Quality Essentials Program (QEP) | Fall 2026

Build a strong foundation in quality management, process improvement, and continuous improvement across your organization.
About this Event

The Quality Essentials Program is designed for individuals who are new to quality or looking to build a strong understanding of quality management principles. This introductory program provides participants with the knowledge and practical skills needed to understand how quality impacts an organization, why Quality Management Systems (QMS) are important, and how every employee contributes to delivering quality products and services.

Rather than focusing on advanced quality engineering or statistical techniques, this program emphasizes the fundamentals of quality, process thinking, problem solving, and performance measurement. Participants will learn how quality is built into everyday work, how processes influence results, and how structured problem-solving methods can be used to improve performance and customer satisfaction.

Throughout the program, participants will develop a quality mindset and gain the confidence to recognize improvement opportunities, support quality initiatives, and contribute to a culture of continuous improvement.

Program Topics

Quality Fundamentals

Participants are introduced to the core concepts of quality, including what quality means from the customer's perspective, the importance of meeting customer expectations, and the cost of poor quality. The session also provides an overview of Quality Management Systems (QMS), employee roles in quality, and internationally recognized standards such as ISO 9001, while reinforcing the importance of building a strong quality culture.

Understanding Processes

Learn how organizations operate through interconnected processes and why consistent processes produce consistent results. Participants explore the process approach, process mapping, turtle diagrams, standard work, and the relationship between customers, suppliers, inputs, and outputs. The session also introduces value-added versus non-value-added activities, the Eight Wastes, and risk-based thinking.

Problem Solving Fundamentals

Develop a structured approach to identifying and resolving quality issues. Participants learn how to distinguish root causes from symptoms and apply practical problem-solving tools, including 5 Whys, Fishbone (Cause-and-Effect) Diagrams, the Pareto Principle, PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act), and the basics of corrective and preventive actions using the 8D methodology. The session also introduces simple, data-based decision-making techniques.

Measuring and Improving Quality& Applying Quality Every Day

Learn how organizations monitor performance and use data to drive continuous improvement. Participants are introduced to common quality metrics such as Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), defects, First Pass Yield, rework, scrap, and customer complaints. They also learn how to interpret basic charts, understand the purpose of audits, maintain documentation and records, and apply a quality mindset to everyday work.

Who Should Attend?

This program is ideal for new employees, production operators, technicians, quality inspectors, supervisors, administrative staff, and anyone seeking a foundational understanding of quality principles and Quality Management Systems. It is also an excellent starting point for organizations looking to establish a common understanding of quality across all departments.

Program Outcome

Upon completion of the Quality Essentials Program, participants will understand the basic principles of quality management, process thinking, and structured problem solving. They will be able to recognize how their work impacts quality, identify opportunities for improvement, support Quality Management System requirements, and contribute to a culture focused on customer satisfaction, operational excellence, and continuous improvement.

Agenda

Day 1, November 19 : Quality Fundamentals

Objective: Understand what quality is and why organizations have a Quality Management System.

Topics:

• What is quality?
• Customer expectations and the “Voice of the Customer”
• Cost of Poor Quality (COPQ)
• Prevention vs. detection
• Introduction to a Quality Management System (QMS)
• Roles and responsibilities in quality
• Overview of standards such as ISO 9001 (high level)
• Quality culture and employee ownership

Day 2, December 3: Understanding Processes

Objective: Learn how work happens through processes and how variation affects quality.

Topics:

• Process approach
• Understanding turtle diagrams
• Inputs, outputs, customers, and suppliers
• Process mapping
• Standard work
• Waste and value-added activities & understanding the 8 Wastes
• Risk-based thinking

Day 3, December 10 : Problem Solving Basics

Objective: Learn a structured approach to solving quality problems.

Topics:

• Types of quality problems
• Root cause vs. symptoms
• Corrective vs. preventive actions – 8D forms
• Introduction to:
• • 5 Whys
  • Fishbone (Cause-and-Effect) Diagram
  • Pareto Principle (80/20)
  • PDCA Cycle
• Basic decision making with data

Day 4, December 17: Measuring and Improving Quality & Applying Quality Every Day

Objective: Understand how organizations measure performance and use data to improve. Bring all the concepts together and apply them in realistic workplace situations.

Topics:

Topics:

• Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
• Defects vs. defects per unit
• Yield
• First Pass Yield
• Rework
• Scrap
• Customer complaints
• Basic charts:
• • Run charts
  • Bar charts
  • Pareto charts

· Audits (what they are and what to expect)

• Documentation and records
• Quality mindset