May ISO 9000 Users Group Meeting  

The next meeting of the ISO 9000 Users Group will be May 10, 2006, and be held at the Honeywell offices in Lanham. The meeting will start at 5:30 pm. Attendees are invited to participate in the networking as well as the free pizza and soft drink portion of the meeting.

May’s Presentation:

“Creating Sustainable Improvement with ISO 9001” by Mr. Gene Ritz.

Mr. Ritz is retired from IBM with over 30 years experience in a broad range of organizational disciplines including software development, quality management (ISO, CMM, Baldrige),  project management, systems engineering, marketing, human resources, training, finance, and management development. Private consulting practice for 10 years focusing on the quality management and the development of ISO compliant quality management systems. 

Mr. Ritz is currently serving as the Manager of the Maryland ISO Consortium Program.  The Consortium, a funded program of the State of Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development, provides training and consulting support to Maryland companies in the implementation of quality management systems that meet the requirements of ISO 9001.  The Consortium is beginning its twelve year of operation with over 300 Maryland organizations having participated in the program

The topic of the April meeting was “ISO 9001 Certification-the Value Proposition”. There was a discussion of the numerous reasons why a firm makes the commitment and chooses to become certified. In addition, how staying certified is a challenge and trends regarding the challenges involved were discussed.

For additional information please contact: Eugene Kirsch, Chair, at Kirsch_Eugene@bah.com. Or, contact: Alan Lane, Vice-Chair (Meeting Facilities) at alan.lane@honeywell-tsi.com.  Or, contact: Suzi Wesch, Vice-Chair (Communications) at swesch@verizon.net or Felicia Reed, Vice-Chair (Programs) at

Felicia.Reed@Ingenium.net

Directions:  Honeywell Inc. is at 7515 Mission Drive, Lanham, MD. Mission Drive is a left-hand turn off of eastbound Greenbelt Road, about a mile east of NASA Goddard. Take Exit 23/Kenilworth Ave off the Washington beltway inner loop, heading towards Washington. Stay to the right and follow the signs to NASA Goddard. Turn left onto Greenbelt Road/Rt. 193. Continue past Goddard (on your left). There will be a stop lighted intersection for Mission Drive.  Make a left on Mission Drive. Honeywell is on the right. Use the entrance by the flag poles.  Sign in at the guards' desk in the main entrance.

An alternative route from Washington DC would be to take the Baltimore-Washington Parkway north towards Baltimore. Immediately past the exit for the Washington beltway, take the exit for Greenbelt Road. Make a left at the light, heading eastbound on Greenbelt Road/Rt. 193. Continue past Goddard (on your left). There will be a stop lighted intersection for Mission Drive.  Make a left on Mission Drive. Honeywell is on the right.  Use the entrance by the flag poles.  Sign in at the guards' desk in the main entrance.