Quality Progress - American Society for Quality

Although, this document was originally constructed to assist in the definition of an
aerospace program, it serves well when constructing a business? operating system. The
manual is not a ?1,2,3 cookbook? of how to, but the framework is there, and it is
compatible with the requirements of the ISO International Standards. The same
framework is available in the ISO International Standard 9000, if one will take the time
for analyses. Every business has a management system, documented or implied, to
eliminate waste, confusion and lost profit, and an orderly progress of processes
throughout the manufacturing cycle, in all departments, is vital to a company?s success.
Each task in the cycle must be identified, and an input, process and output established.
Once you have identified the system, the requirements of the various standards may be
considered and integrated. From this established flow of information, parts and materials
and process findings, the necessary manuals, procedures and work instructions may be
prepared for the TMS.
Ted Hillberg
tedhillberg@adelphia.net
17182 Letter: Quality Cannot Prevent Corporate Misconduct
ASQ Staff
Oct-23-03
I do not believe quality can prevent corporate misconduct! Only ethical people acting
responsibly can do that. The article "Ethics, Auditing and Enron" (Dennis Arter and J.P.
Russell, October 2003, p. 34) demonstrates there are more Enrons and Arthur Andersens
lurking out there in a variety of Industries and Professions. Why should the insurance
industry push for "some sort of self-evaluation privilege"? unless they expect to have
self-evaluations carried out which expose practices and procedures that are less than
minimally acceptable, but which they do not plan on correcting or improving or
abandoning? How in the world can it be demonstrated that "the auditee failed to act on
noncompliance areas identified in an audit report," when there is no routine availability
of the self-evaluation findings? There is only one way: the auditor becomes a whistle
blower with all the career jeopardy that entails. So, four states including mine have
already erected data shields for the insurance industry. I've taught managerial ethics at
the undergraduate level. Be assured the great majority of my students, once made aware
of the implications of whistleblowing on the person's career, were unable to commit to
becoming whistle blowers. I cannot recall one instance prior to Enron & A.A. where
ASQ or Quality Progress criticized the auditing firm for also having a consulting firm
serving the same company. Was that merely lack of foresight or blind faith in the
responsible nature of CPA firms? That is why I believe quality auditing will not solve the
ills of some corporate managements.
Glenn S. Wilson
Woodstown, NJ
gwilson@clementpappas.com