinner meeting - ASQ Western Mass Section Quality Risks and Opportunities with Peers to Improve Quality, Communication, and Identify Opportunities for Improvement
Below is the link to the presentation at our February 11th, 2025, Dinner meeting -ASQ Western Mass Section Trivia Challenge… All things Quality!
Below is the link to our November 12, 2024, 2024, Dinner meeting presentation -ASQ Western Mass Section-
The Design Process-Its not as complicated as you think