If you or your company would like to advertise in our monthly newsletter, please contact me directly by clicking one of the links below this picture. Also, see the “Advertising Rates” section further down for ad sizes and associated rates.
Contact Michael Bournazian, Newsletter Editor
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By Michael Bournazian, Eng., Newsletter Editor, ASQ Senior Member, Quality Management Professional, CSSGB with Rolls-Royce
Back in March 2021, I wrote in this very section about the ice storm that had hit Texas. I concluded in the end that it was not really my place to point the finger at the state’s lack of preparedness, given eastern Canada’s lack of preparedness during the 1998 ice storm that affected us 25 years ago (happy silver anniversary!).
In present day Quebec (and Montreal specifically), we experienced an unexpected sense of deja-vu when, low-and-behold, another ice storm hit the area on April 5th. Not as severe as 1998, but still a large proportion of the Montreal region was once again plunged into darkness, which meant no electricity and, unlike in 1998, no Internet as well (yes, I know, the Internet was around in 1998, but without the stranglehold it has on our lives like it does now).
So did Hydro Quebec do a better job of dealing with the emergency this time around compared to 1998? If I strictly look at my own personal situation, I went 4 days with power this time around, as opposed to 2 weeks as I did in 1998. So by those numbers, I should be happy. That of course did not stop me from cursing (loudly in my mind) every 5 minutes or so that my power was still off yet I was seeing other neighbourhoods regain their power almost immediately.
But overall I do feel that Hydro Quebec dealt with this storm better than the previous one, so kudos where they are due for lessons learnt and improvements made. That said, this ice storm took place during the warmer month of April, whereas the 1998 storm occurred in January and continued into February, the veritable “dead of winter”, so not exactly the same “test conditions”. And no, I am not wishing for an ice storm to strike in January 2024 😉
Hopefully by the time you read this, your power has returned and you are back to surfing Internet-style and not sleeping under 2 blankets and wearing 3 layers of clothing. All the best for a warm summer.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Neither the “C” word nor the “P” word were used during the writing of this article.
**********************************************
Any feedback? Click on the link and let me know.
ALSO . . . Please contact me or any one else on the Leadership team if you would like to:
1) Write and submit an article to be published in the Newsletter.
2) Write a review of one of the upcoming monthly webinars for the “Had You Been There” section.
Thank you, all the best and none of the worst.
The Editor’s Corner | Mot de l’éditeur Read More »
By Dr. David Tozer, Ph.D., ASQ CQE and SSBB, Education & Audit Chair.
ASQ Certification often leads to higher paying employment. The money invested in education and certification increases chances of finding employment quickly in the down sizing environment we live in. People who take the section sponsored refresher courses, and spend at least twice as much time as spent in the classroom on self study, have an 80%, or better, chance of passing the examination on the first attempt.
Having ASQ certification gives you an edge in the market and can significantly increase your income.
Courses are now available online as well | Courses now available online
Calendar and Registration Online Form
Questions? Cours en site/In house courses, etc. Contact: Dr. David Tozer (514) 694-2830
ASQ Montreal Section – Education Program 2023 Read More »
By Michael Bournazian, Eng., Newsletter Editor, ASQ Senior Member, Quality Management Professional, CSSGB with Rolls-Royce
Expiry dates. Best before dates. They are in our everyday lives all the time, and as anyone who has done audits during their Quality career knows, they can come up regularly during these activities as well: calibration dates on measuring equipment, expiry dates on chemical products, even certain documents (ex. quality plans, workmanship criteria) may be valid for only a certain period of time or for a certain quantity of product.
But if you have read these posts of mine long enough, you know that I love it when my work life finds a way of barging into my personal life 😉
During my regular weekly grocery shopping recently (March 5, 2023 to be exact), I wanted to buy some Cheez Whiz (yes, I can be a sucker for punishment). I usually buy the light variety with the blue label, however the first jar I grabbed contained the following surprise:
An even bigger surprise was the fact that every single jar that was there (approximately 10 in total) had the same expired Best Before date of February 15, 2023.
Of course, the Quality practitioner in me (as well as someone with a weak stomach) was outraged, although not to the point of losing my cool in the middle of the store. I found the manager on duty and pointed the issue out to him. When I asked him if the grocery store chain had a process on assuring that products with expiry dates get removed once the date is passed, he gave an answer that left me with raised eyebrows . . . “We should”.
I have since raised a customer complaint on the store’s official website and I am awaiting a reply. I know that they are good at responding, as I had raised a complaint back in 2020 when I noticed that some employees were not capable of properly wearing face masks.
We’ll see how this latest complaint (aka FINDING, in AuditorSpeak) gets resolved. In the meantime, you don’t really need Cheez Whiz in your diet, right?
EDITOR’S NOTE: Neither the “C” word nor the “P” word were used during the writing of this article.
**********************************************
Any feedback? Click on the link and let me know.
ALSO . . . Please contact me or any one else on the Leadership team if you would like to:
1) Write and submit an article to be published in the Newsletter.
2) Write a review of one of the upcoming monthly webinars for the “Had You Been There” section.
Thank you, all the best and none of the worst.
The Editor’s Corner | Mot de l’éditeur Read More »
By Dr. David Tozer, Ph.D., ASQ CQE and SSBB, Education & Audit Chair.
Would you like to work with others to prepare for ASQ examinations? We have a Teams based section study group that is open every Tuesday evening from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm, starting January 17, 2023.
Join the team and get to help each other. Contact the host Dr. David Tozer, Montreal Section Education Chair, to obtain a link.
Aimeriez-vous travailler avec d’autres personnes pour préparer les examens de l’ASQ ? Nous avons un groupe d’étude Teams ouvert tous les mardis soirs de 19 h à 20 h 30, à partir du 17 janvier 2023.
Rejoignez l’équipe et aidez-vous mutuellement. Contactez l’hôte, Dr. David Tozer, président de l’éducation de la section de Montréal, pour obtenir un lien.
ASQ Certification Study Group Read More »
By Dr. David Tozer, Ph.D., ASQ CQE and SSBB, Education & Audit Chair.
ASQ Certification often leads to higher paying employment. The money invested in education and certification increases chances of finding employment quickly in the down sizing environment we live in. People who take the section sponsored refresher courses, and spend at least twice as much time as spent in the classroom on self study, have an 80%, or better, chance of passing the examination on the first attempt.
Having ASQ certification gives you an edge in the market and can significantly increase your income.
Courses are now available online as well | Courses now available online
Calendar and Registration Online Form
Questions? Cours en site/In house courses, etc. Contact: Dr. David Tozer (514) 694-2830
ASQ Montreal Section – Education Program 2023 Read More »
If you or your company would like to advertise in our monthly newsletter, please contact me directly by clicking one of the links below this picture. Also, see the “Advertising Rates” section further down for ad sizes and associated rates.
Contact Michael Bournazian, Newsletter Editor
Advertising Space for Rent | Espace publicitaire à louer Read More »
By Michael Bournazian, Eng., Newsletter Editor, ASQ Senior Member, Quality Management Professional, CSSGB
ASQ will be holding their World Conference on Quality & Improvement very shortly (May 7-10, 2023) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and it will be “In Person”.
If you wish to have more information or to register, please click HERE.
World Conference on Quality & Improvement (May 7-10, 2023) Read More »
By Dr. David Tozer, Ph.D., ASQ CQE and SSBB, Education & Audit Chair.
Would you like to work with others to prepare for ASQ examinations? We have a Teams based section study group that is open every Tuesday evening from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm, starting January 17, 2023.
Join the team and get to help each other. Contact the host Dr. David Tozer, Montreal Section Education Chair, to obtain a link.
Aimeriez-vous travailler avec d’autres personnes pour préparer les examens de l’ASQ ? Nous avons un groupe d’étude Teams ouvert tous les mardis soirs de 19 h à 20 h 30, à partir du 17 janvier 2023.
Rejoignez l’équipe et aidez-vous mutuellement. Contactez l’hôte, Dr. David Tozer, président de l’éducation de la section de Montréal, pour obtenir un lien.
ASQ Certification Study Group Read More »
If you or your company would like to advertise in our monthly newsletter, please contact me directly by clicking one of the links below this picture. Also, see the “Advertising Rates” section further down for ad sizes and associated rates.
Contact Michael Bournazian, Newsletter Editor
Advertising Space for Rent | Espace publicitaire à louer Read More »
By Michael Bournazian, Eng., Newsletter Editor, ASQ Senior Member, Quality Management Professional, CSSGB
ASQ will be holding a Lean and Six Sigma Conference next month (February 26-28, 2023) in Phoenix, Arizona, and it will be “In Person”.
If you wish to have more information or to register, please click HERE.
Lean and Six Sigma Conference (February 26-28, 2023) Read More »
By Dr. David Tozer, Ph.D., ASQ CQE and SSBB, Education & Audit Chair.
ASQ Certification often leads to higher paying employment. The money invested in education and certification increases chances of finding employment quickly in the down sizing environment we live in. People who take the section sponsored refresher courses, and spend at least twice as much time as spent in the classroom on self study, have an 80%, or better, chance of passing the examination on the first attempt.
Having ASQ certification gives you an edge in the market and can significantly increase your income.
Courses are now available online as well | Courses now available online
Calendar and Registration Online Form
Questions? Cours en site/In house courses, etc. Contact: Dr. David Tozer (514) 694-2830
ASQ Montreal Section – Education Program 2023 Read More »
By Michael Bournazian, Eng., Newsletter Editor, ASQ Senior Member, Quality Management Professional, CSSGB
When we talk about QUALITY in our domain, it more often than not involves the quality of the parts we manufacture or the services we provide. Fair enough, but many other things require similar focus and energy, one of those things being QUALITY OF LIFE.
A friend of mine (both on and off Facebook) recently posted the following statement, in advance of the bone-chillingly cold days we had in Quebec at the start of February 2023:
“I typically don’t mind winter, but we’re getting to the portion of the program that always makes me question certain life choices”.
Aside from the laugh it gave me, it did make me think about how we all make big, important choices during the course of one’s life: what career to have, buying a home, getting married, where to live, etc. And in the end, all of these choices will affect your quality of life.
My life philosophy for many years has been: get up each day, be grateful that you got up, and do your best with whatever the day brings. Or perhaps worded differently . . . today, have the best quality of life that you can.
Does this mean that my quality of life each day is excellent? Hardly. But it does mean that I will do my utmost to have the best day possible. I don’t know who said it first, but the expression “Every day above ground is a good day” is one that I fully subscribe to.
Was the recent cold snap fun? You guessed it . . . hardly. But I got through it, and if you are reading this, so did you.
So congratulations on having the best quality of life you could under those circumstances.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Neither the “C” word nor the “P” word were used during the writing of this article.
**********************************************
Any feedback? Click on the link and let me know.
ALSO . . . Please contact me or any one else on the Leadership team if you would like to:
1) Write and submit an article to be published in the Newsletter.
2) Write a review of one of the upcoming monthly webinars for the “Had You Been There” section.
Thank you, all the best and none of the worst.
The Editor’s Corner | Mot de l’éditeur Read More »
By Michael Bournazian, Eng., Newsletter Editor, ASQ Senior Member, Quality Management Professional, CSSGB
Late last year, I helped organize and participated in a 2-day Supplier Quality workshop in my company. One of the things that I did at the start of each day’s sessions was to present a safety moment. On Day 1, I presented a one-pager on safe driving habits during the winter season, timely as we were about to enter the snowy season. On Day 2, I focused on safe practices when dealing with hazardous materials in the workplace.
More and more when I attend workshops, all-hands presentations, etc., I find that these events are starting with safety moments. And it is good to see, for in my humble opinion, there is plenty of crossover between Safety and Quality, whether it be during our working time or our personal time.
So going forward in 2023 and beyond, please do your best to assure your own personal safety in anything you do, as I am sure no one would want to be the subject of the headline below, which caught my eye as I was starting my first day of work in 2023.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Neither the “C” word nor the “P” word were used during the writing of this article.
**********************************************
Any feedback? Click on the link and let me know.
ALSO . . . Please contact me or any one else on the Leadership team if you would like to:
1) Write and submit an article to be published in the Newsletter.
2) Write a review of one of the upcoming monthly webinars for the “Had You Been There” section.
Thank you, all the best and none of the worst.
The Editor’s Corner | Mot de l’éditeur Read More »
By Dr. David Tozer, Ph.D., ASQ CQE and SSBB, Education & Audit Chair.
Would you like to work with others to prepare for ASQ examinations? We have a Teams based section study group that is open every Tuesday evening from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm, starting January 17, 2023.
Join the team and get to help each other. Contact the host Dr. David Tozer, Montreal Section Education Chair, to obtain a link.
Aimeriez-vous travailler avec d’autres personnes pour préparer les examens de l’ASQ ? Nous avons un groupe d’étude Teams ouvert tous les mardis soirs de 19 h à 20 h 30, à partir du 17 janvier 2023.
Rejoignez l’équipe et aidez-vous mutuellement. Contactez l’hôte, Dr. David Tozer, président de l’éducation de la section de Montréal, pour obtenir un lien.
ASQ Certification Study Group Read More »
By Dr. David Tozer, Ph.D., ASQ CQE and SSBB, Education & Audit Chair.
ASQ Certification often leads to higher paying employment. The money invested in education and certification increases chances of finding employment quickly in the down sizing environment we live in. People who take the section sponsored refresher courses, and spend at least twice as much time as spent in the classroom on self study, have an 80%, or better, chance of passing the examination on the first attempt.
Having ASQ certification gives you an edge in the market and can significantly increase your income.
Courses are now available online as well | Courses now available online
Calendar and Registration Form
Questions? Cours en site/In house courses, etc. Contact: Dr. David Tozer (514) 694-2830
ASQ Montreal Section – Education Program 2023 Read More »
If you or your company would like to advertise in our monthly newsletter, please contact me directly by clicking one of the links below this picture. Also, see the “Advertising Rates” section further down for ad sizes and associated rates.
Contact Michael Bournazian, Newsletter Editor
Advertising Space for Rent | Espace publicitaire à louer Read More »
By Michael Bournazian, Eng., Newsletter Editor, ASQ Senior Member, Quality Management Professional, CSSGB
ASQ will be holding a Lean and Six Sigma Conference next month (February 26-28, 2023) in Phoenix, Arizona, and it will be “In Person”.
If you wish to have more information or to register, please click HERE.
Lean and Six Sigma Conference (February 26-28, 2023) Read More »