Celebrating My Journey: Honored as Quality Magazine's 2026 Quality Professional of the Year
- Heather Wade
- 1 day ago
- 5 min read
Recognition in any profession marks a milestone, but being named Quality Magazine's 2026 Quality Professional of the Year stands as a defining moment in my career. This award reflects years of dedication, learning, and contribution to the fields of quality and measurement science (metrology). This recognition fuels my commitment to advancing quality in every project I undertake.
TL:DR - Link to The Article:
The Path to Excellence in Quality
Quality, including measurement quality, is more than a set of policies and procedures; it is a mindset that drives continuous improvement and customer satisfaction. Early in my career, I realized that quality is the backbone of any successful product or service. My journey began with hands-on roles where I learned the importance of attention to detail and the impact of quality on business outcomes.
Over time, I embraced formal training and ASQ certifications that deepened my understanding of quality principles. I applied these principles in diverse industries, from manufacturing to service sectors, always focusing on measurable improvements.
Key Contributions That Shaped My Career
Several initiatives stand out as pivotal in my career and contributed to this recognition:
Transitioning an internal calibration lab from a paper-based system to a fully electronic system.
As a one-person calibration and asset management lab, managing a growing inventory of measuring & test equipment (from 600 pieces of equipment to several thousand pieces of equipment), I converted all procedures, record templates, scheduling, and equipment records to fully electronic (retiring the quickly-filling file cabinets), directly saving time, streamlining documentation & records, easier record review, faster reverse traceability searches, and ability to track equipment stability with control charts (and saved a few trees, too).
Instituted a delayed-dating program
With the growing inventory of measuring & test equipment, we found that we were simply calibrating some equipment simply because it came due for calibration and it hadn't been used since the previous calibration. By implementing an evidenced-based delayed-dating program for calibrated measuring and test equipment, we reduced overall annual calibrations by 5 % even though the overall calibrated equipment inventory was increasing 10 % a year, directly saving on labor costs and delayed having to hire another technician for a couple more years.
Saved >$1,000,000.00+ annually on a $100k budget
Challenged as a one-person lab who quickly grew to 2 of us, we tracked our time to see where our time wastes were. We were able to see that for many pieces of measuring & test equipment, it took more time to send them out for external calibration than it took to do the calibration ourselves. This time included finding & contacting a vendor, retrieving the equipment, updating our request template, packing it, shipping it, communicating with the vendor, paying for the calibration, receiving it back, verifying it, updating the equipment database, and returning it to service. By constantly learning new techniques and procedures, attending conferences and tutorials, seeing new equipment that would improve our measurements and capabilities, we were able to calibrate >90 % of our own equipment.
How a conference exhibit hall and a quick calculation resulted in a 6-month return on investment (ROI)
One notable success was the calibration of a significant investment in temperature and temperature/humidity data loggers used across the multiple labs: monitoring fridges, freezers, cold rooms, ambient labs, incubators, ovens, and chambers. We had to have extra loggers to put in place while the main data loggers were sent out for calibration; at a turnaround time of one month. We were able to invest in the appropriate reference standards and equipment to calibrate these in-house. Now we had overnight turnaround times and paid for the new reference standards within 6 months by what we saved in costs for outsourcing and additional loggers.
Recruiting a Diverse Group of ASQ Certified Calibration Technicians for CCT Exam Updates
As Certification Chair of the ASQ Certified Calibration Exam Subcommittee, I was also in charge of recruiting volunteers for the multiple stages of ASQ CCT exam updates. I made sure to invite a diverse background of folks and across a diverse breadth of industries. This diversity created such robust ASQ CCT certification exams that there were no "Score Alls" in that 5-year exam cycle. (Score Alls are when reviewed feedback from a CCT exam taker revealed that the exam item commented on, had more than one possible correct answer; thus, resulting in everyone receiving credit for that exam item, a "Score All".)
Implementing Data-Driven Decision Making
Introducing statistical control tools helped predict when our reference standards would likely drift out of tolerance. This allowed us to adjust calibration intervals, institute intermediate checks and other quality control activities that resulted in a >98 % in-tolerance rate (this means that < 2 % of all calibrations, of which we performed thousands of calibrations per year, were out of tolerance).
Mentoring Future Quality Professionals
Sharing knowledge and experience with emerging talent has been a rewarding part of my work. Many mentees have gone on to lead successful quality initiatives themselves.
These examples highlight how practical, focused efforts can create lasting improvements and build a culture of quality.
The Role of Continuous Learning and Adaptation
Quality standards and measurement technologies constantly evolve. Staying current requires ongoing education, networking, openness to new ideas, and always pushing myself to learn more and better ways of serving those around me. I have pursued advanced courses and attended and taught at industry conferences to keep pace with emerging trends.
Adapting to change also means embracing feedback and learning from setbacks. Early in my career, a project failed to meet quality targets due to insufficient stakeholder engagement. This experience taught me the value of communication and collaboration, which I now prioritize in every initiative.
The Impact of Recognition on My Professional Mission
Being named Quality Professional of the Year is not just a personal achievement; it is a responsibility. This award motivates me to:
Promote Quality Awareness
Advocate for quality as a strategic priority across organizations.
Support Innovation in Quality Practices
Encourage the use of new tools and methods that improve outcomes.
Foster a Community of Quality Professionals
Continue to build networks that share knowledge and support career growth.
Recognition from Quality Magazine validates the hard work and passion invested in this field. It also opens doors to new opportunities for collaboration and influence.
Advice for Aspiring Quality Professionals
For those starting or growing their careers in quality, here are some practical tips:
Focus on Results
Use data to demonstrate the impact of your work.
Build Relationships
Engage with colleagues across different departments, fields, and backgrounds to understand challenges and opportunities.
Keep Learning
Stay updated on standards, tools, and best practices.
Be Patient and Persistent
Quality improvements often take time but yield significant rewards.
Share Your Knowledge
Teaching others reinforces your expertise and strengthens the profession.
Looking Ahead: Continuing the Journey
This award marks a milestone, but the journey continues. I am committed to pushing the boundaries of quality management and helping organizations deliver excellence consistently. Future goals include exploring sustainable quality practices and integrating artificial intelligence to enhance quality control processes.
Quality is a dynamic field that touches every aspect of business and life. By focusing on clear goals, practical solutions, and collaboration, we can build systems that not only meet standards but exceed expectations.
Thank you for being part of my journey!
If you've read this far, here's the link to the article: 2026 Quality Professional of the Year: Heather Wade, The Measurement Expert | Quality Magazine
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