ASQ should have an option for members to opt out of receiving the Quality Progress Magazine. I find most of the issues totally useless and irrelevant. The magazine goes to the recycle bin in less than 10 minutes.
If ASQ could reduce the number of printed magazines and all other useless mail they send to the membership, not only they could reduce their operating costs, but contribute to less waste, and, thus, becoming a more environmentally responsible organization.

Excellent suggestion, Sid. I, too, do not get much out of QP. Usually sits on my counter for a few days, then into the bin.

Some of them are pretty good; some of them are not useful at all to me.

I get the feeling 1/2 the magazine is for self-promotion (certifications and the like).

They could take the money they spend in the magazine, and invest in some decent discussion board software.

I get the feeling 1/2 the magazine is for self-promotion (certifications and the like).
Only half? I guess I'm getting old. It's almost always warmed over stuff I already know and understand. I will say that is one reason I am not an ASQ proponent. I believe most of the purpose of the ASQ organization is self promotion and outright profit.

How much do they take off dues if we 'Opt Out' of receiving the physical printed magazine?

ASQ does have an "Associate Member" level.

You get electronic access to QP, but no hard copy.
You aren't automatically a member of a section, but you can add one for a small fee.
You get access to ASQ discussion boards
You get discounts on books and certification exams (often worth the price just for that)
This is the level I am at the moment. It is only ~$70 instead of teh regular ~$120

Tim F

It is only ~$70 instead of teh regular ~$120
Do you remember how much the dues were last year? They raised the dues again this year, didn't they? I *think* they've raised dues the last 2 years. I may be wrong.

ASQ does have an "Associate Member" level.

This is the level I am at the moment. It is only ~$70 instead of teh regular ~$120

Tim F

Thanks Tim for the reminder about this option. I'll probably take advantage of the reduced price this renewal. There isn't much point in paying the full price given my current situation. I've been much more involved in the operations/lean side of things the last 5/6 years, and have been focusing much more on the APICS meetings and certifications.

I still recognize the importance of quality, so I'll keep my membership, but for how much longer is up in the air. ASQ doesn't seem to have a focus anymore and seems to be more watered down. Like other comments, QP has become more of a 8-10 minute exercise in browsing. The Lean Enterprise division in hindsight isn't really worthwhile, as there are already organizations which offer excellent training and have well regarded programs.

I just hope you aren't expecting a cut from my savings Tim. I would like to pass on my employer's appreciation regarding this cost saving measure though. :D

Wayne

There are three things missing (that I have noticed) as an assiciate member.

No hardcopy of QP (although ASQ was nice enough to send me a copy of the May issue with my article in it :)).
No voting rights, which was a slight concern last election when I wanted to make my protest vote for anyone other than the "establishment" candidates.
Must be a regular member for 1+ years to apply for senior membership. Not a big deal for me right now.

Even though my membership is reimbursable I still see no personal value in it even at half the cost.

Do you remember how much the dues were last year? They raised the dues again this year, didn't they? I *think* they've raised dues the last 2 years. I may be wrong.

I think they creep up a bit each year.

For the record, I like the magazine, thought the articles are only sometimes useful. Quality Digest is a little better. Maybe they could merge. I like the fact that Quality Digest is available electronically instead.

I think we need to support ASQ. Each industry needs an organization. We should just try to get it to be more useful. My local chapter seems pretty relevant. A good group of folks. Don't have much exposure to National, however.

This missive is in response to the recent comments on Quality Progress Magazine and prior comments on ASQ.

ASQ started in 1946. (Coincidentally their phone number is 800-248-1946.)
I joined as a student member in 1950. while a student at Penn State, for $3.50 per year. I took a semester course in Statistical Quality Control using E. L. Grant’s book by the same title. Now I are one and have been in the game ever since. People from the “old” school; Joe Juran, Phil Crosby, Armand V. Feigenbaum, Ed Schrock, Dorian Shainin, to name a few I have met, were my mentors . I may be actively retired, but I still do audits and source inspection in the manufacturing arena.

Concerning membership in a professional organization, my opinion is that if one is a professional, membership in a corresponding organization should complement the person and the resume.

A quote from the comments about the Quality Progress magazine: I guess I'm getting old. It's almost always warmed over stuff I already know and understand.
To paraphrase this, I am old but back in my early life in this quality game, this was all new and exciting. I hope it is that to the novices entering the game today. I point the people I come across in my part time quality activities to the Cove forum web page. I consider the discussions of the various subjects stimulating. It enhances this comment -"THAT IS WHAT LEARNING IS. - YOU SUDDENLY UNDERSTAND SOMETHING YOU'VE UNDERSTOOD ALL YOUR LIFE, BUT IN A NEW WAY. Doris Lessing.
I summarize this discussion with the following quotes, which I consider appropriate in the professional and personal world.
"The problem of quality management is not what people don't know about it. The problem is what they think they do know."— Philip Crosby – An equivalent to this quote is – People know what they do; some people know why they do it; but, what most people don’t know is what they do, does.
I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands. You need to be able to throw something back. -Maya Angelou, poet (1928- )
"Stay committed to your decisions, but stay flexible in your approach." -- Anthony Robbins
Respectfully submitted,
Fred W. Bernstine

Nice post, Fred. Welcome to the Cove!


Hello Fellow Covers,

So far all the posts in this thread have been negative about ASQ.
I understand the points that are made and concerns that were raised.

But, does anyone have any suggestions how ASQ can be improved?
How they can better serve their members?
Or, is there even a future for ASQ?

Stijloor.

P.S. I am a long-time ASQ member.

You bring up a good question. The answer is "yes" there are several people working in small ways to try to advance ASQ. There is a small group of discussion board participants (headed by Bill Pflanz-thanks Bill) to offer suggestions and improvements for the discussion board to ASQ. In my short tenure, so far it's been quite frustrating. Wes Bucey has more experience on that one than I.

To Sidney's original point. I'm not saying the articles are not good. Quite the contrary; I have enjoyed several of them. But does ASQ have to send the magazine to everybody? Maybe get a choice of that or Quality Digest. Or make it available just online.

Only half? I guess I'm getting old. It's almost always warmed over stuff I already know and understand. I will say that is one reason I am not an ASQ proponent. I believe most of the purpose of the ASQ organization is self promotion and outright profit.

How much do they take off dues if we 'Opt Out' of receiving the physical printed magazine?

Spoken like a longtime Quality professional. What about the newbies? Some 2nd year inspector could gain quite a bit of knowledge and (hopefully) wisdom from some of those articles. There probably few publications Marc that are going to enlighten YOU with new and enlightening knowledge. The idea is to continually educate the masses by providing old warmed over stuff for the younger professionals and new cutting edge stuff for the old codgers (I mean VERY experienced). :notme:

There are things ASQ could be better at. I think educating the lower Quality levels is one of them. Let's not be dissing them for one of the (not enough)things they are doing right. :D

All, I have split this thread into two discussions: Keeping the current thread, and creating a new thread for discussions of certifications and ASQ.

http://elsmar.com/Forums/showthread.php?t=22224

:topic:

This thread has kinda gotten off topic - just want to bring us back to focus. Sid has a great suggestion for us "old timers", and I have to agree with many of the comments from some of our younger members. Lots of info for the newbies.

For example - I have been in the Quality field since I was 19. Up until about 4 years ago - I had never been through the PPAP process. But - I knew what it was because I would read articles published in the trade magazines.

So, today I may not get much out of QP or any other magazine - but our younger friends might.

Just my :2cents:.

:topic:

This thread has kinda gotten off topic - just want to bring us back to focus. Sid has a great suggestion for us "old timers", and I have to agree with many of the comments from some of our younger members. Lots of info for the newbies.

For example - I have been in the Quality field since I was 19. Up until about 4 years ago - I had never been through the PPAP process. But - I knew what it was because I would read articles published in the trade magazines.

So, today I may not get much out of QP or any other magazine - but our younger friends might.

Just my :2cents:.

Carol, great minds think alike!!

Let's be clear... Some excellent discussion has been made on the value of ASQ and certifications. It is not to be discouraged; rather, carried on another thread.

We were hijacking Sidney's post about the magazine.

:topic:

This thread has kinda gotten off topic - just want to bring us back to focus. Sid has a great suggestion for us "old timers", and I have to agree with many of the comments from some of our younger members. Lots of info for the newbies.

For example - I have been in the Quality field since I was 19. Up until about 4 years ago - I had never been through the PPAP process. But - I knew what it was because I would read articles published in the trade magazines.

So, today I may not get much out of QP or any other magazine - but our younger friends might.

Just my :2cents:.

Sorry, :o

I do agree though that it would be nice if ASQ offered the option to ONLY receive QP electronically.

Thanks Tim for the reminder about this option. I'll probably take advantage of the reduced price this renewal. There isn't much point in paying the full price given my current situation.Wayne, if you mean by your "current situation" that you are not currently employed, I believe, ASQ will extend your membership for a year without charge.

Sorry, :o

I do agree though that it would be nice if ASQ offered the option to ONLY receive QP electronically.

Briz - no applolgy needed - in fact - you inspired me to get this thread back on topic. You mentioned some great reminders in your post about the newer memebers to our field.

To those like Wes and Jim and others that are active on the ASQ board - has the idea of an electronic version been discussed?

Briz - no applolgy needed - in fact - you inspired me to get this thread back on topic. You mentioned some great reminders in your post about the newer memebers to our field.

To those like Wes and Jim and others that are active on the ASQ board - has the idea of an electronic version been discussed?

I'm sure that ASQ sells advertising with rates based on circulation, like all other commercial publications. If the circulation were suddenly and significantly diminished, advertising revenue would follow. I think that before ASQ would consider allowing members to opt out of the hard copy, they would reasonably need to be able to replace the lost revenue, or just decide to give it up for the sake of "greenness." Neither is very likely.

Wayne, if you mean by your "current situation" that you are not currently employed, I believe, ASQ will extend your membership for a year without charge.

No, definitely employed, just not "directly" in quality. Nor have I been in the "quality" department or field for the last few years. My focus has been on the operations and lean side of things.

I still recognize the importance of quality, and as such will maintain my membership. I'll do this if for nothing else as to have access to information should the need arise. I still think it is important to keep up to date when your dealing with people in that field.

I don't see ASQ as being the "go to" source for Lean. There are organizations out there with much more developed programs and better sources of knowledge. I also think that it moves ASQ away from what earned it the respect it had previously.

I may eventually let my membership lapse in ASQ and use the Cove as the sole source. I think the Cove has a great array of knowledge in the people who participate in this forum. These people are also solving "real life" problems and not just presenting theories, or trying to spin old methods into new streams of revenue.

Wayne

I do not know about everyone else but I would rather have a slick magazine in my hand rather than looking at a screen. It just does not feel right:D. We have a recycling program that we try to pass on magazines to others and then we have a recycle box for them. I guess that it is just a mindset.