Hilton Suites, 6120 Peachtree-Dunwoody Road, Atlanta, Ga 30328
See the current newsletter for directions.

A Wall Street Journal  journalist wrote the following in a recent front-page article:
    "Purchasing managers play a role as highly effective cost cutters, though that part of their job has some surprising nuance. To be sure, buyers save companies huge amounts by trolling the world for new, lower-cost sources, and this is certainly a big reason for their growing stature at many multinationals. But in an era of scarce commodities and the risks of disruptions to supply lines posed by terrorist attacks or striking dockworkers, they also have to make sure they pick dependable sources - which might mean choosing the more expensive sources just to assure no disruptions. Nothing is worse for a buy's reputation than to throw business to a low-ball supplier who has trouble delivering."

Greg Hutchins addresses the critical business and risk issues raised in the Wall Street Journal article. Greg's central message is that current sourcing models are based on risk-reward, and decision-making more often than traditional cost, delivery, service, and quality factors.

Greg discusses the key role that purchasing and supply management professionals play in today's supply management model. As well, Greg corrects misconceptions, debunks falsehoods, and challenges the conventional wisdom associated with outsourcing and supply chain management.

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I've been involved in quality all my working life. Why? I think we all work in the quality field for one of only a few reasons: to provide the customer a better product and more cost efficiency.

The companies we work for need customers and they can only stay in business if they are competitive.

My personal work life centered on the defense contracting business - specifically on assuring that our vendors that provide product to the war fighter - the men and women who are protecting us - have a quality product and that these vendors are providing it to us as efficiently as possible andn to the specs that they contracted for. We've all heard of the horror stories of defense contractors doing wrong; but, you never hear of the things they do right. A lot of them, more than you know, have the soldier's life and safety in mind. They do go the extra mile. And folks like me are there as well, to assure that it happens.

And there are the service providers - the medical profession, for example. They're getting the message, albeit slowly sometimes. Again, they must satisfy their customers. After all, what are they in business to do?

So, in the end, what is quality?

Quality is that effort put forth to provide the customer a product that meets his/her expectations at a price he/she can afford and at a price that our employer can sustain and stay in business for another day.

Fred Feltmann

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March 14,  through May 30, 2009 Five Classes 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (Saturdays)

Fee: $500 Location: To Be announced

More Information: Fees include course materials.

For more information, contact Sandi Reynolds by eMail sandi_asq@yahoo.com

More information and class brochure.

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 Integrating Enterprise Excellence
This one-day seminar with  renowned lean Six Sigma and process improvement expert and author Forrest Breyfogle will show you how using the Integrated Enterprise Excellence (IEE) performance measurement and improvement system will help you address critical issues in your organization and drive financial and operational success.  For more information, please see the IIE website .

The Institute of Industrial Engineers offers a variety of  training courses and options to provide you with as many learning and training opportunities as possible. IIE  seminars  are presented live at IIE headquarters and in other classroom settings, online as interactive or self-paced courses, and as corporate programs tailored to your organization's specific requirements.  For more information, please see their website.

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