2016 in pictures
Ahead of the launch in February of the CQI Annual Review, we take a closer look at some of our highlights from last year.
We have spent the past year working hard to improve our member benefit offering for you, ensuring we are promoting excellence in profession and giving you the knowledge and skills you need to be at the top of your game. Here are just a few of our highlights:
We gave you a host of ISO 9001 resources
In 2016 we gave you guidance and information on how to apply the standard practically. From blogs and Knowledge articles to videos and 'Quality World' features, we made sure to give you the resources you need to achieve a smooth transition.
Our flexible approach to CPD helped you develop your skills
During the last year we have helped our members to develop professionally, adding real value with our flexible approach to continuing professional development (CPD). By following our simple plan, do and reflect process we ensure you are developing in a practical way that is unique to your needs.
Judith Kwentoh (pictured above), PCQI, said: ‘The structured CPD scheme helped me to develop my business skills. The CQI Competency Framework has helped me put together a way to plan and structure how to add value to my business and clients.'
We worked with ISO on latest quality standards to keep you up to date
We have representatives on the ISO 17021-3, ISO 19011, ISO 45001, 9000, 9004, 9001, and 14001 standards panels. This means we can give you cutting edge, inside information on the latest standards, helping you to stay ahead of the competition. Look out for standard updates in ‘Quality World’, Knowledge and the CQI Networks email along with leading analysis from those involved in the design of the standard.
You joined us for our popular Leadership Masterclass series
Delegates joined us for a series of leadership masterclasses, presented in partnership with Oakland Consulting. Each masterclass gave quality professionals practical tools and tips on advancing the way quality is perceived in their organisation.
Amarjit Kaur Gill (pictured above), CQP MCQI, said: ‘The CQI Leadership Masterclasses gave me the chance to network and improve my knowledge on best practice in leadership while learning from other quality professionals’ experience. I gained practical techniques to apply to my organisation.’
We developed a brand new portfolio of CQI and IRCA Certified Training
Our new learning and development portfolio is part of our move to further unite the CQI and IRCA, bringing together the exemplary quality courses of the CQI and the auditing courses that help IRCA members to maintain their position as the gold standard in auditing.
The courses were called on by the profession and industry and are matched to the Competency Framework, giving you the holistic knowledge and skills of the 21st Century quality professional. Now there are 24 courses at foundation, practitioner and professional level to suit your progressing needs.
Paula Quinn, learning and development manager at Nuvia said, 'The CQI training portfolio provides a recognised and endorsed framework for developing quality professionals. It gives us an opportunity to ensure that the training of our quality professionals is consistent and aligned with recognised best practice.'
We gave you events local to your area
From our Making the Grade and CQI 2020 Roadshows to countless branch events, including tours of Honda and SAIC and thought provoking seminars on quality tools, our branches have helped you to build your knowledge and skills. By attending events at our network of 30 branches you contribute to your professional development and have the opportunity to network with your peers.
We published new reports with practical case studies to help your learning
In 2016 we developed a number of reports to help you develop your knowledge of the profession and wider industry. As part of Crossrail’s learning legacy, we gave you a free report exploring the lessons learned in their supply chain. Governance was also a key focus for us in 2016, we partnered with the Institute of Directors the (IoD) to deliver the ‘2016 Good Governance Index’. We also worked with the Good Governance Institute to produce a report and a round table discussion on quality in the third sector.
The best of the profession featured in ‘Quality World’
This year we made sure to feature a number of practical case studies in 'Quality World' that you can apply to your work as well as quality tools to help you expand your knowledge.
Here are our top 10 highlights from 2016:
1. BAE revealed its new Quality Assurance Model, which helped the quality team to engage 4,000 employees in the profession
2. The CQI Construction SIG answered the £1bn question, explaining how quality can fix the construction industry
3. Muddy Boots transformed quality assurance in the food sector
4. The Royal College of Psychiatrist advocated for quality, explaining why the profession is crucial for solving the crisis NHS mental health care
5. Riversimple impressed us with their new hydro-fuel cell car and their innovative governance structure
6. Gregorio Acero, chair of the CQI Rail SIG, revealed the major challenges faced by UK rail
7. In September we launched our careers issue, giving you coveted information on what top employers look for when hiring quality professionals
8. Lloyd’s Register gave us an inside look at its quality restructure and explained why the CQI Competency Framework is crucial for the organisation
9. Crossrail gave us an insight into Elizabeth line and showed us how its legacy could transform the future of quality in the construction industry
10. We investigated China’s plans to reinvent the ‘Made in China’ brand by 2025 and examined the future of manufacturing in the region.
Hundreds of quality professionals attended the CQI Conference
On 13 April, quality professionals from across the UK and internationally met at the King’s Fund London to share ideas on strategy and the hot topics for the profession. More than 150 companies attended, making the conference was a networking opportunity not to be missed.
Hannah Briggs, CQP MCQI, vice chair on the NGN said: ‘In many ways my attendance at the conferences has taken me on a professional journey, through knowledge and personal confidence.'
We hosted our first Strategic Partners Convention
On 21 September, strategic leaders in quality met for the first time to discuss corporate governance at the CQI’s pioneering Strategic Partners Convention. The event was held at the prestigious Lloyd’s Register building in the City of London. Attendees consisted of those the CQI recognised for their commitment to quality.
Key note speakers included IoD head of corporate governance Oliver Parry, Lloyd Register head of quality Dan Kent, Nuvia regional quality lead Ruth Mortby, and Shirley Parsons, CEO of HSEQ recruitment specialist Shirley Parsons Associates.
We launched the new home of quality online
In September we launched our brand new website quality.org – the new online destination for quality professionals. As part of the launch we moved both the cqi.org and irca.org to one easy to navigate website. The new website is home to your member benefits including the eLibrary, knowledge articles, industry reports and QW online.
By visiting the Community section, you can also find out about branch and special interest group events, local to your area, giving you the opportunity to expand your knowledge and network with your peers.
The IRCA Japan Forum was a success
The IRCA Japan Forum took place on 11 June at Yokohoma Pacifico Annex Hall. This year’s theme was ‘Driving business performance through quality’ and high-profile speakers from Canon, 3M, Nestlé and Lloyd’s Register Quality Assurance (LRQA) spoke about how quality culture drives business performance.
IRCA Japan turned 10
Our IRCA Japan office celebrated its anniversary with a trip to the UK, where director Masayo Hachii (pictured above) spoke to CQI staff about the important work the office is doing in Japan. CQI acting CEO Vincent Desmond also visited Tokyo to host a roundtable discussion with five major Japanese corporates. While in Japan he met the staff and partners who are working hard support our 3,500 Japanese members in spreading the message of governance, assurance and improvement.
Desmond said: ‘Our friends in Japan have valued the CQI and IRCA as a valuable source of insight on trends in standards and accredited certification. The debate on how organisations can use the business management system as a strategic weapon to enhance corporate reputation and performance is as alive in Japan as it is in the UK, especially given the increasing speed of information flow, change and cycle times. In this respect, I am sure there is much we can continue to learn from Japan, and if the roundtable was anything to go by, much that Japan will continue to learn from the UK.’
World Quality Day
On 10 November quality professionals from across the globe united in celebrating World Quality Day. This year’s theme was ‘Making operational governance count’. We chose this theme as our members are instrumental in preventing failings that impact the reputation of organisations and are perfectly positioned to link operational and corporate governance through the business management system.
Many of you used this as an opportunity to act as quality advocates in your own organisation. Crossrail dedicated an entire week to quality, setting up events to engage their peers and ensure their staff are advocates of the profession. Head of quality, Chris Titterton, said: ‘Quality is paramount on Crossrail. It is everyone’s responsibility to ensure that what we are building is right first time, and that once it is built we are doing all that we can to look after and protect it.'
We promoted the profession across the globe
Our articles play a crucial part in building awareness of the quality profession, showing your peers, industry and the public the importance of your work. Showcasing case studies through the media also helps us to present quality in a way that is accessible to everyone.
Here are just a few places we secured coverage in 2016:
- 'UK Construction Journal' featured our story on the CQI Construction SIG and the cost of bad quality
- We wrote for the NQA about the importance of transitioning to ISO 9001
- Meatinfo featured our article on how quality control is going digital for food manufacturers
- Continual improvement specialist Triaster featured us in an article about the future of the profession
- CQI acting CEO Vincent Desmond featured in ‘Construction Manager’ magazine to explain the importance of delivering projects safely, on time and in budget, along with the impact of quality on the bottom line
- CQI executive director of policy Estelle Clark was also featured in ‘Director’, the magazine of the IoD, where she played a leading role in the debate on good governance and promoted the quality profession to directors across the globe.
