8:00 AM - 8:30 AM

Registration

8:30 AM

Sarah Manea

Opening Remarks - ASQ Toronto Section Chair

8:30 AM - 9:15 AM

Sunee Samuel

Region of Peel

Morning KeyNote: Why Emotionally Intelligent Leaders Build Cultures that Thrive in a Globalized, AI-Driven World

As AI accelerates automation and expands the global workforce, true quality no longer comes
from efficiency alone—it comes from emotionally intelligent leadership. While machines
manage the tasks, it's human-centered leaders who shape the conditions for trust, inclusion,
and cultural alignment. In this new reality, emotional intelligence isn’t just a soft skill, it’s the
backbone of quality assurance.
This session explores how emotionally intelligent and inclusive leadership practices are now
essential to maintaining quality, cohesion, and performance in AI-powered, cross-cultural
environments. As teams become more dispersed and diverse, leaders must prioritize empathy,
psychological safety, and meaningful connection to ensure excellence is sustained—not just
produced.
Join Sunee Samuel for a timely and practical exploration of why there is no quality without EQ,
and how the leaders who center people, not just processes, will define the future of high
performing, resilient organizations.

Learning Outcomes:
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
• Understand how AI and globalization are redefining quality—from efficient outputs to
human-centered excellence
• Recognize that quality work comes from people who feel safe, valued, and empowered
to contribute
• Apply emotionally intelligent leadership practices to build psychologically safe cultures
that elevate trust, accountability, and performance
• Use inclusive leadership to foster belonging and resilience across diverse, globally
distributed teams
• Redefine quality assurance as a cultural outcome, one driven by emotionally intelligent
leaders who invest in people, not just process ns.

9:15 AM - 10:00 AM

Jonathan Madriaga and Kevin Richards

AstraZeneca

Accelerating Clinical Quality and Inspection Readiness Through Digital Transformation and AI

This session will delve into AstraZeneca’s evolving approach to clinical quality through digital transformation, showcasing how our commitment to innovative technologies—including artificial intelligence (AI)—positions AstraZeneca as a thought leader in the life sciences industry. Participants will discover how digital advancements are driving continuous improvement in clinical quality, further reinforcing our leadership in shaping the future of healthcare.
Attendees will gain insight into how analytics, workflow automation, and AI-driven solutions are transforming clinical quality. These technologies enable teams to implement proactive, risk-based strategies that enhance prioritisation, resource allocation, and the overall value of quality activities.
Additionally, the session will highlight practical strategies and change management approaches for integrating digital transformation and AI into everyday quality work. Attendees will learn how to effectively apply new technologies, optimise processes, and guide teams through change to ensure sustainable adoption.

Learning Objectives/Outcomes:
- Understand the Digital Transformation Journey: Explore how automation, analytics, and AI are reshaping clinical quality processes and reducing administrative burden.
- Gain Insight into Best Practices: Discover practical strategies, tools, and change management approaches for embedding digital transformation into everyday quality work.

10:00 AM - 10:30 AM

Exhibitor Demo

DSQ Metrology/ Alltech - Sarah Manea

10:30 AM - 11:15 AM

John Nasar

Ford Motor Company

AI in Automotive Inspections

11:15 AM - 12:15 PM

Lunch (Provided)

12:15 PM - 1:00 PM

Dr. Michael Mladjenovic

The Sensei Group

Afternoon Keynote: Intelligent Quality - Driving Business Value in the Era of AI

In today’s fast-paced, data-driven world, traditional quality management is no longer sufficient. The age of AI demands a new approach—Intelligent Quality—where data, digital tools, and human insight come together to drive business value, not just compliance. Join Dr. Michael Mladjenovic as he explores how quality professionals and organizations can thrive in this new era.

What You’ll Learn:The shift from compliance-based to value-driven quality
How AI and automation are transforming quality tools and roles
Core technologies: predictive analytics, process mining, and no-code AI
How to lead change and integrate quality into your digital strategy
Practical steps for reskilling, realignment, and results

1:00 PM - 1:45 PM

Nikhil Pal

Roche

From Reactive to Predictive: How AI is Transforming Root Cause Analysis and CAPA

In the age of AI, traditional reactive approaches to Root Cause Analysis (RCA) and Corrective and Preventive Action (CAPA) are no longer enough. Organizations drowning in quality events, deviations, and complaints need a smarter way to prevent recurrence and accelerate resolution. This session explores how AI-powered analytics—combined with Lean Six Sigma thinking—can transform CAPA from a compliance exercise into a strategic quality enabler.
Drawing from real-world implementations in pharmaceutical and electronics manufacturing, I’ll share how machine learning, NLP, and pattern recognition can detect failure trends, recommend likely root causes, and even suggest preemptive actions—before problems escalate.

We’ll explore:• Key use cases: AI in complaint trending, deviation clustering, and audit readiness
• The evolving role of quality professionals in AI-enabled RCA workflows
• Overcoming resistance: How to build trust in AI-assisted decision-making
• Frameworks for integrating predictive tools into existing QMS and compliance systems
Attendees will leave with actionable strategies to elevate their CAPA systems using AI—without compromising regulatory rigor or human judgment.
This session is ideal for quality leaders, CI practitioners, and digital transformation teams aiming to make their quality systems future-ready.

1:45 PM - 2:30 PM

Denis Devos, P.Eng

Devos Associates

Cost of Poor Quality

The Cost of Quality (COQ) is a powerful way to measure the effectiveness of a Quality Management System in a single metric. This presentation will explain the basics of the Cost of Quality model and how to calculate the costs of conformance and non-conformance. One very common complaint from engineers and quality practitioners is that they aren’t able to convince senior management to provide funding for their initiatives. By speaking the language of business, one can show the pay-back potential using the ‘free money’ that a reduction in external failure costs provides. Through informative explanations and illustrative examples, this presentation will be an ideal introduction to the Cost of Quality metric and how it can benefit your organization

Learning Objectives:
• Calculating costs of both conformance and non-conformance
• Use COQ calculations to support a business case for investment
• Opportunity Costs as the true impact of poor quality on your organizationThis presentation is for you if you are:
• Plant Manager, Managing Director, etc.
• Engineering or Operations Manager
• Quality Engineer or Manager,
• Lean or Continuous Improvement Manager

2:30 PM - 3:15 PM

Vijay Thamaraikanna

Metrolinx

How AI elevates traditional Lean and Six Sigma principles

The emergence of AI is not just transforming industries; it is redefining the very essence of quality. In this session, we will explore how organizations can evolve their quality practices by embedding AI into the core of their operations. We will examine how intelligent automation, predictive analytics, and generative AI are enabling unprecedented levels of precision, speed, and consistency. Attendees will gain insights into how AI elevates traditional Lean and Six Sigma principles, and what this shift means for professionals aiming to stay ahead in the new digital quality landscape.

3:15 PM - 3:30 PM

Exhibitor Demo

Sigma XL - John Noguera

4:00 PM

Bill Lacy

Closing Remarks - ASQ Inspection Division Chair