Issue 3: February 2010

Join DIG Linked-in

You are invited to join the CQI DIG Linked-in group.  This will provide an expedient way for members to communicate to the group and to network with individuals.

Join the DIG Steering Group

In 2009 the CQI DIG established itself and generated 80 members under Tony Brown’s leadership. In 2010 we will develop the group and we seek volunteers to join a steering group to provide further direction for the group. This would mean committing to 3 or 4 meetings a year – I anticipate mostly by telephone conference, but at least one face–to-face to plan and deliver networking events and relevant work programmes. If you are willing and able to contribute to the development of the DIG in this way, please contact Vincent Desmond at the CQI – vdesmond@thecqi.org.  

Defence Industries Quality Forum update

The CQI can report the following from the December 2009 meeting of the DIQF. 

• DIQF Charter - The DIQF reached a landmark with members signing a charter document which formalises and develops the professional alliance between the MoD and the defence industry, ensuring that all members take an active role in progressing the DIQF business plan. Signatories represent the MoD Defence Quality Assurance, SBAC, SMMT, DMA, Intellect, ABC, IICO and the CQI.
• SC21 - Mr Phil Curnock (SC21 project manager) provided the DIQF with an overview of Supply Chains for the 21st Century (see Qualityworld December 2009 for the full article). SC21 has been extended from aerospace to embrace defence and the MoD is supporting the initiative. The DIQF discussion highlighted the fact that many quality professionals in defence organisations SC21 may not know that SC21 will have implications for them since the scope was increased to embrace defence. Secondly, it was agreed that SC21 is being seen by quality professionals as a purchasing function issue, not a quality issue, and we now need to get up to speed with the initiative and establish how we as a profession will interact with it. More at www.sbac.co.uk. Download Phil Curnock's presentation. Also, see below for the upcoming DIG SC21 event on 7 April 2010.