Quality control experts gather

Press, 7 May 1983, Page 24

Quality control experts gather

About 120 delegates from firms, Government departments, polytechnics, and universities will attend the national conference of the Organistaion for Quality Assurance at Lincoln College for three days from next Wednesday. The size of the conference reflects the growing interest in quality control in New Zealand. This, says the national president, Mr Graeme Keeley, of Christchurch, has been greatly heightened by the Think Big projects. Overseas contractors have been seeking certifications of quality control level from New Zealand subcontractors. Dr John Garside will address the conference on new actions on regional qualitycontrol laboratories, which will eventually be able to assess quality standards in firms and give them certificates. This will allow New Zealand firms to provide the documentation that overseas companies increasingly require. The conference will also get an official view on quality controls and trade with Australia under Closer Economic Relations, but much of the time will be taken up with workshoptype sessions, topics including quality circles, statistics, and the use of computers in quality control. The New Zealand organisation recently signed an agreement with the American Society for Quality Control, said Mr Keeley, allowing for co-operation and interchange of methods and information. It was hoped from this that New Zealand examinations would be instituted for the American qualifications of certified quality technician and certified quality engineer. These would provide non-graduate qualifications to complement the qualifications in food and general quality control being offered by Massey University.