The 2011 Egyptian revolution toppled a government and led to wide spread changes across the country. As a result, there is now a need for an educated Egyptian workforce to help rebuild the country. ASQ member Dr. Yasser Shehata sees quality playing a large role in many Egyptian industries moving forward.

Patient satisfaction is important--espacially in hospitals. For ASQ member Diane Rogers, she found that by engaging the heart of clinicians, it can lead to a better patient experience.

ASQ member Iyamu Kingsley used a variety of quality tools to explain process improvement to his co-workers when his bank deployed ISO 9001:2008. Find out why explaining quality in their own language was vital in their efforts toward continuous improvement.

When ASQ member Brenda Fisk found out that her husband had throat cancer, she used quality tools to track his progress. Not only did this help her cope, but it also helped the doctors optimize her husband's cancer treatments.

Going back to school is tough, especially for school districts that need to provide school supplies for their students amid budget cuts. Hear how ASQ member Kenneth Getkin used quality control to provide on-demand supplies for the Mt. Lebanon school district in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Engineers in Qatar, such as ASQ member Mohamed Helaly, use quality to ensure a vibrant and safe community. Hear how hospitals, universities, and civic centers are being constructed to brighten the future of residents.

For nearly 10 years, Hyde (with her daughter Jan Agostinelli) was the section's trainer for preparing people for the Certified Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence (CMQ/OE) exam. 100% of the people who took the training passed the ASQ certification exam on the first try. Many of the people in the geographic area who now hold significant positions of responsibility in the fields of quality and regulatory assurance have obtained certifications and enhanced their professional knowledge and skills under Hyde's guidance. Their leadership has in turn influenced the careers of many others in the quality field.

One person influenced by Marlyn Hyde is Dave Spengler, a longtime member of ASQ Section 1212. Spengler's professional background focuses on the technical aspects of quality; however, he is quick to point out that Hyde has been his mentor for years in thinking of the human side of quality. He readily admits to the moderating influences of Marlyn's often-repeated comment to him: "Dave, it's all about the people." That guidance has influenced many section members to recognize that integrity and personal commitment to excellence are paramount in achieving lasting quality in any human enterprise--whether it involves manufacturing or not.

Unfortunately, Marlyn Hyde has had cancer for several years. She has been fighting the good fight, and has survived many crises. She continues to help drive Section 1212's programs, even though she is in hospice care. Even after all of the difficulties that she has gone through since her original diagnosis, she continues to keep a ready smile available, and consistently encourages others to be successful. For Marlyn Hyde, it always has been about the people.

If you've ever driven on a road or crossed a bridge, you have seen the critical work of the local department of transportation. However, transportation is more than getting from point A to B; it can also be a lifeline to those that need emergency services. Hear how ASQ member John Baranzelli makes a difference by working on projects for the Illinois Department of Transportation.

Hear how ASQ member Robert Jackson II uses quality tools in his role as commander of an aircraft maintenance squadron for the United States Air Force.

Hear how ASQ member Dr. Russ Roberson, author of Cancer: A Journey of Dignity and Honor, used quality tools to maintain his mental and physical health during his battle with cancer.

When two parties are in a dispute, a mediator may be called upon to find the root cause of the problem and help facilitate a resolution. Mediators don't make decisions for the parties, they simply help discuss the issues. It is for this reason that the judicial system often refers cases to mediation, since it is efficient and saves on court costs. ASQ member Kimberlee Humphrey, Hampton, VA, is the executive director of the Virginia Conflict Resolution Center (VCRC), a nonprofit organization that mediates many different types of cases, including: family child support, custody and visitation, civil cases involving real estate, and employment cases. By leading the efforts of the VCRC and volunteering her time to mediate numerous cases, Humphrey is a shining example of Quality for Life.

In addition to mediating cases, the VCRC also works with local schools in southeastern Virginia to offer conflict resolution training and gang prevention activities. In 2009, the VCRC worked with 1,421 at-risk teens, teaching conflict resolution, communication, violence prevention, anger management, and life skills. School mediation in elementary, middle, and high schools has been tremendously successful, 95 percent of students reported an increase in their comfort level of dealing with conflicts.

Quality tools and techniques such as flowcharts, root cause analysis, and brainstorming are critical to mediators, since disputes often arise from a lack of communication. In real estate cases, for example, when someone backs out of a loan, the goal is to find out where the process broke. By doing a very basic flowchart, mediators can walk through the loan application process to see where the breakdown occurs. Once the problem is determined, mediators can go into a brainstorm session to find out what solutions can be generated to resolve the issue.

"In mediation, you can come up with some very creative and effective solutions," says Humphrey. "In fact, 80 percent of all parties that go into mediation will reach an agreement."

In high schools, the VCRC will teach basic conflict resolution skills to all incoming freshmen. The school will then select specific students to go through mediation training and act as peer mediators. So, if two students get into a fight, instead of going to the principal's office to get disciplined, students go to a peer mediator who uses quality tools such as root cause analysis and flowcharts to help the two students understand the problem and to help them generate their own resolution. This process allows the students an opportunity to solve their own problems, and it allows the teachers to focus on teaching.

"When you see a child contemplating making the wrong life decision--like joining a gang--who tells you that because of the support and training of your organization he is able to say no, you know you are doing the right thing," says Humphrey. "As a volunteer I immediately see the impact mediation and collaboration has to people in conflict."

Hear how ASQ member Dr. Alice Gobeille uses quality tools to improve training for search and rescue programs.

The Good Shepherd Catholic School of Garland, TX, was facing a small crisis. With statistics showing years of declining enrollment, the school needed a way to improve student grades and increase its awareness in the community. The ASQ Dallas Section, led by the efforts of Joseph Sepulveda, Jason Elliott, and Mark Hemmeline approached the school to see if teachers and students could benefit from quality tools and techniques. The result was a success for everyone involved, and demonstrates how one ASQ section demonstrates Quality for Life by having a positive impact on students--and their futures.

The section rolled out a two-year pilot program for Good Shepherd, introducing quality tools to students in grades 3-5. A strategic lesson plan was created for each grade that itemized what tools would be taught, what prerequisites are required, and what the desired outcomes would be. The initial quality tools learned by students would provide the building blocks for other, more sophisticated quality applications. For example, once students understood brainstorming techniques, they could apply this knowledge to create simple quality diagrams and flowcharts to help them sort through complex information by processing and analyzing data.

The first tool introduced to students (at the 3rd grade level) was the lotus diagram. Previously, when students would plan or write papers, they would capture thoughts on scattered 3"x5" note cards with no obvious connections. The lotus diagram methodology helped students organize their thoughts, and was not only useful in writing papers, but also in solving math problems.

"Quality tools, if taught and applied at an early age, can make a real difference in the lives of children," said Jason Elliot. "The project with Good Shepherd Catholic School was a win/win for everyone involved--it helped the students, the teachers, and our section."

Although the project is still in its infancy, the initial reaction thus far by both students and faculty has been positive. Throughout the process, the Dallas Section will work closely with facility members, teaching them the quality tools and providing support when needed. To measure results, they are benchmarking this project against similar programs, which have seen students' math and English scores increase 10 percent. If this project proves successful, the section hopes to expand the reach of the program to other school districts in the surrounding communities.