Worldwide Quality Network, Inc. (WQN) is not just another consulting firm offering solutions to quality issues. WQN is on the cutting edge in offering new solutions to the same old problems. No company is perfect and everyone has "down time", "turnover", and "loss" - the answer is in implementing solutions to minimize these issues.

One of the best solutions is implementing a quality management system (QMS) such as ISO 9000 for most organizations, AS 9100 for aerospace, TS 16949 for automotive, and ISO 14000 for environmental issues as a few examples. If your organization hasn't considered implementing a QMS know that nearly 1 Billion companies worldwide are certified by a third party, and many thousands more are simply compliant to one of the standards. Certification may or may not be necessary for what your organization does. (Contact WQN if you need clarification) Some would say that not implementing a QMS is like going through this winter without weatherproofing your home. It 's easy to caulk the leaks and prevent your organization from uneccessary loss by implementing some very simple procedures and controls throughout your organization! Call us toll-free at (866) 977-8632 for a FREE analysis or check out our website at www.wqntoday.com

We would like to share with you an innovative company called Laubrass that WQN represents using software solutions for simple handheld devices such as a Palm Pilot. UmtProducts line currently features two software solutions for handheld computers. These products are distributed by various resellers across North America, South America and Europe and WQN is proud to be one of them. UmtPlus® is used by Consultants and Industrial Engineers to facilitate their work measurement needs. UmtAuditTM is used by Auditors and Quality Inspectors to facilitate their assessment needs.

Please be sure you send your referrals to us and make sure we get the necessary credit! You may also contact Laubrass directly and let David Bejanic know that we sent you over for a FREE demonstration. LAUBRASS BECAUSE TIME IS IMPORTANT Telephone (toll free) 866-526-8040 ext. 4 Direct 514 312 4559 Fax. 514-667-5266 Web Site www.laubrass.com

"Formalizing Your Knowledge" is WQN's slogan. We review what your organization is already doing and then see how we can help you improve it. Usually, this is by implementing a QMS such as ISO 9001:2000. The key is not to reinvent the wheel but simply to enhance your current operation.

It's amazing how many myths there are on the subject - "It's too expensive..., it takes too much time..., we don't heve enough people..., we aren't a manufacturer..., our customers are not requiring us to do this..., we only do government work"... These are excuses that are unfortunately preventing many organizations from being better organized with thorough process controls.

Understand that ISO 9000 is not a beast coming to kill you! This is one of the best tools for an organization to get streamlined and organized. You take what you already do and use things that you already have in place, such as forms and procedures. But most companies have gaps, or missing pieces to the puzzle, and that is precisely where ISO will fill these areas and improve your company. The reality is that when a QMS is implemented correctly you will save time, money, have less waste, gain a competitive advantage, and be positioned to operate in a global climate. Doing this correctly means hiring a professional consulting and training organization such as WQN to get you started, other wise you may end up with a botched system that is neither effective nor efficient. You don't attempt to perform your own dental work - do you?

Implementing a QMS such as ISO 9000 is not a cakewalk and will not happen overnight. It is not free as there are start-up costs, however, after implementing this business and quality management system the Return on Investment will usually surpass your start-up and maintenance costs by far. Notice the description in the previous paragraph referring to a "business management system"- ISO is not "quality control" of products but is an all inclusive management system of your entire organization. This includes every department and every aspect of your company other than accounting - which has now been addressed with large corporations by implementing Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX).

These systems are excellant for ANY business, regardless of employee size or sales. Being organized is, as Martha Stewart says, "a good thing". Yet good organization and process control is only the start of "continuous improvement" and employee empowerment. Toyota is getting a great deal of press on this as they are positioning themselves to become the #1 automobile manufacturer in the world. Toyota's #1 focus is process controls and continuous improvement. It's not exclusive as anyone can do what they have done...it just takes some effort and professional guidance. Most of the people we speak with that have experienced ISO 9000 the "right way" tell us they don't know how they used to operate their business without it.

Here is something relatively new that is going to affect just about anything manufactured. The Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive (RoHS) was adopted in February 2003 by the European Union. The RoHS directive took effect on July 1, 2006, but is not a law; it is simply a directive. This directive restricts the use of six hazardous materials in the manufacture of various types of electronic and electrical equipment. It is closely linked with the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE) 2002/96/EC which sets collection, recycling and recovery targets for electrical goods and is part of a legislative initiative to solve the problem of huge amounts of toxic e- waste. It is often pronounced "ROHS", "ross", "rosh", "rose" or "row- haws".

While the EU was the first to implement RoHS, there are now many other countries and states who are creating their own versions such as California RoHS, China RoHS, Korea RoHS and Japan RoHS. This is a directive that is important to saving our environment and does not seem like it will be going away anytime soon

RoHS is often referred to as the lead-free directive, but it restricts the use of the following 6 substances: 1. Lead 2. Mercury 3. Cadmium 4. Hexavalent chromium (Chromium VI or Cr6+) 5. Polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) 6. Polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) PBB and PBDE are flame retardants used in some plastics. The maximum concentrations are 0.1% or 1000ppm (except for Cadmium, which is limited to 0.01% or 100 ppm) by weight of homogeneous material. This means that the limits do not apply to the weight of the finished product, or even to a component, but to any single substance that could (theoretically) be separated mechanically?for example, the sheath on a cable or the tinning on a component lead. Click on the link to read more...

Every month (2cnd Tuesday) ? Local ASQ meeting - Camarillo, CA at CoCo's Restaurant off 101 FWY and Los Posas. Open to the public. Anyone visiting our area is invited to attend one of our dinner meetings or company tours sponsored by the American Society for Quality. The topics vary but are usually focused on quality improvement issues. For information on meeting places in your local area please check the www.asq.org link.

We have remodeled our website last year. It now includes a "self service" shopping cart with many features and products for some of the more common standards. If you are looking for one particular form or procedure we probably have what you are looking for! If you haven't seen our website yet take a moment to do so and be sure to mark it as a favorite and share this with your friends.