Original Date: 01/22/2001
Revision Date: 01/18/2007

The Quality Forum is an annual one-day conference held in the Tri-Cities Tennessee/Virginia Region since 1988. Its purpose is to increase awareness and provide assistance in regard to implementing continuous quality improvement.

The Quality Forum is an annual one-day conference used to increase awareness, promote interest, and demonstrate results of quality principles. Started in 1988, the Forum primarily focuses on education, healthcare, service organizations, government, and manufacturing. The event is planned by representatives from Northeast State Technical Community College, The Business Journal of Tri-Cities, the local chapter of the American Society for Quality (ASQ), and other interested organizations.

The event’s format consists of a morning keynote speaker(s) followed by two to three concurrent sessions, each consisting of at least eight presentations, throughout the day. Keynote speakers come from all walks of life and have included CEOs of major corporations and Tennessee Quality Award winners. Another aspect of the event is the Quality Showcase where companies share their success stories through posters and manned exhibits. Participants are chosen by the planning team. Companies interested in this segment of the Forum submit detailed abstracts on their spotlighted project or problem. The Quality Forum, held in Spring, keeps attendee fees to a minimum by charging only for lunch and materials. In addition, high schools are invited to send a team of students to the Forum at no charge. The cost is covered by private contributions and the generous support of sponsors.

The Quality Forum is open to everyone, but particularly targets those in the Tri-Cities Tennessee/Virginia Region. The Forum attracted 75 attendees during its first year, and attendance for 2001 is anticipated at 450 to 500 participants.

For more information see the Point of Contact for this survey.