Thursday, December 16th, 2004

APO Productivity Seminar a Resounding Success

The organization concludes a four-day Total Quality Management conference in a rigorous distance learning environment

The Asian Productivity Organization concluded a highly successful seminar on Total Quality Management (TQM) today as participants in Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, and Japan wrapped up four days of lectures, discussions, site visits, and training.

The conference was opened December 13 by APO Secretary-General Shigeo Takenaka. Following welcoming remarks by Yukio Yoshimura, World Bank Vice President and Special Representative, Japan, the keynote lecture was delivered by Professor Kosaku Yoshida of Aoyama Gakuin University's Graduate School of International Management. Mr. Keizo Ninomiya, a consultant with Furukawa Techno Research, then presented on problem solving in the TQM cycle with examples drawn from Japanese companies.

After visits to observe various companies in the participants' countries on the second day of the seminar, the final two days were led by Mr. Masahiko Arakawa, Director of the Arakawa Institute for Industrial Management.

Mr. Arakawa heard presentations from each of the participating countries and conducted question and answer sessions in response to these presentations. In the afternoon of the third day he then lectured on inspection assurance and TQM procedures.

For the final day of the conference, Mr. Arakawa lectured on statistical methods and quality control, leading participants through a demanding but rewarding series of case studies, exercises, and statistical training, all facilitated by the distance learning capabilities of the GDLN.

The TDLC congratulates the APO on a remarkable and very successful event, and we're proud to have been able to support the organization in conducting this seminar. We look forward to seeing future effective and innovative events developed by the APO right throughout the region.

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Related links:

Asian Productivity Organization