Quality Counts Canada

Quality Counts in Healthcare Products

Thu, 10 May 2007 21:02:44 -0600

Recently at an pharmaceutial industry based conference, I was reminded of the upcoming regulation changes being considered in the draft GMPs ( Good Manufacturing Practices) Guidelines for 2007. For those in the pharmaceutical (drug), radiopharmaceutical, biological, and veterinary drugs industy, the GMPs are the governing requirements for maintaining an Establishment Licence in Canada and a well known if not always well understood, monitored (via regulatory audits) "guidance" for this industy. For those not in the industry, consider yourselves fortunate that you are not subjected to regularly scheduled scrutiny of your business operation and quality governing principles and practices. A regulatory audit and review of compliance to the guidelines can be a frequent occurance depending on the changes going on in your organization. Yes, compliance to a ''guideline" .....though there is no option! So what can we expect to see under scrutiny for the 2007 GMP changes?

Journey Towards PMP Part 2

Tue, 10 Apr 2007 14:41:50 -0600

A lapel pin and signed certificate mark the confirmation of PMP designation. Accolades from friends and colleagues prioritize the event. There is also an aura of professional hiearchy amongst staff and industry and a host of new found colleagues with similar designations.

Wow! Had I known that long ago; I may not have waited so long!

We know where the journey ends, but where does the journey of preparation for testing begin?

Journey Towards PMP!

Wed, 21 Mar 2007 21:45:28 -0600

My next quality travel destination took me to the Thomson Prometric testing center in search of my PMP credential. Careful and considerate planning reduced any "unexpected" events. Of course, celebration signalled the success of the trip. Let me share with you briefly some of the planning highlights....

Quality in Servicing Diagnostic Clinic Patients

Tue, 27 Feb 2007 13:31:14 -0600

My latest quality trip took me to a local diagnostic clinic. Strategically displayed on the door and near reception was a calendar depicting coloured blocks in the hours of the week. The red, green and yellow coloured blocks clearly marked the likely "wait time" for service; red was longest wait and green was shortest wait.

When asked how these were derived, I was told that the service provider examined data regarding frequency and time of visit. As a means to schedule staff and to improve service, a frequency histogram was used to depict the busiest times. The calendar was used to help their customers understand the best time ( 11 to noon during the week) to visit the diagnostic clinic and avoid a long wait! Green means good for this clinic!

There is Gold in Iowa!

Fri, 02 Feb 2007 08:32:47 -0600

My next travel destination was not in Canada though the climatic conditions were very similar.An adventurous series of airplane flights followed by lengthy taxi rides took me to a little town outside Eddyville Iowa. Though the temperatures were cold (-10C) and the grounds snow covered, I was told by my well informed taxi driver that Iowa was THE state for Corn production. Yes, Golden ears of Corn!

I also learned on my trip that Pig and Cattle farming was also a main activity in Iowa. This was further promoted by the plush stuffed animals and ears of corn I saw at the Des Moines airport gift shop. The reason for my visit was to visit a site that manufactures product uses derivatives from corn as a starting material. A site where Quality also counts as practices for production are based on ISO 9000 and ISO 14001 principles. Infact, there OHSAS( Health and Safety policy) is also developed on a continuos improvement model! Quality gold!

A Council for Quality

Sun, 14 Jan 2007 20:43:44 -0600

Happy New Year!

Thanks for the comments and notes I have been receiving. Good to know there are quality people everywhere!

Recently I have returned from a trip to La Belle Province, Quebec. While out there on business, I was able to witness first hand quality for animal care. Small animals used for studies to support clinical research studies such as cancer and drug development are carefully monitored. Moral and ethical practices for laboratory animal use are defined and attention to Good Animal Practices (GAP) is to be applied. The CCAC (Canadian Council on Animal Care) certifies organizations for animal care and use according to GAP.

Quality practices everywhere!

Counting Q's

Tue, 14 Nov 2006 21:05:39 -0600

On a recent road trip, I decided to count the number of words beginning with the letter Q.

In particular, I was looking for the word Quality; in print, in lights, on buildings, on neighboring vehicles on the highway. My 407 trip across Toronto yielded a total of 2 sightings of the word Quality! On the side of a transport truck I first noted the Q word in the motto for the company..something along the lines of "quality transport"... Another sighting was also on the side of a truck; "Manufacturing Quality Vinyl Windows". That was it. I didn't notice the word quality in any of the municipal election signs I read. I did note the repetition of the word Service in mottos for "at your service" or "serving you better". Has Service replaced Quality?

On your next family road trip, play this little game. Have your children or spouse try and find the words beginning with the letter Q and count the words Quality. Can you find more than 2?

Welcome to My Quality World!

Wed, 01 Nov 2006 21:36:07 -0600

Hello and Welcome!

This is a first, for the first (of November that is...) in a series of personal comments and hopefully thought provoking notes of my quality journey in Canada. This is a great opportunity for me to share with you notes and quotes demonstrating excellence in quality. This is going to be a great trip! This time, I choose "the path not taken" in search of new experiences to share. Welcome to Quality Counts Canada! Now let's 1, 2, 3 GO!