Quality Alchemist (品質煉金術師): ANQ Congress 2021 in Singapore

Asian Network for Quality (ANQ) Congress 2021 was held by Singapore Quality Institute (SQI) online via Zoom in Singapore from 20^th to 21^st Oct 2021. The theme is “Relentless Pursuit of Quality in VUCA World” (where VUCA stands for Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous).

Before the Congress start, many ANQ friends in the meeting room and we took a group photo.

Opening Ceremony

Introductory Video of Singapore was played before the conference. And then Mr. G.E. Tan (Chairman, SQI) gave welcome message.

Prof. Wan Seon Shin (Chairman, ANQ) gave welcome speech.

Keynote Address

Ms. Choy Sauw Kook (Director-General (Quality & Excellence) of Enterprise Singapore) was the first keynote speaker and her topic entitled “Building quality and trust for enterprises products and services in a VUCA world”.

Firstly, Ms. Choy introduced three key trends in a VUCA world which were Digitalization, Sustainability and Resilience.

Then she introduced Singapore’s Quality Infrastructure including standards development, adoption, TIC and accreditation.

Finally, Ms. Choy briefed how they driving and supporting QS adoption among enterprises. She concluded that international and national quality and standards communities help to support companies and society in adapting to new trends in the VUCA world.

Prof. Noriaki Kano (Honorary Chairperson, ANQ) was the second keynote speaker and his presentation named “Quality for New Product Development towards the Second Quarter of 21^st Century”.

Firstly, Prof. Kano reviewed quality for new product development in 20^th century “Quality for Cost (QfC) to Quality of Manufacture (QoM) and then to Quality for Sales (QfS) that realized through Quality of Product Plan (QoPP) and Quality of Design (QoD) in the 21^st century. Then he briefed Kano Model, Life Cycle of Quality and Attractive Quality Creation.

After that he explained the relationship among QoPP, QoD, QoM for customer satisfaction and customer delight.

Lastly, Prof. Kano stated data analysis that led to defect reducing in new product development with T-type matrix. Three axes of T-type matrix are Defect-Making (DM), Defect-Could-Have-Been-Found (DCHBF) and Defect-Finding (DF).

Prof. Goh Thong Ngee (Emeritus Professor, National University of Singapore) was the third keynote speaker and his topic was “Is there an antidote to VUCA?” Firstly, Prof. Goh mentioned some scenarios we faced such as economic, political issues, and unforeseen pandemics, etc.

Then he proposed another VUCA to face Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous World and they are “Value for Customers”, “Uniformity in Performance”, “Continuous Improvement” and “Agility in Operations”.

After that he explained the major support and pre-requisite for creating “New VUCA” in a VUCA world.

At the end, Prof. Goh quoted Deming statement as conclusion that constantly implement the “New VUCA”.

Parallel Session 1-12

Dr. KS Chin (Former Chairman, HKSQ) was session chair for SP-01 (Uncertainty, Change Management, Crisis Management) and Dr. Wilson Lam from HK presented in this session.

Dr. Wilson Lam’s topic named “Unlocking the benefits of alternative dispute resolution in enhancement of change management for construction projects in HKSAR from the project management perspective”.

Firstly Dr. Lam introduced construction sector in HK and then pointed out the problem that conflicts & disputes resulting in core challenges on high construction costs, delay and over-expenditure. Then he introduced his research objectives and methodology.

Finally, he concluded that benefits of the research included conflict management & negotiation skill enhancement (dispute avoidance), arbitration approach effectiveness and mediation approach employed for dispute resolution.

The second speaker was Mrs. Wang Lin (CAQ) and her topic named “How to Build Brand-driven Operating Strategy under Uncertain Times – Based on the Research of Chinese Enterprises’ Brand Management Status.

In the beginning, Mrs. Wang briefed some main problems such as low brand awareness, lack of objective standards to measure corporate brand value and mechanisms to encourage brand development. Then she proposed “Total Brand Management” Model.

After that she proposed Sand Pile Model of the Brand from Quality to Credibility to Responsibility to Technology and then to Brand. Finally, Mrs. Wang introduced 8 steps to improve the level of brand management.

Then I went to the session SP-09 (Quality Management) and I was the speaker in this session. Ms. Lang Fei (CAQ) is chair this session.

My presentation title named “Preliminary Study on Gamification of Extension Innovation Method”. My study aimed to use gamification mechanism into Extension Innovation method for primary and second school students.

In the beginning, I quoted Qian Xuesen’s famous question “Why do our schools always fail to nurture outstanding talents?” as my motivation to find how and what should do to solve this problem. I proposed to teach student “Extenics” in funny way so as to enhance their creativity and innovation.

Then I introduced Prof. Cai Wen’s Extenics which is original Chinese developed innovation method and is also one of fundamental AI theory in China.

After that I briefed my preliminary idea of board game design for extension innovation method and showed the conceptual idea of prototype of board game.

Finally, I expected the gamification of extension innovation method could enhance Learning Adoption Level from comparative low to high with high theory structure level.

The second speaker was Ms. Ma JunJie (Bei Jinmei Group General Hospital) and her presentation was “The appliance of Quality Control Circle in Improving the Implementation Rate of Step Puncture Method for Arterivenous Fistula Amond Blood Purificatioin Nurses.

She employed QCC to improve the patient’s arm aesthetic appearance and the quality of nursing.

The third speaker was Mr. Li Xiaofei (CAQ) and his topic name “Maturity Evaluation of an Organization Quality Management System: Models, Methods and Values. He said apart from quality certification, many organizations urgently need further demonstrate their quality assurance ability to the outside with the aim to guide customer’s selection and procurement.

QMS maturity evaluation model aimed to improve the QMS from conformity to good and then to excellent.

Finally Mr. Li showed the score of QMS maturity evaluation model based on ISO 9001 clauses.

Lastly, I had also joined the session SP-08 (Quality Management) and Dr. Chen Huayi (Intertek Testing Services (S) Private Limited, Singapore) chaired this session. One of presentation was attended.

The speaker was Mr. Shujaat Ali (Sungyunkwan University) and his presentation topic entitled “Blockchain-enabled Open Quality System in Industry 4.0 era: Research Challenges and Applications”.

In the beginning, Mr. Ali reviewed blockchain in smart manufacturing and development in industry 4.0 QMS. Then he proposed the Open Quality Blockchain (OQB) system.

Finally, he discussed the OQB applications and challegnes, as well as, concluded that OQB had potential to initiate industrial disruption in decentralized global organization.

After the parallel sessions, different awards were presented.

Ishikawa – Kano Award (IKA)

Firstly, Mr. Janak Mehta introduced the background of IKA Silver Medal that to be awarded to professionals from the field of quality management who made outstanding contribution to the cause of quality in their respective country and in Asia over a long period of time.

Criteria of Ishikawa-Kano – Silver Medal was stated.

Since the award named by two quality gurus, Mr. Mehta introduced Prof. Kaoru Ishikawa and Prof. Noriaki Kano, respectively.

IKA Silver Medal was awarded to Dr. Albert H.C. Tsang (Former chairman, Hong Kong Society for Quality) to recognize his long term outstanding contribution to Hong Kong, China and 5 other countries.

HKSQ had arranged a celebration in Hong Kong and record a short video for IKA Silver Medal presentation.

After the video played, Dr. Albert Tsang appreciated to ANQ and committed to continue contributing on quality society.

Then Mr. G.E. Tan (Chairman, ASA & ARE-QP Committee) presented Asian Service Award (ASA) and ANQ Recognition for Excellence for Quality Promotion (ARE-QP).