The WQN executive team has been very busy recently. We have some great news to share with you regarding this activity and the pursuit of finding the finest solutions to improve the efficiency of overall operations for all of our clients. We have increased our strategic alliances, expanded our operations, and volunteered to become a part of a supply chain advisory board.

Both Dan and JoCeal Urbaniak of Worldwide Quality Network have recently volunteered time with the California Space Authority (CSA) Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development (WIRED) in the California Innovation Corridor (CIC). The CSA is a federally funded non-profit organization working closely with California's Business Transportation and Housing Agency along with the Governor's office. The main focus is to keep the aerospace economy strong in the golden state as we are the largest of this kind in the nation.

The 2007 Aerospace Outlook Conference will assemble a team of experts to discuss and provide practical solutions to the issues that are impacting your business and future growth. The focus of this year's conference is "OPTIMIZING THE SUPPLY CHAIN". WQN has been asked to participate on this advisory board as there are many concerns about the future stability of the supply chain and what measures need to be taken in order to strengthen the future of the entire industry. WQN will also be making a presentation at this year's SAE Aerotech conference scheduled September 17th at the Los Angeles Convention Center. The topic will include current trends in aerospace quality systems and how this relates to the entire supply chain. More information on this as well as future CSA discussions to come in the following months.

Worldwide Quality Network, Inc. (WQN) has acquired Alpha Research Group (ARG) Camarillo, CA - May 8, 2007. WQN, Inc. announced today that it has agreed to acquire the Alpha Research Group (ARG) pioneered by Walter J. Michalski, Ed. D. The acquisition combines one of the fastest growing quality management systems consulting, training, and development companies (WQN) with Dr. Michalski's expertise in providing tools and workshops for quality improvement teams (ARG). The new resources that ARG and Dr. Michalski bring to the table will expand WQN's capabilities and diversify our business strategy into the Six Sigma and LEAN market as well as new quality management system tools to be developed.

Dr. Michalski previously managed Alpha Research Group, a Quality/Process Improvement consulting firm specializing in providing the appropriate tools to assist organizational teams in their quality and process change initiatives. His work experience reflects 30 years in quality assurance, test/process engineering, and process improvement training. He has designed many problem-solving workshops and facilitated teams on quality issues, LEAN manufacturing, Six Sigma, process reengineering, integrated product development, continuous measurable improvement, customer satisfaction, quantitative and qualitative measurement/analysis, organizational change, and creative thinking techniques. As Adjunct Professor, he continues to facilitate at the graduate and undergraduate levels in the following subjects: research methods, statistics, TQM/TQS, project management, and leadership/organizational behavior. As Project Advisor, he has completed over 1900 student research projects, practicums, and theses.

Dr. Michalski was one of the original team members at Motorola when the Six Sigma concept was created. He is a Six Sigma Master and author of 5 books: 1) Six Sigma Tool Navigator: The Master Guide for Teams, 2) 40 Tools for Cross-Functional Teams: Building Synergy for Breakthrough Creativity, 3) 40 Top Tools for Manufacturers: A Guide for Implementing Improvement Activities, 4) 40 Top Tools for Manufacturers: A Guide for Implementing Improvement Activities, 5) 75 "ToolStrings" for Teams: Tool Navigator Supplement for Team Activities

Dr. Michalski has also created over 30 workshops. His training has been used by many prime contractors that include Hughes Electronics and Hughes Aircraft, Allied Signal Aerospace, Rockwell International, McDonnell Douglas, GTE California, GTE Automatic Electric, Direct TV, Xerox, as well as many county and state agencies, colleges, and universities. WQN has obtained permission to use materials from these workshops as well as the intellectual property contained within the books. A sampling of the workshop titles are: Tools for Teams, Why Teams Fail, JIT/CTM Manufacturing, LEAN Manufacturing, Employee Motivation and Involvement, Cycle Time Management, Supervisory Development, Train the Trainer, Process mapping and Cycle Time Flowcharting, and Need and Task Analysis Workshop. WQN has retained Dr. Michalski on our Advisory Board. He has also agreed to stay on as technical advisor for all of his previous work as well as development of new projects - workshops, tools, customized training, and books. We are very proud to have Dr. Michalski on our team. We are also excited about the new opportunities ahead and look forward to sharing this will anyone in need of process improvement.

If you haven't already done so please take a moment to watch our little movie. In just 3 minutes you will get a great feel for what we do. This is FLASH presentation so feel free to forward this to a colleague as the file isn't very large.

We have aligned ourselves with another 4 companies who offer various products. We do this because we feel these products are best in their class. If they aren't user friendly...and that means we should be able to use them like you do...and if not, we will not even consider them. We now offer software designed to integrate seamlessly into any Quality Management System that will easily maintain everything imaginable (this will most likely be our feature) - SPC software for LEAN and Six Sigma initiatives - User friendly software for equipment maintenance, safety, and calibration - Software for "Green Compliance" including ROHS....and if that isn't enough to mention, we are also working on bringing you more tools to help with FOD - Foreign Object Detection!

More information coming in our June newsletter. If you have any urgent requirements for any of our new software partners please contact us and we'll get you started.

Every month (2nd Tuesday) - Local ASQ meeting - Camarillo, CA at CoCo's Restaurant off 101 FWY and Los Posas. NOTE: No meetings July and August. Open to the public. Anyone visiting our area is invited to attend one of our dinner meetings or company tours sponsored by the American Society for Quality. The topics vary but are usually focused on quality improvement issues. For information on meeting places in your local area please check the www.asq.org link.

There are so many ways to improve an operation. Professional assistance is necessary to get the job done right. You might be able to do your own taxes, but it usually not recommended. But do you perform your own dental work? Yikes...we hate that analogy but it does seem to work. Seriously, take a look at some of our low cost solutions. You won't regret it!