FGIS Forms Quality Roundtable

FGIS Deputy Administrator Randall Jones on October 30 announced the formation of a new Quality Roundtable.  Jones said the group was charged with ensuring that - at this time of great change for the agency - its ability to provide quality results and services remain as high as customers expect and its history deserves.  The group will meet November 19-20, 2009, in Kansas City.

Representing AAGIWA on the Roundtable are Vice Chairman Mark Fulmer, Lincoln Inspection Services, and Randall Deike, Washington State Grain Inspection Program.  FGIS officials named to serve on the Roundtable are:  Jim Brown, Kenneth Critchfield, Edward Durgan, Joe Hearns, Ronald Metz, Diane Palecek, Beverly Whalen, Mark Wooden, David Lowe, Michael Eustrom, David Funk, George Lewis, and David Mundwiler.

The Charter for the Quality Team states that its challenge is to find the best ways to ensure that inspection and service quality are maintained and coordinated throughout the official inspection system.

The Charter states that the Team Charge is:
To thoroughly and critically evaluate the official inspection system and programs; to determine the most efficient and effective allocation of resources (human) and mechanisms; to adequately safeguard the integrity of the national inspection system;  and to assure our grain, rice and pulse stakeholders inspection uniformity nationwide and around the world.  Central to the evaluation is assuring appropriate means are in place to encourage and enable service providers to maintain a sensible balance between mounting pressures to reduce costs and increase production, and practicing prudent quality control principles.  The team's evaluation will identify areas of concern and make recommendations to improve noted shortcomings in current practices, organizational structure, and technology.

To view the Quality Team Charter, click here.