Technical Session: Fletcher Birmingham, "Get the Waste Out."

When you look at work from the customer's eyes, there's waste in all processes. It takes both time and patience to develop eyes for seeing waste. Once identified it takes time and skill to eliminate or reduce that waste. Toyota's success is due at least in part from developing a culture that relentlessly focuses on value in the customer's eyes and getting rid of waste. Our tech clinic speaker will present eight forms of waste and discuss ways to eliminate or reduce them. By Fletcher Birmingham.

Presentation: Fletcher Birmingham, "Leading Change for Quality Assurance Professionals."

A Chinese proverb says: "May You Live In Interesting Times." These are interesting times alright, to say the least. So, how is your industry changing and what challenges do you face? ASQ conducted a futures study identifying seven key forces shaping the future of quality and the quality professional. We will examine these forces and discuss roles shifts to improve the likelihood of success at work and in your career.

Fletcher Birmingham started his career in Vendor Quality Assurance working for Sundstrand Aviation now Hamilton Sundstrand. His 30 years experience implementing quality policies and practices gives him insight into the challenges faced by quality professionals. His presentation will discuss crucial skills needed to lead your organization and advance your career.

Fletcher Birmingham is a fellow member of the American Society for Quality and ASQ Certified Quality Engineer, Reliability Engineer, Auditor and Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence. He is president of Summit Business-Consulting, Inc. of Hudson, Ohio specialists in operational excellence and workforce development. His work includes over 20 years with companies such as Hamilton Sundstrand, Lockheed Martin, Roadway Express and Scott Fetzer. His consulting clients include both large and small manufacturing and service organizations.

He is also serves as director of the Operations and Plant Managers Association, a networking group for manufacturing and related businesses located in Northeast Ohio. He is lead faculty for the University of Phoenix Cleveland Campus facilitating graduate business courses in operations management, project management and finance.