The thread about lean mfg at the cove leads me to this.

Most of us older cove denizens know the time energy and sweat that Mark has put into this.
The server upgrades, :frust:
changes in software, :frust:
flame wars, :frust:
etc etc etc :frust: :frust: :frust:

And yet he persevered. And what has he created along with the many contributers?
A university of peers. learning from each other, respecting, sharing, laughing, crying, and even arguing sometimes.

So jump in everyone - especially you lurkers who rarely if ever post - and thank Mark, and each other - - -
What have you learned, who has helped you the most, Why do you keep coming back?

Lets make this the longest thread ever filled with the great things about the cove. :thanx:

James

Well done you guys, got my present job thanks to the information retrieved from the Cove.
Paul

:agree1: The Cove is a unique and valuable resource, and Marc is deserving of our collective thanks for creating and maintaining it.:applause:

Yes! Best thread subject in a good while :agree1: This place is providing great value.

/Claes

I would be delighted to add my thanks to what Marc (and associates) have built here. It is an excellent forum with the ability to communicate all over the world in a matter of hours. Very useful! And a little addictive!

I just need to learn how to use all the neat little features.

Applause, Applause!

The free stuff you handed out in the early years of The Cove, were great starters for me. It is because of that free sharing that I try to give whenever I can. Thanks for all your efforts! Thanks for those today who continue to give me good direction and help!

Doug

I would like to add my sincere thanks to Marc for developing and implementing the world's best quality related resource. The ability to have discourse on this scale is the best, and a tremendous help to me also.

Thanks Marc :applause:

I don't have more words to express my thanks to Elsmar and Marc. But I can say without any doubt that whatever the knowledge and understanding about ISO, QMS,EMS, Lean, Kaizen, TPS, FPS, Problem Solving etc. etc. is mainly (About 65%) due to this wonderful Forum and your all Efforts.

With Best Regards,

Manoj Mathur

Well done you guys, got my present job thanks to the information retrieved from the Cove.
Paul

WHAT A GREAT WAY TO START OFF THE THREAD - THANKS -

James

Thank you, thank you, thank you, Marc! The cove has been a definite life line for me. :thanx:

I don't even know where to begin. I have gained so much from this site. I know that the knowledge I have gleaned (as well as all of the various attachments that I have taken advantage of) has enabled me to be much better at my job than I really am. But the greatest value I have received is the increase in my base of friends.

Marc, thanks for dedicating time to manage this site - you have enrichened all of our lives.

Posters (brothers and sisters all), thank you for taking the time to share your wealth of experience and knowledge.
:applause: :applause: :applause:

I have frequented some other forums in the past.

This is certainly the best to be found.

Thanks Marc for that -

In almost all reactions people stay positive.
I found help here on several occasions and I hope I have given something back as well in replying.
It's great to know that back up is available worldwide.

Best regards,

Antoine

I have gained much, much more from my time at the Cove than I have given, and for all of the knowledge gained the best part is the interaction with smart, witty, people who are willing to share and willing to learn.

Thanks a million, Marc.

My only regret regarding the cove, is not finding it sooner - especially before we decided to upgrade our QMS to ISO/TS 16949.

I appreciate the knowledge and expertise that the many contributors freely share here, and agree with Craig H. that I have gained more from the time shared than I have given.

Marc - many thanks for creating this unique resource.

My only regret regarding the cove, is not finding it sooner - especially before we decided to upgrade our QMS to ISO/TS 16949. ......



Kevin,
Understand completely. But sometimes I think we bring more to the table having made the mistakes ourselves.

James

To lampoon the Virginia Slims commercials of yesteryear:
"You've come a long way, baby!"

Bravo and a standing ovation to Marc and to his brothers and sisters in quality who have made this site possible. I, too, feel fortunate to part of this great community of learning and sharing. Deming would be proud!

--QG

:thanx:

The Elsmar Cove Forum is like finding an oasis in the desert. Well, that's how it was for me. Marc, again :applause: :applause: :applause: THANK YOU!

I can't thank Marc enough for the tremendous amount of information available here. And to everyone else here who posts such valuable information- thank you for helping me as much as you have.

Count me in. There could not be a more resourceful resource.

I'm not sure what brought this on, But... You can all pat yourselves on the back. You're the ones doing most of the 'work' these days.

I think that the main aspect of the forum is the community and the truly altruistic manner in which every one acts.
Marc's greatness is that so many people from one of the most unloved professions are able, willing, happy, to help others which was his idea all those years ago.
:thanx: to Marc
:thanx: to the regulars
:thanx: to the newbies
:thanx: to you all

Marc, The Cove is exactly what I needed when I found it three years ago, and it continues to be my port in the storm today. When the ASQ Leadership was asked to envision what a community was, I immediately envisioned The Cove. Thank you so much for perservering through all the hardships and scary points so that this community of quality professionals can continue to talk to, support, and learn from each other.

The Cove is my best quality resource, and my # 1 quality tool. When asked: "Who's Yo Daddy?" I respond with your name! :yes:

You can all pat yourselves on the back. You're the ones doing most of the 'work' these days.That may be.... but you provided the clubhouse.:D

/Claes

Let me add my :2cents: ! Marc, you are da man! I haven't spent a whole lot of time replying to threads lately due to getting thrown in to our 14001 certification efforts, but I sure have always been able to count on all our members for help when I needed it. I have taken little bits of information from lots of people to make our QMS, and now our EMS work. I just spent four days of audits, 2 environmental and 2 quality. Our auditor upgraded our preassessment in environmental to a stage 1, leaving us to only complete our stage 2 for certification in 14001, and we had NO!!! nonconformances in our QMS. I was worried about QMS after spending the last 10 months focusing on environmental and feeling guilty about quality. Marc, without you giving us all a place to meet, I don't think I'd be nearly as effective as I've been. Thank you.

What can anyone say about this site except wow! For someone like myself with no formal education in quality, this is a great resource for information!!

:applause: :applause: :applause:

I'm still at the bottom end of the learning curve, at times still wondering whats going on.... but in the short time I've been "lurking" in the cove, I too have learnt much. Would like to join in with the others to thank you and applaud you Marc. Great concept that Elsmar is.

Its a :cool: site :agree1:

I'm not sure what brought this on, But... You can all pat yourselves on the back. You're the ones doing most of the 'work' these days.

Marc - Your brainchild (the Cove) has been a haven for many of us. I would just like to say thanks for what you have done here. This place is always current, never stale or sterile, and is the single best source for things Quality related. Many of the methods & ideas that have been shared here have ended up becoming a significant part of the "Business Operating System" in alot of companies.
:thanks: :thanx: :thanks: :thanx:

Let me add my appreciation for Marc and the Cove. I've learned many useful things I have been able to put to use at work, been privileged to assist others in a small way, have enjoyed a great interchange with many wonderful people, have had my self-esteem boosted, been able to vent on some sticky quality issues and concepts, and many other benefits to numerous to mention.

And the sign of a great leader, Marc, is being able to foster beneficial communication and leadership qualities in others; to keep the engine running while allowing others to ride shotgun, man the hoses, and lift the ladders.

Great job, great site! :applause: :applause: :applause:

It doesn't seem that it was sooo long ago that I did a search for QS and found a site that was "Under construction". As Wes said you've come a long way.
Thanks Marc and fellow covers for all the help.

What they said.....:applause: :agree1:

Hooray for Marc and the Cove!

I too wish that I found this site sooner. I appreciate the generosity with which people share their knowledge and opinions. Definitely the best Quality resource on the net.

I again want to say I appreciate the thread and all your thoughts. While I will take credit for getting the site online in 1996 and for the first few years providing content, since then it is many of you folks who make the site and forums what they are. From the moderators to all the people who contribute by helping others with answers to their questions, not to mention those who have contributed $ to keep the site online, it is all of you who deserve the Thank You's.

Yes, Claes, I provide the 'clubhouse', but it is you folks - The people who visit and participate, who make it what it is and keep it going.

My Thanks to all of you! The site will have been online for 10 years this coming 5 January - Hopefully it will be online for a few more years.

I again want to say I appreciate the thread and all your thoughts. While I will take credit for getting the site online in 1996 and for the first few years providing content, since then it is many of you folks who make the site and forums what they are. From the moderators to all the people who contribute by helping others with answers to their questions, not to mention those who have contributed $ to keep the site online, it is all of you who deserve the Thank You's.

Yes, Claes, I provide the 'clubhouse', but it is you folks - The people who visit and participate, who make it what it is and keep it going.

My Thanks to all of you! The site will have been online for 10 years this coming 5 January - Hopefully it will be online for a few more years.

Marc,
You are too modest. I have been here off and on for a while and have seen some of the trials you've had to deal with.
You are right that this board is populated with many excellent regulars who have given generously to those of us in need but, as we in quality know, the system eminates from the top.
Your leadership has been the greatest single factor in making this place what it is today.
The single finest website for quality discourse on the web.

And no I don't believe I am overstating it.

James