The National Committee for Quality Assurance has announced that 39 health plans have committed to participate in NCQA’s Quality Plus program.Collectively, the plans cover 11.5 million Americans. Quality Plus standards focus on the depth, accuracy and interactivity of the information health plans provide to members. Quality Plus is the first set of standards in the quality improvement effort, which as a whole is called Member Connections.

The International Organization for Standardization Technical Management Board is circulating a new work item proposal for an ISO Guidance Standard on Social Responsibility. The first meeting of the ISO/TMB group that will develop the proposed ISO SR standard will be held March 7–11 in Brazil. The American National Standards Institute formally supports the effort, and encourages all members to provide input into the development process.

Nanometrics Inc. and August Technology Corp. have announced that they plan to merge.  

Masami Tanaka started 2005 with a new job, president of the International Organization for Standardization. Tanaka emphasized in his inaugural message the need for sustainable development and standardization in a globalized society. “Sustainable development and the global economy require international standards that, at the same time, lower technical barriers to trade and disseminate technologies and good practices,” he said.

ISO recently released a formal transition plan for organizations working toward compliance with ISO 14001: 2004.The transition plan is designed to help organizations registered to ISO 14001:1996 update their EMS to be consistent with the new version of the standard. After May 15, 2006, the International Accreditation Forum will only recognize registrations to the 2004 version of 14001.

The National Quality Institute recently made available a self-evaluation tool for small businesses that wish to improve. The program was designed for organizations with fewer than 100 employees and provides an outline of how to evaluate businesses, as well as tips on how to plan, carry out and score self-evaluations. NQI will assist those taking the course with an online review of the drivers of excellence that help create a quality culture across organizations.

Grand Canyon University will offer an MBA in Six Sigma through its Ken Blanchard College of Business. Classes will be offered at the university campus in Phoenix, as well as online and at training facilities coordinated with major corporations. The college decided to offer the degree after surveying top-level corporate hiring managers, who reported that Six Sigma training is a big benefit to job applicants.

The American Society for Quality recently launched a new membership program that allows additional access to membership benefits. Sustaining members will continue to receive access to ASQ networking opportunities, literature, strategic initiative materials and journals. In addition, each sustaining member may select membership in one topic- or industry-specific forum or division.

The Performance Management Group will offer an enhanced management training boot camp in four cities this year, starting in February. The consulting firm added team leadership, metrics and scorecarding to its schedule of intensive management training sessions. The upgraded sessions, which last a day each, will debut in Phoenix, Seattle, San Diego and Denver.

Sypris Test & Measurement Inc. was recently named a certified supplier for the testing of military aircraft electronics manufactured by BAE Systems.The certification will allow BAE Systems to stock Sypris product without inspecting it first, saving the company time and money, while maintaining optimum product quality. “We trust them 100 percent with what they do,” says Bob Farley, BAE Systems supplier quality engineer.