The Group has now been in existence for more than 25 years, celebrating it’s Silver Anniversary in 2002. In order to recognise this event a special Workshop was held entitled ‘Quality Circles – 25 Years On’. The topic was chosen to reflect the first ever Workshop that dealt with the ‘new to the UK’ idea of ‘Quality Circles’ and the Japanese Economic Miracle.
We were fortunate to have the same speaker – Ian Hannah, who is now Director of Programmes for SQMC located in Dunfermline. Ian has been involved in ‘Quality’ innovation since 1967 in Canada, USA and latterly Scotland. Ian has worked as a Quality Manager, Quality Consultant and University and College Tutor after graduating P.Eng in Canada. He has been a long-standing member of the IQA Education Panel and was formerly Director of a Masters Degree in Quality Management. More recently, Ian has been involved in the development of the EFQM’s ‘Excellence’ Model.
The group started off life in 1977 as the Fife Quality and Reliability Group, meeting in Glenrothes Technical College with representatives from ‘like minded companies’. The first Chairman of the group was Joe Bosworth. Joe worked for Nairn Floors, Kirkcaldy (now Forbo Nairn) and was a prime mover in the Quality Management World within the group’s catchment area of Fife.
The group has gone through two name changes in the past 25 years, from Fife Quality and Reliability Group to Fife and Tayside Quality Group and finally two year’s ago to the Forth and Tay Quality Group (FTQG).
Joe Bosworth decided to retire in 1979, back to Morecambe Bay in Lancaster, and at this time the group agreed that it would be an ideal opportunity to name an Annual Quality Award after him. This resulted in the Joe Bosworth Shield being created. This went on to become an annual award, presented to the member company who had best demonstrated an aspect of Quality Management via a company initiative.
And where are we now? The group presently has 30+ member organisations located throughout the Forth and Tay area. They cover such diverse areas of business as Consultancy, Papermaking, Timber Merchanting and Training, including representatives from both the public and private sectors.
