Introduction

Estonian Association for Quality (EAQ) was established in 1991 by thirty specialists of quality and professors of higher educational institutions. EAQ has been a full member of European Organization for Quality (EOQ) from the year 1993 and a member of Institute of Quality Insurance (IQA) from the year 1999.

The vision of Estonian Association for Quality is to be an outstanding developer in the field of sustainable performance excellence in the Estonian Society and the mission is to support Estonian organizations by implementing, spreading and developing up-to-date know-how in performance excellence.

Core values of EAQ:

ü       Competence

ü       Commitment

ü       Openness

ü       Innovativeness

ü       Continual improvement

ü       Social responsibility

ü       Co-operation

Main goals of EAQ are:

ü       Assist in the process of increasing the competitiveness of Estonian enterprises and organizations by increasing the competence of business excellence and innovativeness as well as developing quality infrastructure;

ü       Participate in formation of quality policy as well as developing infra and support structures;

ü       Assist in increasing awareness in matters of quality as well as enhancing qualification in public, private and the third sector

ü       Introduce and promote different management and innovation methods, spread respective know how;

ü       Assist in promoting information concerning quality matters;

ü       Represent the interests of the members of the organization in developing and implementing economic, administrative and expanding processes

ü       Represent Estonia in European Organization of Quality (EOQ) as well as in other international organizations;

ü       Organize domestic and international co-operation between organizations and individuals interested in respective matters;

ü       Conjoining organizations and individuals interested in quality matters

Estonian Association for Quality plays an important role in the infra structure of quality in Estonia by

ü       Linking by its activities/services and co-operational network in the best possible way the interests, needs, possibilities and competence of public-, private and the third sector

ü       Playing an active part in influencing positively the quality of life, competitiveness and image of Estonia

ü       Mediating and spreading various and up-to-date international information, know-how and contacts concerning performance excellence to the members of the association as well as the public generally using its co-op network

Membership of EAQ:

ü       Anybody acknowledging and meeting the demands of the statute of the organization can be a member. The member participates in the activities of the organization and pays regularly the fee.

ü       The organization has 113 individual and 48 collective members at the moment (01.10.2005), who represent public, business or the third sector organizations and enterprises

As a member of the EAQ you will be able

ü       To give your contribution in the development of the Estonian sustainable performance excellence

ü       To share of the best practice of business excellence

ü       To receive up-to-date information about the trends of quality in the world and in Europe

ü       Improve your personal competence as well as the competence of your organization in the field of performance excellence