Innovation and the
Future of Quality
Name
ASQ title
Date
About the Presenter
Need for Innovation
“Organizations…must embrace
innovation.”
“The need for innovation…is
greater than ever…”
“For any company to survive
and thrive it is essential to
satisfy the stakeholders through
continuous innovation…”
Innovation Defined
Instituting change that adds value to the
organization by:
•
Increasing efficiency
•
Increasing effectiveness
•
Reducing costs
Does Quality fit?
• Increased customer satisfaction leads
to greater revenue
• Product design improvements result
from employing good quality methods
• Product innovation often results from
organizational development
improvement
Does Quality Fit?
“…must think of
innovation as a
systematically planned
and organized activity.”
ASQ’s 2005
Futures Study
The Forces of Change
History of Futures Study
1st Study - 1996
2nd Study - 1999
3rd Study - 2002
4th Study - 2005
Three-step process
• Identifying the key forces that will
shape the future of quality
• Developing scenarios of how the forces
might unfold
• Considering the possible implications
 Key Forces
Key Force # 1
Globalization
• Threat or opportunity?
• Fluidity of the Internet
• Shifting trade politics
• New kinds of collaboration
Key Force # 2
Innovation/Creativity/Change
• Quality’s contribution to the top line
• Knowledge is king
• Nanotechnology, biotechnology, mass
customization and personal
manufacturing
• Innovation is critical
• Increased demand for “sensing”
systems
Key Force # 3
Outsourcing
• First cousin to Globalization
• Work becomes more independent of
place or space
• Emergence of virtual companies
• Swinging pendulum of outsourcing
back to developed countries
Key Force # 4
Consumer Sophistication
• Rising expectations of product quality,
seamless delivery and fresh features
• Quality is essential, but not sufficient
• Instant Internet knowledge empowers
consumers
• National loyalty traded for cost/benefit
• Anticipatory skills grow in value
Key Force # 5
Value Creation
• Requires clarity and definition from
stakeholder’s viewpoint
• Management systems must adapt
• Sustainability, waste elimination and
the triple bottom line
• Quality must create value in everything
Key Force # 6
Changes in Quality
• Redefined to fit the needs of 21st
organizations
• Systems approach is key
• Premiums on anticipation, first to
market, agility, and supplier network
management
• People skills are critical
 Scenarios
• How will the Key Forces play out in
the future?
• What is most important to the future
of quality?
• How can we use our knowledge to
our strategic advantage?
Four scenarios of the future
Indicator of Quality Progress
Innovative Edge
History
Scenarios
Pluralistic World
Reality Therapy
Global Warming
Yesterday
Today
Tomorrow
Reality Therapy
The same path we’re on
Global Warming
Too little, too late
Pluralistic World
Cooperation and collaboration
Innovative Edge
Best of all possible worlds
 Implications
What does it mean for...
• Quality professionals
• Organizations and the quality field
• The American Society for Quality
Quality professionals
• The future is bright
• Learn the language of business and
strategic quality
• New skills in: anticipation, change,
innovation and systems
• New languages and cultural
knowledge
• Basic quality tools are here to stay
“I see nothing but blue skies for the quality
professional. There is enough work out
there for all of us. It takes personal
initiative to seek the skills and abilities
associated with the career path we prefer.”
Grace Duffy
Quality consultant and ASQ Fellow
“The development of quality leaders should
include development of critical thinking
skills, strategic thinking, open-mindedness,
predictive modeling, and value creation
analysis."
Cecilia Kimberlin
Vice President, Abbott Laboratories
35 0pportunities a Day
•Everyone has over 35 opportunities a
day to do something differently
•Some people recognize the
opportunities, some don’t
Diversity is the key
Understanding individual styles:
Idea Creator
Idea Embellisher
Idea Perfector
Idea Implementer
Promoting Innovation
•Creating the right climate
•Selecting and using idea generating
techniques
•Selecting ideas for further exploration
Innovative Thinking Tips
•Search for possibilities – not solutions
•Go beyond the first best answer
•Think about your thinking plan
•What tools will you use?
Architecture for
Sustained Innovation
•Shared vision and
strategy
•Environment
supports
•Resource allocation
•Process networks
•Programs
•Skills development
•Rewards and
recognition
•External
stakeholder
innovation
Organizations and the
quality field
•
•
•
•
•
Systems approach to quality
Speed
Anticipation
Change and transformation
Sustainability
“Quality, environmental, safety and health
are all coming together, along with finance
and security. Our profession is no longer
focused only on quality. We use Six Sigma
tools for Sarbanes-Oxley, sales and supply
chain management.”
Dennis Arter
Auditing expert and ASQ Fellow
Getting Leadership to Listen
Make the Economic Case for Quality
ASQ
• ASQ must influence and lead the way
for the quality community
• Implications help with strategic
planning
• Futures Study being used to plan new
offerings and future product/service
portfolios
The Future: Taking Quality in
Bold New Directions
It’s up to you!
• How will you shape
the future of quality
in your own work?
• What skills will you
need to succeed in
the future?
ASQ. Make Good Great™