January 2008 Newsletter
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April 8, 2008 ASQ Section 1206 Spring Conference - Data “Sanity”

Dealing with the Data "Beast" - Simply... Sanely... Statistically

Despite what we've all been taught, "statistics" is not an arcane set of techniques used to "massage" data. In the current atmosphere of "accountability," there seems to be a new tendency for performance goals to be imposed from external sources, resulting in:

Free Excel macro
There will also be a two-hour computer lab in the afternoon as part of the seminar to teach an Excel macro for run charts and control charts. Bring your laptop!

Meeting room temperatures may seem "cool" or inconsistent to some individuals. If you are more sensitive to cool temperatures, we recommend dressing in layers or bringing a sweater or jacket. We hope you can join us for this fun and informative conference!

Davis Balestracci
Davis Balestracci, M.S. statistics, has uniquely synthesized left-brain (analytical) and right-brain (psychological) approaches to quality with “the craftsmanship and passion of Beethoven composing symphonies.” While working for 3M, he received several corporate awards for his innovative teaching and uses of statistical methods.

His interests then evolved to utilizing the Deming philosophy in management and service contexts. For seven years, he functioned as a Deming statistical consultant for a major multi-specialty health care clinic with 500 physicians and 20 locations. He has since developed an international reputation for adapting statistical methods to healthcare improvement as well as innovative approaches to dealing with organizational cultural psychology and corresponding leadership issues through a philosophy of transformation.

Davis is a regular presenter at the prestigious Institute for Healthcare Improvement United States and European annual forums. He is known worldwide for a provocative, challenging, yet humorous and down-to-earth public speaking style, which one participant characterized as “the humor of Seinfeld with the intensity of Richard Dreyfuss” (Must have something to do with his Myers-Briggs “INFP” profile). People appreciate his awareness of the daily realities faced by quality “change agents”—including the inherent frustrations of dealing with “those darn humans!” This practical approach is described in his web site, book, Quality Improvement: Practical Applications for Medical Group Practice, 2nd edition (3rd edition in preparation), and monthly column in Quality Digest (www.qualitydigest.com).

Davis has a B.S. degree in chemical engineering, an M.S. degree in statistics, yet describes himself as a “right-brained” statistician (He is a pipe organist and has also done graduate work in orchestral and choral conducting!).

In 1995, at the invitation of Don Berwick, he was a member of a faculty team sponsored by the Harvard Institute for International Development that taught health care quality improvement methods in the Middle East to 80 health care leaders. He has subsequently consulted and given seminars in Canada, Palestine, Israel, Norway, Australia, New Zealand, Scotland, Wales, and, over 100 hospitals in England through the sponsorship of the National Health Service’s Modernisation Agency.

Davis is a senior member of the American Society for Quality (ASQ) and was the 2003-2004 chair of its Statistics Division. He is also a past president of the Twin Cities Deming Forum. He can be reached by phone at (207) 899-0962 or via e-mail: davis@dbharmony.com.

Directions to Liberty Hall
From Hwy. 41, merge onto WI-441. Take the CR-CE/College Avenue exit. Go east on CE/College Ave. Turn right onto Eisenhower Drive. Liberty Hall is immediately on the left at 800 Eisenhower Drive.

Special pricing/discounts
The conference fee is $200, however:  current ASQ Section 1206 members will get a $150 discount, so their fee will only be $50.  New members that join ASQ and our Section between Feb 1 and March 31 can attend for the cost of joining ASQ (the conference will be free!)

Spring Conference Registration
Register early as this conference is sure to fill up fast at these prices. Registration information will be available in future newsletters and on the website.

If you register for Section 1206 event and do not show, we will bill for unpaid registration costs unless a cancellation notice is received in time for us to avoid an expense.

We do not bill; we accept cash or check only. Please make checks out to: “American Society for Quality, Section 1206” the night of the meeting. Cost is $25 for ASQ members and $30 for non-members. Hope to see you there!

Meeting room temperatures may seem "cool" or inconsistent to some individuals. If you are more sensitive to cool temperatures, we recommend dressing in layers or bringing a sweater or jacket. We hope you can join us!

Do you have a quality question or a problem at work you can't solve? Ask an expert! Please email Woody Santy at IQCWoody@instructor.net.  Your question and Woody's response will be printed in the next newsletter. Free advice! You can't beat it!

DO NOT USE CERTIFIED MAIL!

In today's business environment, any organization that wishes to exceed customer expectations and stay competitive needs a long-range strategic plan. This plan must be forward-looking, visionary and achievable, while at the same time striving toward continuous improvement of the organization's key business processes.

The hoshin process is, first of all, a systematic planning methodology for defining long-range key objectives. These are breakthrough objectives that typically extend two to five years with little change. Second, the hoshin process does not lose sight of the day-to-day "business fundamental" measures required to run the business successfully. This two-pronged approach provides an extended period of time for the organization to focus its breakthrough effort while continuously improving key business processes day to day.

The hoshin methodology provides:
• Breakthrough objective focus.
• Development of plans that adequately support the objective.
• Review of progress of these plans.
• Changes to plans as required.
• Continuous improvement of key business processes.
• A vehicle for organizational learning.

Hoshin ensures that everyone in the organization is working toward the same end. The plan is hierarchical, cascading down through the organization and to key business-process owners. Ownership of the supporting strategies is clearly identified with measures at the appropriate level or process owner within the organization.

The hoshin process fits under the umbrella management philosophy of total quality management. The plan-do-study-act process improvement cycle enters repeatedly in the plan's development, implementation and review.

Using the PDSA cycle in strategic planning ensures that:
• Plans are developed more systematically.
• Progress on plans is carefully monitored.
• Changes to plans are made where necessary.
• Breakthrough objectives are attained.
• The planning process itself is standardized.
• The planning process is continuously improved.
• Organizational learning occurs.

The hoshin planning process is cyclic, following the PDSA improvement cycle. The review of the plan for the year just completed is the information source for next year's plan.