January 2000 • Table of Contents

21 Voices for the 21st Century (PDF, 232 KB)
Original thinkers from a variety of industries, economic sectors and countries talk candidly about where they think performance excellence is headed in the new millennium. As quality grapples with the evolution from the Industrial Age to the Information Age, their ideas suggest ways in which the profession will transform itself.

TEAMING UP FOR EXCELLENCE

Making Teams Work (PDF, 120 KB)
Through experience, the Bureau of Labor Statistics learned what works and what doesn't when an organization is moving to a team based environment. Seven pivotal issues are explained.
SUSAN ADAMS AND LEDA KYDONIEFS

THE COST OF QUALITY

Is Quality Free or Profitable? (PDF, 60 KB)
When the revenue side is considered, a firm's optimal quality level increases beyond the minimum cost level indicated in traditional models. If external social benefit is included, the justification to improve quality is even greater.
JON R. MILLER AND JOHN S. MORRIS

LEADERSHIP

Decision Traps (PDF, 103 KB)
Experience can lead to a collection of rules to guide decision making in manufacturing operations. But if these rules are followed blindly, problems may occur.
SEYDA DELIGONUL

POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

Research: The Key to Quality Policies and Procedures (PDF, 68 KB)
A quality manager needs a research plan and the assistance of an experienced policies and procedures writer before rolling out a new program such as ISO 9000 registration.
STEPHEN B. PAGE

QP Internet Bonuses

Up Front
Of magazines and metrics.

QP Mailbag
Two-location gauge evaluation, ethics, variability and replication, prevention vs. correction, Six Sigma and other reader comments.

ASQ News
Baldrige winners, profile of the inspector of the year, QP's online quality survey, staffing collaboration with Manpower, QuEST Forum meeting, more.

Keeping Current
International measurement agreement, ISO 9000:2000 transition program, call for statisticians, food chemistry requirements, Cyberquality, more.

Quality Web Watch

Frontiers of Quality
The debut of a new monthly column by Mikel Harry of the Six Sigma Academy.

Measure for Measure
Careful interpolation yields useful information.

QP Toolbox

Standards Outlook
A context for ISO 9001 and ISO 9004.

Emerging Sectors
Service organizations increasingly adopt the Baldrige model.

Career Corner

QP Reviews

QP Calendar

One Good Idea
Process capability: Understanding the concept.