(ASQ: Milwaukee, Wisconsin) -- The American Society for Quality will present three distinguished service medals and 10 national awards on May 5 during its annual World Conference on Quality and Improvement in Houston, Texas. The recipients are recognized for their innovative contributions and achievements in the area of quality methodology.

Distinguished Service Medals:
Marcos E. J. Bertin—For exceptional personal dedication to the global cause of quality improvement and his enthusiastic commitment and thought leadership in extending the reach of quality into the corporate boardroom.

Lennart Sandholm—For outstanding promotion of the philosophy, methods, and techniques of total quality management in Europe and Asia, and in recognition of a 40-year career in teaching, coaching, and developing the next generation of quality professionals.

Takanori Yoneyama—For distinguished leadership of the Japanese quality movement, a 40-year career as a practicing quality professional and chief executive for Konica, and for personally demonstrating the pragmatic marriage of quality and business in management.

National Awards:
Crosby Medal presented to Peter Patton and Bijay Jayaswa—For the enhancement and use of quality principles and tools to the information technology field.

Deming Medal presented to H. Thomas Johnson—Portland, Oregon, professor at Portland State University and a distinguished consulting professor at Bainbridge Graduate Institute, Bainbridge Island, Washington; in recognition of his enduring efforts to integrate Management by Means with Dr. Deming’s system of profound knowledge to foster insights and actions toward sustainability and to increase the possibility that humans and other life flourish on the Earth forever.

Feigenbaum Medal presented to Elizabeth Cudney—Rolla, Montana, assistant professor of engineering management; in recognition for her contributions to quality through research leading to valuable published results; teaching and presentations of quality principles and methods; professional activities supporting quality improvement, consulting and service to quality; and quality-related professional societies.

Freund-Marquardt Medal presented to Ofelia U. Barretto—Fullerton, California, for her many years of leadership in the development of standards for quality assurance and management systems. Her standards work in the pharmaceutical, dietary supplements, and processed foods industries has been accepted by nations worldwide.

Grant Medal presented to Tom Pyzdek—Tucson, Arizona, in recognition of more than four decades of contribution to quality education all over the world, including the authoring of the first ASQ exam study guide, the first statistical quality software packages, and three prestigious quality journals. In addition, for his exemplary efforts in embracing, incorporating, and teaching new technologies in quality sciences and authoring hundreds of articles and best-selling books on all aspects of quality.

Ishikawa Medal presented to John Timmerman—Chevy Chase, Maryland, corporate vice president of quality and program management for The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Co. LLC; for serving his fellow ladies and gentlemen within The Ritz-Carlton and around the world by advancing the practical application of Dr. Ishikawa’s precepts and achieving world-class customer engagement and financial results by ensuring the emotional engagement and well-being of employees.

Lancaster Medal presented to Madhav Sinha—Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, chief of engineering and head of quality programs, Manitoba Government Department of Labor; for his outstanding and exceptional leadership to enrich the global quality community through contributions in publications, standards writing, teaching, research, and promotion of quality, and for superior human skills and abilities in fostering cooperation among quality leaders.

Juran Medal presented to Sister Mary Jean Ryan, FSM—St. Louis, president and chief executive officer of SSM Health Care; for her exemplary visionary leadership and relentless efforts in pursuit of operational excellence to transform health care delivery at SSM Health Care, serving as a mentor and role model for other health care organizations around the world.

Shewhart Medal presented to C.F. Jeff Wu—Chino Hills, California, for seminal contributions to parameter design and quality improvement; for defining and building a modern system of experimental design; for education of a generation of quality professionals and professors; and for dedicated professional and editorial service in promoting quality improvement.

Brumbaugh Award presented to George E.P. Box and Carmen Paniagua-Quiñones—For “Two Charts: Not One,” published in Quality Engineering, Vol. 19, No. 2, 93-100, April-June 2007.The award is presented for the paper that has made the largest single contribution to the development of industrial application of quality control.

Each honoree will be awarded a medal or award during the honors ceremony on Monday, May 5, and will present a brief acceptance speech.

For more information, visit www.asq.org/media-room/press-releases/2008/20080312-quality-methodology.html.