International Conference on Quality (ICQ 2025)

The Global Strategic Leadership Network for Executive Development and Innovation is a gathering of business leaders and top management executives from various industries at the International Conference on Quality (ICQ). This prestigious event is also attended by quality management consultants and leaders from diverse sectors. Traditionally, the conference is held once every three years on a rotational basis between the USA, a European country, and Japan.

For the upcoming ICQ, the Global Excellence Team (GET), David Hutchins International Quality College (DHIQC), and MakeWay Global, in collaboration with the Union of Japanese Scientists and Engineers (JUSE), are making this event truly special for those who register with us by granting unparalleled access to our participants.

Invitation to Join
The Strategic Leadership Network for Executive Development and Innovation

Aug 31st – Sept 6th, 2025

Limited spaces remaining!

International Conference on Quality (ICQ2025)

The International Conference on Quality (ICQ), first held in Tokyo in 1969, is widely recognized as the World Quality Conference. It attracts global leaders, researchers, and practitioners in quality management. After a pause since 2014—partly due to COVID-19—ICQ returns in 2025 in Tokyo with the theme: “Quality Next – Evolution of Quality Opens the Future.”

The event is hosted in rotation by the American Society for Quality (ASQ), the European Organisation for Quality (EOQ), and the Union of Japanese Scientists and Engineers (JUSE), with support from the International Academy for Quality (IAQ).

Shinichi Sasaki, Chairman of the ICQ2025 Organising Committee, describes it as a landmark event for shaping the future of quality management.

Participants joining the GET/DHI group will gain valuable insights through seminars and exclusive visits to award-winning Japanese organizations, where they will experience a uniquely effective approach to Total Quality Management (TQM) that differs from Western practices—with the goal of applying these lessons within their own organizations.

Our participants that attend this Global Strategic Leadership Network with us would glean the practicality of Japan industry’s global leadership in Quality Management and Continuous Improvement. It features the collective power of the frameworks such as Lean, Six Sigma, Agile, BPR, Hoshin Kanri, etc, and how all of these can be integrated into a total company-wide corporate programme.
DHIQC has maintained strong connections with JUSE, the pioneers of this Business Management Science and related Japanese industry and business leaders since the 1970s. The collaboration with JUSE has led to many Study Missions from Europeans over the ensuing decades, involving access to top companies in varying industries.

Note:  JUSE, established in 1947 during the American Occupation following World War II, was created by numerous leading Japanese companies to provide educational support for the revival of their industries. Initially serving as a capacity-building organisation, JUSE evolved into the headquarters of the International Quality Circles movement, which encompasses approximately 35 countries in the Far East. Further, it is the custodian of prestigious awards, including the Deming Prize and various national and international recognitions. DHI has maintained its alliance with JUSE since 1978.

Our Global Strategic Leadership Network participants will visit the operations of at least one of the world-leading companies in Japan. This first-hand experience allows our visitors to witness operational excellence and engage with their top management team members.

With the learning from other conference speakers, together with shared experiences from David Hutchins and Kola Olutimehin, participants gain invaluable insights into how Japanese methodologies can be successfully applied in their respective organisations. David and Kola would inspire participants to reflect on the differences they observe between their own business practices, and those of their Japanese counterparts and share experiences with other conference attendees that have come from across the globe. On return to their respective companies, we remain on hand to help implement any programme they witnessed, and even help develop your own varia
Participants can critically analyse their organisation’s culture and strategy, enabling them to identify transformative innovations that enhance performance and drive competitive advantage in their markets

The Global Strategic Leadership Network provides a good opportunity to network with a growing international community of support through involvement with GET.

There will also be an opportunity to debate the relevance of any cultural differences between Japan and those of their own societies.

The engagement with David and Kola will enable participants to ask multiple questions and get the chance to clarify key points.


Who should attend?

  • Board Chairmen and the Directors of the Board
  • Chief Executive Officers / Managing Directors
  • Executive Management Teams (entire teams are encouraged to participate)
  • Executives specialising in business strategy
  • Corporate Management Development Officers
  • Continuous Improvement Personnel of Organisations
  • Advisors to Top Management
  • Quality Management Personnel

  • Free Business Consultancy Day: We offer to companies who are funding their participants, a one-day free (excluding travel and subsistence expenses) business consultancy with David Hutchins and/or Kola Olutimehin (or nominated member of the GET team) time to consider the implications resulting from the lessons learned during the Global Strategic Leadership Network. Our roots stem back to the very origins of this approach to management since its origins in the 1950s and we have been involved in its evolutionary development through to and including the present day.

  • Relatability of Learning to Participants Own Organisations: We will provide our support and assistance with the development of a business transformation plan for your organisation and analysis of the potential issues involved.

  • Networking: The means to network with other like-minded participants, and new contacts not only in Japan, but connected of course with GET, who will be available beyond the Global Strategic Leadership Network itself to enable our participants to fully evaluate the successes and challenges that are faced in implementing the Business Management Science. Participants will have the opportunity to engage and exchange ideas with top professionals who may share similar experiences and insights.

  • Extended Access: Participants will have the opportunity to share insights and collaborate with us and one another in developing implementation strategies and techniques.

  • Availability of Mentors: A team of mentors, particularly, David Hutchins and Kola Olutimehin and complemented by the experience of other participants, will be present for the full days to provide mentoring, guidance, discussion, and clarification of any doubts. Consequently, participants will have a comprehensive opportunity for transferable learning that extends beyond the conference sessions.

  • Debriefing Workshop: Some time will be set aside as a debriefing session by David Hutchins and Kola Olutimehin. This will focus on transferring the learning from the conference sessions of the international event and industry visit(s) into realisable value for the participants. This workshop provides participants with an extra opportunity to seek clarification on any aspect from the prior conference sessions and company visits such that the concepts can be applied to their own organisations, regardless of their local culture.

  • Corporation Tax Incentive: To maximise the benefit of this event we highly recommend that organisations send as many as their whole management team to join the Global Strategic Leadership Network, which in many countries, including the United Kingdom, will reduce corporation tax or possibly other forms of taxation!

  • Learning through Fun: This Global Strategic Leadership Network is intended to combine business with pleasure, and to enable participants to use the Saturday weekend to enjoy the unique and stunning natural and cultural environment of Japan.

  • Spouses/Partners or Adult Children can be allowed to travel with any interested participant for a moderate sum to stay in the same facilities.
This Study Mission is intended to combine Business with Pleasure and to enable participants to use the middle weekend to enjoy the unique and stunning natural and cultural environment of Japan. Here are some of the highlights:

  • Season Timing: Early summer is usually a good time to visit Japan weather-wise.

  • Overcome Jet Lag: An extra day is recommended at the beginning of the program to allow participants to recover from jet lag, if necessary, or to enjoy free sightseeing in Tokyo at their own pace. This is not included in the schedule, but advice can be given if delegates wish to arrive earlier than the scheduled date. Drawing from our extensive experience from past visits, we can offer invaluable advice on how best to spend these days based on individual preferences.

  • Accommodation: Throughout all the cities that we will visit, beginning with Tokyo, we ensure that the participants’ accommodations are in 4 and 5 Star Business hotels. Participants planning to be in Japan for longer than the scheduled event are advised to check with sites such as Booking.com for appropriate accommodation as fees can vary enormously from one location to another and from day to day. Also, do bear in mind that our visit coincides with Expo 2025, which takes place in the Osaka area from April onwards – you may wish to consider attending this in addition to the Study Mission.

  • Transportation: Participants will experience the punctuality, cleanliness, onboard service, and more of the world-class Shinkansen (Bullet Train) and comfortable luxury buses. This also provides an additional opportunity to discuss any observations related to the event.

  • Tourist Attractions: The Study Mission will feature special visits to breathtakingly scenic locations and sites that showcase the ancient heart of Japanese culture.

International Conference on Quality (ICQ) 2025 – Program Overview

Session

Day 1(9/1)Day 2(9/2)Day 3(9/3)Day 4(9/4)

Morning

10:00–12:00Pre-Conference9:00–12:45Opening, Keynote & Special Lectures9:00–12:00Oral Presentations & Special ProgramsFrom 8:30Company Visits

Afternoon

13:00–17:00Oral Presentations & Special Programs14:00–18:30Oral Presentations & Special Programs13:00–16:30Oral Presentations & Special ProgramsFrom 16:30Conclusion

Evening

17:30–19:30Welcome Reception17:00–19:00Farewell Banquet
  1. Pre-Conference This session will introduce the basics of three key themes essential for improving quality in companies: Policy Management and Daily Management, Problem Solving, and QC Circles (Small Group Activities).

  2. Welcome Reception This reception is mainly for guests from overseas and those who come early for pre-registration. Light meals and drinks will be served.

  3. Farewell Banquet This is a party held at the end of the conference. It is a dinner event where participants can say goodbye and enjoy talking with each other.

  4. Company Visit You will visit companies in the Kanto region and observe how Japanese companies work on-site, including their operations and initiatives.

On Friday September 5, 2025, we have key events planned for our participants with respect to their special involvement on some added strategic leadership engagements. This is exclusive to those participating on our invitation. This is in addition to other key associations that they will have access to during the early conference dates.

Strategic Leadership Network for Executive Development and Innovation

[AUGUST 31, 2025 – SEPTEMBER 6, 2025]
£3,995 PER PERSON

What’s Included:

  • Course registration
  • Transportation from, and return to a noted central location with respect to attendance at our organised events
  • ICQ entrance fee and conference materials
  • Participant giveaway packs
  • Certificate of Participation accredited by JUSE/GET/DHIQC

What’s Excluded:

  • Flight costs to and from Japan (as well as airport transfers on arrival and departure from Japan)
  • Accommodation, including breakfast for 6 nights (Aug. 31 to Sept. 6, 2025)
  • Travel insurance
  • All meals and incidentals, such as telephone calls, additional drinks/snacks, laundry, medicals etc

Be Among the World’s Top Executives at ICQ 2025 Tokyo! Register now to unlock exclusive access and shape the future of quality leadership.

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