Willy Vandenbrande

ABOUT THE PRESENTATION
Out-Of-The-Big-Box Thinking / A Paradigm Shift to Quality
Out-of-the-box thinking has been a slogan for many years and is an important and vital concept in our quest for innovation. However, there are many boxes that can be defined in which we are contained. This goes from our product to our job to our company to our local society, … and finally to the overall system: planet earth. Up till now out-of-the-box thinking has been limited to the small boxes of developing a new product or service or making existing products or services more efficient. Quality has played an important part in that. But what about the much bigger box of our growth based economic system?
There are more and more signs that indicate that this model will not be sustainable. Rich regions, like the European Union, are faced with a declining and aging population. This means consumption is going down and growth becomes an idea of the past. If we are thinking truly globally, we should embrace this because it is clear that we are reaching the limits of what this planet can take. But instead of using this opportunity to create a better world, we are calling this “crisis” and look for solutions within the box of a growth economy. It will not work and it is not advisable. The only result will be an eternal crisis.
Quality could offer a much better answer by turning our obsession with quantity into an obsession with quality. But to do that our definition of quality will need to be shifted from a focus on economic value to a focus on intrinsic value, our aim from volume to beauty, our metrics from money to impact on society. Our leadership will need to change and be willing to let go of old principles that are no longer valid.
Professionals in the quality field can make an important contribution to this very much needed fundamental transformation. We have the tools that allow us to tackle problems at that scale in a scientific and facts based manner. But we need to use them with the aim of creating a new big box that is directed at quality of life and sustainability.
Several examples will be given in the presentation both to illustrate the end of the current model of quantity and to show what possibilities lie within the new model of quality.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Willy Vandenbrande is an independent consultant. He founded QS Consult in 1995 and is active in the fields of Quality Systems, statistical techniques, Six Sigma and Lean Manufacturing.
Willy holds a Masters degree in Civil Engineering Metallurgy from the State university of Ghent (Belgium) and a Masters Degree in Total Quality Management from the University of Limburg (Belgium) as well as Six Sigma Black Belt Certification from the American Society for Quality (ASQ). His work experience includes research and development at the State University of Ghent, Belgium and he has held responsible positions in production and quality for Clark-Hurth Components.
He is an ASQ Fellow, ASQ country counselor for Belgium and member of the Global Advisory Committee of ASQ. He has delivered presentations at many conferences all over the world and has written numerous articles on Quality Management.