Ted Marra
Director, The Centre for Innovation Management, Europe
"Having read articles by Jim Wade and having worked with senior management of global organisations (such as Johnson and Johnson, DuPont, Nortel, Xerox, IBM and a host of others) one thing is quite clear to me.
"Jim Wade has brought a powerful and insightful perspective to the notion of quality which I believe provides it with new energy. He has taken the topic and joined it up to effectively to an organisation's key business objectives - placing it in a much more strategic context. His articles present compelling, thought provoking and thoroughly enjoyable (sometimes tongue in cheek) reading. I only hope that senior management gets off their "duff" and acts on what he has to say!"
Arthur Hill
Business Process and Quality Manager
Detica Limited
"Hi Jim
"I just thought I would record my appreciation of the Business Improvement Network. It's a brilliant idea and is somewhat unique, I haven't come across anything quite like it.
"I always find the meetings are informative and provide a supportive environment in which to try out tools and techniques that are new to me.
"Congratulations on running an organisation that truly works."
Tim Lauve
Director of Information Systems
Binghamton Psychiatric Center
"Dear Jim,
"Thank you for the information from the Business Improvement Network.
"You, your organization, and your website provide refreshing approaches to quality improvement!
"Thanks again".
Paul Hickman
Development Advisor
The Environment Agency
"Jim, I much enjoyed the Improving the Internal audit Process workshop yesterday - not the least of which was the lunch and your challenging views (not necessarily in that order!).
"I certainly came away with a number of doubts and questions (all positive!) and shall be exploring my thoughts and the way that we have thus far addressed the development and application of our management system in the Agency.
"To assist in this I would be grateful if you would let me have those PowerPoint slides you feel happy to share - certainly those of the high-level identification of processes - and the cartoon! Perhaps I might be then permitted to draw on those with relevance to my thinking.
"Hopefully we shall met again in the not too distant future".
Bob Davies
Quality Manager
Siemens Medical Solutions
"Jim, just a short note to say how much I enjoyed the Improving the Internal Audit Process workshop yesterday. Judging by the comments made by some of the people that I spoke to you and your organisation are highly thought of.
"It was a worthwhile day, apart from the train/tube journeys. I hope to see you again shortly to arrange one at Siemens."
Trevor Stabb
Quality & Performance Manager
Hampshire County Council
"Jim, I must say that I found the ISO 9004 - What's in it for me? workshop last Wednesday to be very well organised and interesting.
"Certainly the use of "Open Space" and the involvement of everyone who attended meant that I got a lot out of it and hope that everyone else did.
"Prior to registering on the web site about a week ago, I must admit that I knew nothing about The Business Improvement Network. and in fact only came across the web site through a link from the ASQ web site - I think I was looking at continuous improvement tools.Very strange to go all the way to the USA to be directed to something good so near to home!
"It just occurs to me that you may not be doing yourselves justice in advertising the Network and the good stuff you have on the web site.
"I intend to be involved in future events as I see this network as being a significant opportunity to do exactly what the name says - network with other Quality and Continuous Improvement people".
Derek Phillips
Business Improvement Director
Kingston inbusiness
"Jim, last Wednesday was most enjoyable - a good learning/networking environment.
Your leadership was first class, and I do look forward to seeing you and hopefully working with you at some time in the future".
Brian Allan
Business Planning Manager
Sanmina-Sci
"I thought I would just drop you a line as I have now had time to browse through some of the BIN website. I have to say I was very impressed with the diverse content and the professional appearance of the site. I also commend the spirit behind the creation of the whole BIN approach. Maybe there will be opportunity to experience a workshop in the future for me to experience the network in operation.
"I would also like to congratulate you on an excellent article from the December Quality World entitled "ISO:from the top". As I was reading it, I was wholeheartedly agreeing with many points and felt it captured a "modern day" practical approach to the application of ISO 9000"
Brian Holmes
Director
BHS Solutions Ltd
"Great site, thank you for making the information freely available. Very professional content."
Ian Stanbury
System Development Manager
Environment Agency
"... you might also like to know that the information available to members, which I have been circulating around my team, is receiving keen interest and is being used to help us.
"I think of The Business Improvement Network as an extremely useful resource so please keep up the good work!"
Julian Usunov
Managing Director
Top Management Advisors Ltd
"I really enjoy your professional work which is at the top of what the quality management community does.
"You are running one of the few sites where the information has been very carefully selected and everything is of the highest intellectual quality. I may not quite agree with, say, John Seddon but he is an excellent thinker who challenges all of us to move our grey cells.
"Jim Wade's personal writing is also something which I enjoy very much and it triggers insights and debates which go far beyond the trivial.
"Thank you for everything you do!"
Jim Hathaway
Quality Manager
Beiersdorf UK Ltd
"Many thanks for yesterday's Performance Measurement workshop. Could you also convey my thanks again to Clive.
"As I drove home my thoughts had a chance to crystallise. We are identifying customers and measures in our process approach but we need to really concentrate on talking to the customer and embedding the measures into a systematic review. I also have clearer thoughts on the downward cascade from the Strategy into the processes, something we have not got sorted yet.
"Thanks for a very useful day.
"Bu the way, we used my experience from the earlier workshop about added Value Added Auditing to design our Process Review system for the new ISO9001.
"Auditing is a "yellow card" word for us because of the history and negative reactions.
"The reviews we have done so far were very well received by the Process owners concerned. So far so good".
Mark Parry
Principal Quality Assurance Officer
Eli Lilly and Company Limited
"I attended, with my manager Bert Hartog, a motivation workshop last year. I would like to be able to access information and contacts with respect to quality business improvement across a range of industries and see how I might apply these and/or share experiences with others.
"The Business Improvement Network provides this ability through the continual improvement information available on your web site.
"I would be grateful if you could update me on any recent information you have and indicate how I might keep abreast of developments in this area.
"Many thanks for your help".
Andy Burke
Quality Manager
UK Support Services
Oracle Corporation
"The Business Improvement Network one day workshops are excellent. They are very informative and Jim Wade facilitates them well. The workshops provide tools and information for use back at the office including help on how to tackle the difficult issues such as; getting management buy in, communication, etc.
"One of the most beneficial things for myself is that the workshops help one to see other peoples perspectives. Also there is the chance to help other Quality Managers tackle some of their difficult problems through group discussions.
"The idea of no set agenda encourages the current "burning issues" to be discussed which does not restrict the discussion to a pre-determined list of "standard" items.
"These workshops provide excellent value for money and I would recommend attending them to any management or quality professionals."
Kim Crooks
Senior Research Associate
Cytocell Ltd
"Ref. the recent Techniques and Tools Workshop.
"I ran the 'Continuous Improvement' lunch-time seminar to a wide spread audience from R&D, Marketing to QA. Everyone who turned up were delighted customers! I got a buzz after doing it. Sometimes it's very refreshing to step out of your own field of expertise and challenge yourself.
"Thanks for teaching the tools so clearly, I felt quite confident that I could explain the basics - and I did. Although, condensing a day's workshop into a 1 hour slot was a challenge. Wishing you continued success with your good work. Kim."
Daniel Hennessy
Business Management Systems Manager
Research Machines plc
"I mentioned feeling previously isolated and it certainly changed that for me. It opened my eyes to a number of important issues and gave me great confidence about several others. I'm extremely pleased that I made contact with you and discovered the BIN - best thing to happen for a while.
"Thanks again - I'm looking forward to the next one. Best regards, Daniel"
Quality Assurance Manager
Smith & Nephew Consumer Products
"What I found was a reaffirmation of the benefit of working with a group of like-minded individuals from several industries.
"Firstly it is good to know that I am not alone in my thinking. We all seem to face the same hurdles in establishing the need for internal audits. This often manifests itself in a defensive approach to internal auditors (the policeman).
"Secondly the subject of Value Added Audits is one which I have thought about for some time. The discussion led me to a practical way to approach the subject.
"Thirdly the meeting also gave me an opportunity to think about the role of QA in my business and reflect with others on the value that could be added. As always there is someone in the group who faces the same challenges and had a different slant on solutions.
"The format of the meeting is very productive (introductions, group work on the subject at hand and consolidation by the Facilitator). I doubt a training course on the same subject would be as productive in terms of a) a widely based understanding of the problem and b) a similarly wide choice of potential solutions and issues to think about.
"All in all another day with the BIN that exceeded my expectations".
Group Quality Director
Babtie Group
"The workshop was handled well to bring out the views and experiences of the delegates who were predominantly, like ourselves, struggling with some of the concepts within the new standard.
"John Hele's attendance added credibility as a representative of a certification body. Your own consultancy experiences with SME's added specific examples. This was not theory - you were doing it!!
"The series of workshops developed in collaboration with the Management Unit at the University of Reading by The Business Improvement Network are excellent in content and value for money, They are lively, informative and fun, where the business issues of the day are reviewed, and I've noted we leave with a fresh approach and ideas for improving our business the next day.
"We endorse your activities by ensuring our Regional Quality Managers attend all those in the current series, as part of their Continued Professional Development and the Babtie group would be willing to host a future event".
Fiona Ewart
Quality Manager, Group Pensions
Prudential Assurance
"I got involved with The Business Improvement Network after taking on the role of Quality Manager for Group Pensions in Nov 98. I have attended five of the workshops and found them to be both informative and useful in helping me to establish which direction I have taken Quality within my organisation.
"The key difference from other days out of the office is that I have found tapping into the views of other individuals from very different companies to mine much more refreshing than listening to conference speakers. They are trying to tackle the same issues as me and their insights and experiences have been invaluable.
"Also the cost of attending the events is excellent value for money, which is an added bonus".
Principal Quality Consultant
Product Development and Support
MDIS
"Firstly, it is a comfort to know that other organisations are facing the same challenges as your own - it reassures you that you are not alone and gives you confidence that a solution can be found.
"Secondly, the Network offers practical solutions to real problems. The importance of being able to step back from your own issues, and participate in open discussions with your peers from other organisations cannot be over estimated. It prevents you from being locked on to a specific way of finding a solution, and I found the sessions with people from companies outside the IT sector particularly useful for freeing my mental log jams.
"In conclusion I can honestly say that my effectiveness has been improved through participating in the Business Improvement Network, and I look forward to continuing to attend sessions".
Bert Hartog
Manager MQA
Eli Lilly and Company
"As a Manager Medical Quality Assurance at Eli Lilly and Company, with responsibility for clinical research in Europe, Middle East and Africa, I enjoyed these workshops very much. I took many learning points from these workshops, because of the diverse background of the attendees, but certainly also because of the challenging introductory presentations by Dennis, and certainly not least by the professional facilitation of Jim.
"I would recommend these workshops to all my colleagues in Quality Leadership roles in industry. And I hope the Management Unit is going to continue offering such workshops and continuously update the topics with relevant and new information.
"Excellent work, that really helps move Quality forward. Quality as an enabler to achieve better results in business."
Quality Assurance Manager
Steelcase Strafor plc
"The format of an agreed topic, and the attendees on the day discussing and debating points as they arise, is so refreshing when you consider what normal quality lectures and training days can be like. It is also useful to take the opportunity to discuss your thoughts with colleagues in different fields and the Network gives you an ideal opportunity.
"It is fair to say that I have come away from the meetings with new ideas and a greater understanding of the common sense behind some of the classic laws and theories.
"On one memorable occasion, Jim Wade's demonstration of Deming's Red Bed experiment had me chuckling to myself for weeks because of its simplicity and glaringly obvious message to industry.
"From time to time, I have been able to bring non QA based managers to the meetings and it has really helped mutual understanding.
"So if I was asked to recommend anything it would be to bring key members of your management team with you; you will all benefit from the experience".