|
Looking Toward the Future
The most recent issues of News for a Change
have included a multipart report on ASQ’s
Futures Study that was conducted during the summer
of 2002. Ken Case, who is now president of ASQ, has
shared the seven key forces that are most likely to
affect quality in the foreseeable future, as well
as the four scenarios that were developed to
speculate on how society may look in the
not-too-distant future.
It’s now time to look at the
cross-cutting trends that were present in these
scenarios and how those trends are likely to affect
us in the future.
Impact on Society
Aging Population
The population of the developed world is aging, but
in developing countries it is exploding. This will
further deplete natural resources and strain the
health care systems of these countries. Up to half
the population of nations such as Mexico and India is
under the age of 20. The middle class in China
equaled the population of the United States in 1999,
and as it ages it will shift the economic power of
the world.
Sustainability of Life on
Earth
We are approaching a golden age of environmental
protection and sustainable development. Sustainable
development will not only protect Earth’s
resources, but also become the preferred stimulus of
economic growth. There is a tremendous opportunity
for governments and businesses to provide the systems
that will accelerate progress toward
sustainability.
Renewable Energy Sources
Renewable resources such as wind, solar, hydro,
geothermal, and biomass gradually will replace fossil
fuels and nuclear energy as the primary source for
power generation. As these technologies improve, they
will become more affordable and society will realize
that dependence on traditional energy sources is
foolhardy. This trend will accelerate when fossil
fuel availability is reduced, costs escalate, and
supplies become traded as political
currency.
Internet Usage Growth
Internet usage will continue to grow, with remarkable
progress made in the developing world. Internet usage
in the Third World will help certain educated
populations leapfrog in the 21st century economy as
active consumers, as well as producers of online
education and consumer products. The Internet will
finally achieve its potential as a
business-management and product-development tool.
However, security measures will have to be addressed
if corporations are to trust the Internet for product
development, which involves proprietary information.
Otherwise, dedicated broadband private services will
replace the Internet for all but its mass-marketing
capabilities.
Impact on Quality Professionals
Dispersion of the Quality
Function
Quality will be more important
than ever for organizations of all varieties, yet the
numbers of stand-alone quality departments and
professionals with the word “quality” in
their title will continue to decline. The tools and
body of knowledge of quality will be adopted by more
types of people in a wider spectrum of organizational
settings. Therefore, it will become more difficult to
define who and what constitutes the “quality
profession.” Instead of operating within a
quality department, practitioners will more likely be
dispersed throughout an organization. They will need
access to quality tools and will need to possess the
skill sets required to function in this new
setting.
Integrating Quality Among
Employees
This new environment may be
overwhelming, but it can open up new possibilities
for the quality professional. The role of future
quality professionals will be as technical coaches
and mentors. They will lead by virtue of a deep
commitment to fundamental business. Improvement will
come from their knowledge, skills, and attitudes
about solving problems democratically. They will
recognize the value of teamwork. We need to develop
these types of skills among our best and
brightest.
Next Generation of Quality Tools and
Techniques
Creation of the next
accepted set of quality tools and techniques will
require a mindset change—an acceptance of
approaches that appear counter to current quality
approaches. For example, instead of trying to sell
universities on a full-level academic quality
department, quality professionals should be
encouraging multidimensional quality hubs. ASQ itself
could push for adding the study of quality principles
and management as a business school requirement for
future managers as executives.
The Human Side of Quality
Innovators and others will be forced to consider the
human element when developing and introducing new
technologies. Concern that our relationship with
technology is intruding on our relationships with
people will propel the “appropriate use”
(or “simple”) movement. The key phrase
here is simple and its corollary, enjoyable. The
increasing complexity of life and the speed of change
will create a premium on those things that simplify
life in enjoyable ways.
The Economics of Quality
The
economics of quality will re-emerge as the most
critical dimension of quality. It always has been,
but it was recognized as critical by executives who
inherently believed in the link between economics and
quality. Today’s executives, however, are
looking for more direct evidence. This means we must
be comfortable talking with executives in their
language—that of finance, economics, and
business.
A Viewpoint of What the Future Holds for
AQP
News for a Change asked
Michael Glowacki, president of AQP, to share his
views on what the future holds for AQP—based on
his consideration of ASQ’s Futures
Study.
“The future of quality is in the hands of
every person lifting a tool or touching a
keyboard,” Glowacki commented. “The job
of management is to set direction, establish
objectives, provide knowledge, step out of the way,
monitor performance, and reward appropriately. The
evolution from dimensional accuracy to process
capability to system effectiveness has forced
everyone involved in providing goods and services to
customers to become well-versed in the tools,
techniques, and vocabulary of doing it
right.
“Quality focus is no longer a turnaround
technique. It is a notch on the key that unlocks the
door and lets you enter the market. Many people claim
to have the template. When the key doesn’t work
the person turning it gets blamed.
“But who is protecting the
consumer/customer? This may be the role of a new
quality association, one that merges solid technical
approaches with proven employee engagement
techniques. An association that would provide the key
and ensure that the key clicks the tumblers. The
melding of ASQ’s and AQP’s bodies of
knowledge creates that association and promises a
bright future for all of us involved in improvement
and higher performance.”
 KEN CASE is regents
professor of industrial engineering and management at
Oklahoma State University, where he also serves as
executive director of the master of science in
engineering and technology management program. He has
doctorate and master’s degrees in industrial
engineering, and a bachelor’s degree in
electrical engineering from Oklahoma State
University. Case is ASQ’s president and has
served as board treasurer, national director,
editorial board member, and Tulsa Section chair. An
ASQ-certified quality engineer, reliability engineer,
quality auditor, and quality manager, Case was named
outstanding engineer in Oklahoma in 1987. He is a
past president of the Institute of Industrial
Engineers, a member of the National Academy of
Engineering, a Baldrige judge (1991-93), and an
academician in the International Academy for
Quality.
 MICHAEL GLOWACKI lives in
Chicago with his extended family. He has been an AQP
member since 1984 and is currently employed as
manager, organization development, in the Elkay
division of Elkay Manufacturing Company. He earned an
undergraduate degree from Northwestern University and
a master’s degree in business administration
from Loyola University-Chicago.
|
