Vladimir Okrepilov

ABOUT THE PRESENTATION
Quality and the Innovative Capacity
As is known, quality improvement is carried out through innovation, since therein lies its role and essence. The possibility of the emergence and implementation of innovation depends on the innovative capacity, that is, on the set of innovative resources, namely means and supplies, intended to achieve the objectives of innovation (implementation of innovative strategies, programs, projects), which results in the quality improvement of the final consumption. And here the term "means" includes not only financial and technical support, but also human resources.
Based on the nature of the innovation process, we can highlight three components of the innovative capacity, among which the innovation resources are distributed: scientific and technical, educational, investment.
Scientific and technical component (scientific and technical capacity) characterizes the level of scientific and technological progress - the state of scientific and technical resource base (availability of equipment at working places, the level of progression of the equipment and materials); introduction of modern management techniques, including quality management; the level and the number of own and acquired developments and inventions.
Educational component characterizes the educational level of the labor force and the level of innovation culture – perception of innovations by personnel. This component allows implementing innovation in manufacturing. It describes not only the number of students and educational institutions, but the number of employees, their qualifying structure, the structure by branches of knowledge, the extent of their training, including the issues of quality and its management, availability of scientific schools, the number of patents and inventions.
Investment component characterizes the development level of market institutions, and allows turning novelty directly to innovation, because innovation is only such a novelty that gives benefits to the innovator, more precisely, the profit.
Innovative capacity requires the appropriate mechanisms (infrastructure), ensuring the development and implementation of innovations on a regular basis. It is the infrastructure that makes it possible for a novelty to pass through all stages of the innovation process.
In our view, science and technology component of the innovation capacity has the greatest impact on quality, because it’s science that is a "nutrient medium" for innovation, including innovation in management. Along with that a need of constant innovations shall be formed in the society through the educational component. And the investment component would allow innovation passing the way from scientific laboratory to the serial production.
It should be noted that there is a converse impact of quality on the innovative capacity components. New products and services, innovative management techniques contribute to the quality improvement of research, educational process, and, consequently, to the growth of investments. Thus, we can speak of a chain reaction in the innovation process - a process similar to a chain reaction of Deming.
Interrelations of quality, including quality of management, and innovative capacity will be further examined in a detailed presentation at the example of a specific region.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Born on February 23, 1944.
In 1970 - graduated from the Leningrad Mechanical Institute as a mechanics engineer, specialty: “mechanical equipment of automatic installations”.
In 1992 - received Doctoral Degree in Economics, and later on – Professor Rank.
In May 2000 - joined the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS) as a corresponding member.
He has worked in the system of GOSSTANDART of Russia as Chief Engineer of the research &- production association VNIIM named after. D.I.Mendeleev (1979-1986), Director of the Leningrad Centre for Standardization and Metrology (1986-1990), General Director of the State Regional Centre for Standardization, Metrology and Testing in St. Petersburg and Leningrad region («TEST - ST.PETERSBURG») - one of the largest government institutions within the system of the Federal Agency for Technical Regulating and Metrology (former - GOSSTANDART of Russia ) (1990- till the present).
Prof. Okrepilov is a successful leader of «Test - St. Petersburg» in implementation of government policy in the fields of standardization, assurance of measurements traceability, quality management, conformity assessment of products, services and management systems.
Prof. Okrepilov contributes much to improvement of quality and competitiveness of local products. Under his initiative, in 1997 the St. Petersburg Quality Award and the Leningrad Region Government’ Quality Award were launched.
V. Okrepilov successfully applies his experience and knowledge in his scientific and pedagogical activities. He is one of the organizers of the St. Petersburg’s multilevel education and training system for local quality professionals on the basis of several higher educational schools and «Test - St. Petersburg».
Prof. Okrepilov is a well-known scientist and economist, one of the founders of a new scientific field of economic science - economics for quality.
Prof. Okrepilov is the author of more than 400 written works, including 6 textbooks and 11 training manuals, recommended to higher schools by the Education Ministry of the Russian Federation.
Prof. Okrepilov is a full member (academician) of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), Deputy Chairman of St. Petersburg Scientific Centre of RAS, member of the RAS Presidium, Deputy Chair of Interdepartmental Northwest Coordinating Council for basic and applied research under the RAS, Member of the RAS Commission on nanotechnology, vice-president of the Science & Engineering Council under St.-Petersburg Government, member of the Presidium of the Interregional Union of Science and Engineering Public Associations, President of the St. Petersburg Branch of the Russia’s Academy for Quality Problems, vice-president of the Academy for Metrology.
Prof. Okrepilov is one of the founders of the Russian Academy for Quality Problems, a member of the Presidium and the president of its St. Petersburg Branch, a member of the Chartered Quality Institute (UK), the International Guild of Quality Professionals, and he is involved in the activities of the International network for management systems certification (IQNet).
Prof. Okrepilov has been awarded with the Rank of: “Deserved Person in Science & Engineering in the Russian Federation”, Orders: “For merits to the Fatherland – IV grade” and “The friendship of peoples”, State Science & Engineering Prize of the Russian Federation, Education Prize’2002 of President of the Russian Federation.
Prof. Okrepilov is married, has two sons.