Engineers and Geoscientists BC OQM program innovative idea to a national success. Marg Latham, P. Eng., CMC Aqua Libra Consulting Ltd.

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1 Engineers and Geoscientists BC OQM program innovative idea to a national success Marg Latham, P. Eng., CMC Aqua Libra Consulting Ltd.

2 What you can expect? About: What it takes to develop and implement a profession-wide quality management program How the bar for professional practice (engineering and geoscience) quality management is being raised Successful implementation more than an excellent quality program or QMS

3 Your Speaker Today Marg Latham, P.Eng., CMC President, Aqua Libra Consulting Ltd: Consultant since 2011 for Engineers and Geoscientists BC ( the Association ) Instrumental in developing the Association s OQM Program and Certification Has assisted over 140 applicant organizations in their quest for OQM Certification Assists other clients in improving quality management and professional practice

4 Engineers and Geoscientists BC Regulator for engineering and geoscience professionals Governed by Engineers and Geoscientists Act of BC Continuously seeking ways to improve professional practice

5 The Problem

6 What were the issues? Years of the Association s practice review with findings primarily about: Professional practice quality management Not technical knowledge and competence

7 What were the issues? Quality assurance in professional practice influenced at two levels: 1. At an individual level through the practice of engineering and geoscience professionals Regulated by Engineers and Geoscientists BC 2. At an organizational level through QM policies and procedures implemented by engineering organizations No mandated authority to regulate

8 What was needed? Voluntary program that organizations would choose to implement Adoptable by: Any organization employing engineers or geoscientists Sole practitioners up to large multi-nationals Public and private sector organizations In all sectors

9 What was needed? Program that provided benefits to attract applicants Guidance to organizations about how to support their professionals in meeting their quality management obligations

10 The Project - Developing and Implementing OQM

11 Developing OQM Concept OQM Committee Pilot Program in 2010 Development/ industry reviews in 2011 Communication/ winning over Naysayers Editing and Legal Review in 2012 Launch in fall of 2012

12 Implementing OQM Communicating and Marketing Value Training Applicant Organization Reps Publicizing OQM-Certified Organizations

13 The Solution!

14 The Organizational Quality Management (OQM) Program

15 Mandated Quality Management Obligations Applying applicable Engineers and Geoscientists BC Professional Practice Guidelines Retaining project documentation for 10 years Checking of engineering and geoscience work Carrying out independent review of structural designs Authenticating documents using Engineers and Geoscientists BC seals Directly supervising all delegated engineering and geoscience work Carrying out field reviews during construction or implementation

16 Why OQM When we have ISO 9001? ISO 9001: Spans organization and industries Doesn t deal with How? OQM: Digs deep into professional practice quality management Speaks to How?

17 OQM Manual Section 1: Introduction and Use of OQM Manual Section 2: Engineers and Geoscientists BC Professional Practice Guidelines Section 3: Retaining Project Documentation Section 4: Checking Engineering and Geoscience Work Section 5: Independent Review of Structural Designs Section 6: Use of Engineers and Geoscientists BC Seal Section 7: Direct Supervision Section 8: Field Reviews Section 9: Implementing OQM

18 Testimonials Good clear language and easy to read Checklists seem thorough and should be very useful in guiding adoption and adherence to the guidelines Well presented manual

19 OQM Certification Voluntary and market-driven Recognition Flexible options to meet criteria Issued for one year Random Practice Review exemption

20 OQM Certification Fees based on number of professionals Policies and procedures consistent with OQM requirements Attestation signed by senior professional registered with Engineers and Geoscientists BC Annual renewal and review of substantive changes to policies and procedures OQM audits on site every 5 years

21 OQM Training and Support Webinars for professionals registered with Engineers and Geoscientists BC about Quality Management Guidelines Day-long training for organizations about how to implement OQM Program OQM Launch Assist

22 The Achievements OQM Success

23 In Review Launch September 6, 2012 OQM Reception April 25, 2012 CSAE ACE Award September 26, st Training Session Nov 20, st Certificates Issued March 20, 2012 Marsh Canada Limited 5% discount

24 Who s Certified?

25 Photo credit: Mits Naga Photography We are very proud to have achieved this certification. Jerry Dobrovolny, General Manager Engineering Services, City of Vancouver

26 Who s Participating? Size of OQM certified firms

27 Who s Participating? Sectors represented by OQM certified firms

28 Who s Participating? Business in Vancouver (local business newspaper) publishes lists of largest firms in various categories Of the 21 largest consulting engineering firms in the BIV, 18 are already certified Many were already ISO 9001 certified, but still saw value in OQM

29 Testimonials As a company, Sacré-Davey Engineering Inc. had been searching for a technical quality management program (other than ISO) for quite some time. We had made various attempts at implementing our own programs, all unsuccessfully. I was given the opportunity to review a draft version of the OQM, and realized it could be just what we needed. I presented the OQM program to the rest of our management team, and it was immediately accepted. William J. Alcock, Vice President Sacré-Davey Engineering Inc.

30 Testimonials I ve belonged to 3 APEG associations and two other professional societies for over 30 years. I ve never seen a program as directly useful to our company and members as this one! We have implemented it for all of our professionals in all jurisdictions. Rick Coueffin, P.Eng., PMP Director of Engineering & Project Management, Allnorth

31 Testimonials OQM works very well with our existing Integrated Management System (ISO 9001, ISO and OHSAS approved) and together these standards help us to achieve our goals for excellence and continual improvement. Shannon Gross. Knight Piésold Ltd.

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33 How is OQM Improving Quality Better understanding of QM obligations Educating clients and authorities about expectations and mandated practices OQM certification as selection criteria for professional engineering and geoscience Underwriters seeing value/ providing rebates Conversations about improving quality

34 Looking Ahead

35 Within BC Impact of recent high profile failures (Mount Polley and Algo Mall) Revisiting regulation of engineering and geoscience organizations in BC Role of OQM Continuing to raise the bar for professional practice quality management in BC And Canada...

36 OQM Across Canada Engineers Canada Umbrella group for provincial regulators Currently investigating the feasibility of OQM applying outside of BC 6 firms from 6 provinces volunteered to become OQM-certified to demonstrate viability of OQM outside of BC

37 OQM-Certified Firms across North America

38 Questions?

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