The Original "Introductions" Thread started in 2001 and split off October 2009

I'll give this a shot.

Name:
Freeda Hoeweler (very German)

Job Title or explanation of what you do:
My job title is Quality Engineering Technician, which is not representive of what I do. I pretty much maintain our QS registration. I am pretty much your average pee-on.

Industry your in or have been in:

We make metal and plastic components for a variety of different companies. Both automotive and non-automotive.

Company you work for & location:
I work for a machine shop in Southern Indiana (across the river from Louisville, KY). We occupy the old Louisville Slugger factory. Yes, until 5 years ago Louisville Slugger bats were made in Indiana.

Length of time in quality function: Unlike most you, I have pretty much started in the quality game. I have been in it for only 6 years.

Something personal that sets you apart: Not too much except, I am very tall and have a lot of red hair.

Your pet peeve in quality: My pet peeve is that upper management thinks that quality is the responsibility of the quality department. When they don't hold the mfg. department accountable for the quality of the parts they run.

If you could change the world of quality, what would you do: I'll have to get back with you on that one.

Don't believe I'll be able to top Randy, but here it goes.

1. Name: Daniel Edward De Yarman (French, well De Yarman is anyway)

2. Job title: Quality Assurance Coordinator - All the responsibility and none of the authority of the Management Representative.

3. Industry: Custom Automated Industrial Machinery

4. Company and location: Acro Automation Systems, Inc. (QS-9000 TE registered) - Glendale (suburb of Milwaukee), WI

5. Time in quality: grueling, almost two years

6. What sets me apart (condensed version): I am a Christian, which helps me to realize there are more important things in life than "quality assurance". I am quite young, only 25(as of last week), and have no college degree. I was offered this position after a registrar and consultant had been picked and it was my job to make sure we got registered. We did so in a little over a year. I pretty much learned as I went along. Took a few good courses along the way, though.

7. Pet peeve: Lack of management support or management turning a deaf ear to what is really going on (penny wise, dollar stupid).

8. What I would change: Put everybody in someone else's shoes for one week so they can see how there actions or lack there of make a difference, not just in terms of quality, but of the bottom line.

I also appreciate this website, I've learned a lot from all of you here. And I will continue to contribute my knowledge and adivce for as long as I am in the quality arena.

[BRoyal]

1. Ben Royal
2. Quality engineer in CPI group; also site 5S trainer
3. Formerly in rockets(General Dynamics and Loockheed Martin), now in PCB assembly
4. Solectron Technology, Charlotte, NC
5. 14 years as a quality engineer/auditor
6. My present company has twice won the Baldrige award
7. We in quality can sometimes be arrogant
8. Ensure everyone understands the concept of variation

[Laura M]

Fun topic....

1. Name

Laura McFarlane

2. Job Title or explanation of what you do

Owner/President of Odyssey Quality Management
(fancy words for self-employeed consultant for several local businesses)

3. Industry you're in or have been in

Primarily automotive 20 years with GM/Delphi prior to going out on my own. Most clients have some automotive.

4. Company you work for and location

Above....Rochester, NY

5. Length of time in quality function

Most of above career; with stints in manufacturing

6. Something personal that sets you apart

Well, CarolX has me beat on the kids(I have 3 8-14); so I'll have to go with the fact that I still actively play softball and soccer - which, if you do the math, my mother thinks I'm too old for. I've also recently been amazed that altho there are alot of women in quality at the larger companies - in the smaller companies I'm dealing with, I'm still "unique."

7. Your pet peeve in quality

Fancy names for the same thing- and manager that "latch" on and think its a matter of more training.

8. If you could change the world of quality, what would you do?

I gotta go with having understand variation and Deming System of Profound knowledge. Quality shouldn't be a "field" of study, it should be integrated or at least more respected by the other fields.

[Howard Atkins]

Here I go as well

1. Name- Howard Atkins
2. Job Title or explanation of what you do
Consultant for QMS mainly for QS9000 and VDA, represent companies that are exporting from Israel for supplier development, audits etc.
3. Industry you're in or have been in
Plastics mainly for automotive but also electronics and areospace, also electronic parts
4. Company you work for and location
International Quality Services, Israel
5. Length of time in quality function
10 years
6. Something personal that sets you apart
I live on a Kibbutz in the desert, south of Beer Sheva, with 3 kids 9-16
7. Your pet peeve in quality
An automatic assumption that SPC is the same for all industries
8. If you could change the world of quality, what would you do?
Make the management really understand that they need to be committed

1. Joe Lucas
2. General Manager
3. Various .. we make nonmetallic die cuts and service companies all across the board
4. Breiner Co., Inc, Avon, IN
5. Awhile ... 4-5 years
6. uh .. hmm .. im pretty ordinary
7. Quality-eze .. simple things are dilbertized so that no-one can understand it


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Joseph Lucas

[Sam]

1. Name- Sam Goody
2. Job Title or explanation of what you do-
Quality Manager, QS9000/ISO14000 Management Rep.
3. Industry you're in or have been in-
Presently Automotive Accessories, Previously Aerospace, Machine Design, Mining, Oil Industry, Electronics.
4. Company you work for and location-
Covercraft Ind. Inc.
5. Length of time in quality function-
24 years Quality, 13 years Design Engineering
6. Something personal that sets you apart-
Active in projects for troubled youth, CASA volunteer ( I also copied this format from Howard)
7. Your pet peeve in quality
Quality Programs Standards
8. If you could change the world of quality, what would you do?
Eliminate quality program standards. Implement the Deming 14 point process everywhere.

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[WALLACE]

I think that we may have a very good subject thread to pursue regarding the integration of quality function (Management,auditing)and the theories of statistics relating to Demings work and SPC, sigma. I'm not qualified to start the thread but, I think it would be a great education for all quality practitioners at the cove.
Wallace.