The History of The TQM Network...

The TQM Network is a program of the Northeast Indiana Business Assistance Corporation (NIBAC) a 501c3 non-profit organization. NIBAC, originally founded by Graham Richard, and a local group of like-minded professionals dedicated to grass roots economic development through assisting others to improve individually and organizationally in the areas of competitiveness, profitability and quality. Through Cheri Becker’s diligent leadership and an active board of directors, we began working toward their vision for Northeast Indiana to become known internationally for the quality of its products, services, people and work life.

To begin the journey toward achieving that vision, in the early 1990’s a group of area manufacturers and community representatives collaborated to receive grants to fund this vision. A total of $385,000 from the State of Indiana through the Strategic Development Fund Grant (SDF) was secured and matched with almost $425,000 of private local capital to seed the development of a highly innovative program called the TQM Network.

Resulting in a learning and problem solving Network that provides value-added, real-world learning experiences in critical business areas such as advanced manufacturing, lean enterprise, problem solving, quality improvement, serving customers and administrative processes. TQM Network Member companies use these learning and networking opportunities to improve processes, reduce costs and increase overall profitability.

Since 1998, the TQM Network has offered world-class Six Sigma training. Participating organizations have experienced impressive, measurable benefits to their bottom line as a result of this training. Area organizations implementing these strategies have saved millions of dollars — real money, not ‘soft attributed savings.’

The TQM Network is the only known organization of the SDF Grant program to actually become self-sustaining, which was the ultimate goal of that grant program. Self-sustaining for nearly 10 years, the TQM Network has developed into a uniquely positioned resource provider — innovative, multifaceted, and highly collaborative.  

The strong relationships built over the past 15 years touch every part of the Northeast Indiana area, community/governmental leaders, school systems, professional development organizations, faith-based groups, industry, health care, service employers and their employees.  What draws all of these diverse groups together with the TQM Network is a desire to improve through applying best practice solutions.  We truly believe … “By sharing we all gain.”  This is not just a slogan for the TQM Network, but the premise that permeates all endeavors.