Introducing The EOQ
Dr. Wolfgang M. Kaerkes is the new president of TheEuropean for Quality Management
Dr Kaerkes was born in Aachen andbecame a lecturer and consultant in Wiesabaden where he became mayor. He hasbeen Executive Secretary of the Deutsche Gesellschaft fŸr QualitSt (DGQ)since 1998, and theirrepresentative at the EFQM where he is a now member of the governing board.
Would you like to introduceThe European Organization for Quality?
EOQ is an autonomous, non-profitmaking association under Belgium law. The EOQ is the European interdisciplinaryorganization striving for effective improvement in the sphere of qualitymanagement as the co-ordinating body and catalyst of its members.
The EOQ was established in 1956 andits actual membership comprises 34 national European quality organizations, aswell as institutions, companies and individuals from all over the world. EOQ isa network of 34 European countries linking thousands of companies and expertsin the field of Quality in its broadest sense through its memberorganizations.
EOQ is helping companies for the 21stcentury. It is a worldwide leader in the development and management of qualityin its widest meaning. EOQ provides a crossroads of ideas, knowledge, researchand information. And it is a key influencer in quality education.
EOQ contributes to the development ofEuropean organisations and enterprises through the application of quality andchange management concepts and techniques. The end goal here is the progressand development of individuals and European Society as a whole. EOQ believesthat an enlarged Europe with diverse cultures and economic histories is anopportunity for the success of all Europeans.
WhatÕs your mission?
To improve European competitivenessthrough the promotion of European Quality Policy; To support members in thepromotion and deployment of quality management; To facilitate the developmentand exchange of information, knowledge and experience in quality theories andtechniques.
EOQ contributes to the development ofnew concepts and techniques and to the enhancement of existing skills andcompetencies. EOQ contributes to the development of the network of qualityorganizations.
EOQ members are organizations arecommitted, through a significant part of their activity, to promoting qualityat national, European or international level. They are not-for-profitorganizations and share the present charter as well as statutes of EOQ.
As president what are yourhopes and objectives for the EOQ over the next two years?
My objectives as the new President ofEOQ derive from the vision, mission and objectives of EOQ. They are to:
- continue the work Frank Steer asimmediate past-president has done in an excellent way
- continuously develop the existingproducts of EOQ
- develop new EOQ products to meet theneeds of the European Society
- improve the cooperation between EOQand the European Commission
- form one single, strongquality/excellence organisation for Europe
- implement a new quality awarenessall over Europe, in politics, media, organisations and society in general
- share values, objectives, approachesand experiences with other quality organisations world wide.
My hopes are to achieve theseobjectives by being supported by all members of EOQ.
Do you think the agenda haschanged for quality professionals over the past few years? How (or how not)?And what are the greatest challenges facing European quality professionals nowin your view?
Yes the agenda of qualityprofessionals has changed as our societies and organisations change. PersonallyI am convinced that quality professionals have to know more about all the othersectors in organisations, and vice versa all the others have to know more aboutquality. I really want them to understand each other. We have to prove thatquality contributes to the success of organisations on a sustainable basis.
What is the role for thequality movement in Europe in a new Europe and a new century?
Our ultimate goal is to improve thequality of life and create a peaceful, healthy, prosperous, culturally rich anddiverse Europe. Quality can provide Europe with the ideas and visions, themethods and tools to achieve this.
How can quality contribute toimproving European businesses?
Quality management and excellence leadthe way. They strengthen organisations to face increasingly globalised markets;ever-greater customer requirements, the growing demands of society regardingbehaviour and products, and increasingly complex processes. Success factorsare:
- requirements, expectations andwishes of customers are recognized and fulfilled
- staff are challenged and supportedin equal measure
- processes are defined, installed andcontrolled
- management systems are documented,combined and developed further
- objectives are agreed upon and theirfulfilment monitored
- a continual improvement process isin place
- management participatesactively by setting an example.
