Four hundred quality experts from industry, academia and government took part in the wide-ranging and productive Asian Network for Quality (ANQ) Congress 2012 at HKUST in August 2012, strengthening Asia's voice in the quality area globally.

The forum's theme focused on "Striving for Excellence through Product and Service Quality", with the event promoting academic research in the quality field and enhancing communication between quality practitioners and experts from different countries and regions.

Speakers at the event shared the latest developments in quality management and the application of quality assurance concepts in a corporate environment. They included Mr Masahiro Sakane, Chairman of Komatsu Ltd, Mr Gregory H Watson, Immediate Past Chairman of the International Academy for Quality, and Mr Janak Mehta, President of the International Academy for Quality. In addition, delegates discussed ways to extend quality concepts from product manufacturing to healthcare, education and other services to achieve greater quality of life and work.

The University co-hosted the event with the China Association for Quality and Hong Kong Society for Quality, with Prof Fugee Tsung, Head of Industrial Engineering and Logistics Management at HKUST serving as a Congress Co-Chair. Also attending were Mr John Hung, Secretary-General of the Hong Kong Council for Testing and Certification, Mr Qi Weiming, Chairperson of the Asian Network for Quality cum Vice-President and Secretary General of China Association for Quality, and Dr Lotto Lai, Chairman of the Hong Kong Society for Quality.

ANQ comprises non-profit organizations from 39 regions in Asia. It seeks not only to improve the quality of human life by contributing to the progress of science and technology but also to assist industry development through promotional activities for research and development of quality and quality management.