INNOVATION September-October 2012

Program offers APEGBC-endorsed Quality Management Certification

APEGBC’s Organizational Quality Management (OQM) Program has been developed to improve the quality management of professional engineering and geoscience practices at the individual and organizational level. This voluntary program offers certification to participating organizations. Requests for participation in the OQM program are now being accepted. The OQM Program offers organizations employing APEGBC professionals the opportunity to implement or adapt in-house quality management policies and procedures consistent with the requirements of the Engineers and Geoscientists Act and Bylaws. An organization can elect to participate in the program in a variety of ways. They can use policies and procedures already established by the organization that are consistent with the basic quality management requirements that APEGBC members and licensees must meet under the Engineers and Geoscientists Act and APEGBC Bylaws; adapt existing policies and procedures to be consistent with the basic quality management requirements; adopt APEGBC’s OQMManual as-is; or adapt the APEGBC OQMManual to meet the particular needs of the organization while remaining consistent with the basic quality management requirements. OQM certified organizations will be identified as adhering to an APEGBC-endorsed quality management program, and will be listed on the APEGBC website. Employees from these organizations will be exempt from APEGBC’s Practice Review Program. The first OQM certifications will issued in early 2013. To initiate your participation in the OQM Certification process, or for any inquiries regarding OQM certification, contact oqm@apeg.bc.ca. A number of resources are also available for viewing or download, including the OQMmanual, the APEGBC Quality Management Guidelines, and webinars on the six Quality Management Guidelines. For more information on the OQM program visit www.apeg.bc.ca/ppractice/oqm.html. A session on the Organizational Quality Management Program will be presented on Friday, October 26, 2012 at the APEGBC Annual Conference in Victoria, BC. For more information, visit www.apeg.bc.ca/ac2012/prodev/organizations.html.

Follow us on Twitter and Get the Latest Annual Conference and AGM News Follow @APEGBC for the latest news on annual conference sessions, highlights and promotions. The official Twitter hashtag for the APEGBC Annual Conference and AGM is #apegac12 . This year’s conference program includes over 70 hours worth of professional development sessions, with streams devoted to building codes, management, engineering and geoscience in the resource sector, environmental engineering, municipal engineering, structural engineering, young professionals, better business and more. The event offers four keynotes and four social events, including an exhibitor wine and beer reception and the President’s Awards Gala. The tradeshow will feature 48 exhibitors and showcase materials and services geared towards engineering and geoscience professionals. On Saturday, October 27 at 8:30 am, the Association of Professional Engi- neers and Geoscientists of BC will hold its 93 rd Annual General Meeting. All members are encouraged to attend the meeting, which will be held in Carson Hall at the Victoria Conference Centre. There is no charge to attend the AGM business portions of the An- nual Conference. For information on the 2012 confer- ence program, accommodations and registration, visit the conference website at www.apeg.bc.ca/ac2012.

Membership renewal update your practice Declaration and contact Information Members and licensees are reminded to keep their practice declaration and contact information up-to-date ahead of the annual membership renewal period. The practice declaration information provided by members

and licensees identifies industry of practice and fields of expertise. It is used in the online member directory on the APEGBC website and assists the private and public sector in connecting with members and licensees to meet their engineering and geoscience related needs. The information also better assists APEGBC in more accurately identifying and serving members by practice area and expertise. In preparation for annual membership renewal, members are also asked to keep their contact information up-to-date prior to the renewal period (October 21-December 31, 2012). As the annual membership renewal package will be sent to the most current mailing address or e-mail address on file, please verify that this information is correct prior to October 21, 2012 . Updates to practice declaration and contact information can be made through the APEGBC online member portal located at https://secure.apeg.bc.ca/. Members can also verify and update their communication preferences to determine which communications they receive from APEGBC as well as their delivery preferences.

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