ASQ: Achieves highest level of recognition from Wisconsin Forward Award

Continuous improvement and performance excellence focus result in Governor’s Award for global organization

MILWAUKEE, Wis., May 21, 2014 — ASQ, the leading authority on quality in all fields, organizations and industries has, for the first time, reached the Excellence level of achievement from Wisconsin Forward Award Inc.

This recognition followed a rigorous process, including organizational reviews, examiner interviews, a site visit and final evaluations by a WFA panel of judges.

ASQ will be among the Wisconsin-based organizations receiving the Governor’s Award at ceremonies planned for December.

The Wisconsin Forward Award promotes excellence in organizational management, recognizes the achievements of Wisconsin organizations implementing performance excellence systems, and publicizes successful performance excellence management strategies.

Organizations that achieve the Excellence recognition level “are industry leaders and role models for others,” according to WFA. “This achievement level is representative of organizations with mature, fully integrated performance management systems, including improvement systems.”

“We are honored to receive such recognition from the Wisconsin Forward Award,” said ASQ Chair Stephen Hacker. “This is a reflection of the continuous improvement journey that our members and staff have committed to over many years. We recognize that excellence is an ongoing pursuit, and we are excited to receive examiner feedback about our strengths and opportunities for improvement. This feedback is the true gift for our organization’s future, and we will use it to provide ever more value to our members, customers, workforce and communities.”

In addition to ASQ’s world headquarters operations in Milwaukee, Wis., the WFA examined ASQ’s operations and member communities worldwide. In 2006, 2008 and 2011, ASQ earned the Mastery level of achievement from WFA — one level below the Excellence level.

The WFA is modeled on the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award framework, process and criteria. The Baldrige Program annually recognizes leading U.S. businesses and organizations for their use of quality management and performance excellence systems to improve overall operational, leadership and business results.

About ASQ

ASQ is a global community of people dedicated to quality who share the ideas and tools that make our world work better. With millions of individual and organizational members of the community in 150 countries, ASQ has the reputation and reach to bring together the diverse quality champions who are transforming the world’s corporations, organizations and communities to meet tomorrow’s critical challenges. ASQ is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wis., with national service centers in China, India, Mexico and a regional service center in the United Arab Emirates. Learn more about ASQ’s members, mission, technologies and training at asq.org.