For Immediate Release

ASQ Announces Enhancements to Online Community

Users Can Create Networks and Connect With Quality Professionals

Milwaukee, Wis., October 15, 2009 — ASQ (American Society for Quality) is providing quality professionals with a new, enhanced online community to foster professional connections and share best practices. Composed of blogs and topic-based networks, the new community can be accessed by ASQ members and nonmembers at http://community.asq.org or by visiting the ASQ homepage, www.asq.org, and clicking "Communities and Networking" in the left navigation field.

One benefit of the new online community is the ability for quality professionals to easily create their own networks, connecting with peers who share the same interests, industry or geographic location. By joining a network, users are able to upload and share files, post comments and even instant message members of the group. Other new features of the online community include:

• User profiles — Participants can create custom profiles based on several categories that include: interests, expertise, and job function. Profiles are transparent, allowing users to highlight their skills and abilities and share it with the community.
• Single sign-on — To create a seamless user experience, once users log in to the community Web site, they will not need to log in separately to access additional features.
• Reviews and rating system — Community members can rate and post comments on pages, profiles, groups, uploaded files, and blogs. Users can provide reviews about what information is most useful to them, which can be helpful for new community members seeking assistance.
• Member listings — Connect with others in the community to grow networks. Using the "Find Others" feature, participants can search for members based on photographs and other key descriptors.
• Events, calendar integration — This feature allows users to set and find events within the community. Compatible with external calendaring software (i.e., Google Calendar, Outlook Calendar, etc.), it will also allow online participants to schedule offline events.

"Knowledge sharing, and providing tools to connect and advance the quality community, are critical to our mission," said Paul Borawski, ASQ executive director and chief strategic officer. "As ASQ expands its global reach, these networks will provide a way for quality professionals to develop connections with peers around the world."

"New to Quality" Network
The "New to Quality" network is the most recent addition to ASQ’s online community. Those new to the quality profession can use this network to learn about the tools, processes and ideas that comprise quality and how it can help them develop their job skills and advance their careers.

ASQ, www.asq.org, has been the world’s leading authority on quality for more than 60 years. With more than 85,000 individual and organizational members, the professional association advances learning, quality improvement and knowledge exchange to improve business results and to create better workplaces and communities worldwide. As champion of the quality movement, ASQ offers technologies, concepts, tools and training to quality professionals, quality practitioners and everyday consumers. ASQ has been the sole administrator of the prestigious Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award since 1991. Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wis., ASQ is a founding sponsor of the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI).