In 2015, I started looking around for a better solution than the paper and spreadsheet-based tools I had been providing to clients to manage their Quality Management System (QMS).  I found that the available software was either

a) ridiculously expensive, to the point that I couldn't recommend it with a straight face, or 

b) so rigid it couldn't accommodate my client's unique needs, or

c) so specific that you have to piece together several different software programs to come up with a QMS Frankenstein.  

 

In the fall of 2015, one of my clients, MANTL, asked me to automate their quality processes using their process management software.  I was blown away by how powerful, easy-to-use and affordable this software was. I went in to meet with RPM Software, the small, Calgary-based company that developed this software and found a hard-working, bright and energetic group of people with an amazing product.  I was hooked. I convinced another one of my clients to try it, and they were hooked.  Then another.  In the fall of 2016, I worked with RPM to co-develop the processes for Quartz QMS. We wanted to develop a set of out-of-the-box processes that would be ISO 9001 compliant right from day one.  These processes would also provide a starting point for a QMS that could be easily and quickly configured for any company.  Our first trade show was at the ASQ Conference in November 2016. Here's a picture of Brad Keitel, Jeremy Wilcox and me at that tradeshow (at the time, we were calling the software Cube).