Root Cause Analysis and Chemical Expert Heather Wade

Heather Wade

Heather has 25 years of experience in metrology and calibration, quality assurance, laboratory services, root cause analysis, testing, and training. She has managed to significantly improve lab operations, is an industry leader, is an internationally-sought speaker and subject matter expert, and is a distinguished author with NSF international. Heather is experienced in product certification, drinking water testing, residential water applications, water filtration, and water treatment. She is also an active member leader of multiple professional organizations such as ASQ and NCLSI.​
  • Calibration, test method development, and analysis
  • ISO/IEC 17025
  • Measurement Uncertainty Budgeting
  • Corrective Action/Preventive Action
  • Quality Assurance
  • IndySoft and Qualer calibration and asset management software
  • Public Speaking
  • Lab supervision
  • Method writing and validation
  • cGxP Validation (DQ/IQ/OQ/PQ)
  • Microsoft Office
  • Training
Experience
Private Practice
​Pinckney, Michigan
2019 – Present
President
  • Quality & metrology consulting services to manufacturers, test labs, and calibration labs. Leveraging technical and management expertise to help clients improve efficiencies, improve measurements, and save money.
  • ISO/IEC 17025:2005 to ISO/17025:2017 transition
  • Conformance decision rules
  • Measurement uncertainty
  • ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation assistance
  • Product certification assistance
  • Internal audits
  • Quality systems
  • Metrology and calibration procedures
  • Equipment optimization
  • Lean 6S in labs
  • Training
NSF International
​Ann Arbor, Michigan
2004-2019
Calibration Officer
  • Industry leader, published author, and sought-after subject matter expert. Active in leadership roles in international quality and scientific community organizations
  • Modernized lab processes and improved efficiencies from paper-based to direct-electronic entry
  • Developed metrics and practices to contain costs, improve efficiencies, and improve quality output. While the company increased overall equipment volume, spearheaded a scientifically-sound practice to evaluate equipment calibration frequencies and decreased the volume of needed calibrations; saved time and money
  • Directed and developed calibration lab services at ISO 17025-accredited test lab through continuous improvement. Evaluated and moved calibrations in-house to realize annual cost-savings (currently saving over $1,000,000 annually with an external calibration service budget of ~$100,000)
  • Expanded services to match and support the company during growth from one laboratory facility to multiple global operations
  • Ensured compliance to ISO/IEC 17025 and develops staff competence
  • Experienced in proficiency testing, inter-laboratory comparisons, and other methods of ensuring and proving competence
  • Expert in measurement uncertainty, root cause analysis, corrective & preventive action.
  • Provided technical expertise to test labs and to NSF Customers
  • Practiced Lean 6S
Drinking Water Treatment Units, NSF International
Ann Arbor, Michigan
2003 – 2004
Program Representative
  • Managed and led national & international client projects from product start through NSF certification listings
  • Improved documentation practices to reduce redundancies and improve efficiencies
  • Coordinated testing with the labs and posting in product listings
  • Authored toxicological and technical justifications to reduce redundant testing and streamline the certification process for clients
  • Lead department in client revenue within first year on the job

Kinetico by Village and Country
Hartland, Michigan
1999-2003
Territory Manager / Water Specialist
  • Develop markets and serve residential customers
  • On-site water testing and product solution applications
  • Built client base on referrals
  • 1999 Rookie of the Year (Kinetico By Village & Country)
  • TOP 50 “Most Improved Salesperson” by Kinetico

Enotec
Ann Arbor, Michigan
1995 - 1999
Chemist
  • Analytical chemist in US EPA's Contract Laboratory Program
  • Performed proficiency tests & performance evaluations
  • Prepared GC calibration & extraction standards
  • Lab supervision, supply ordering, instrument maintenance, method development, chemist training, and data review
  • GC-MS analyses of environmental air samples for volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
  • GC analyses of herbicides, alcohols, organophosphorus & organochlorine pesticides, diesel range organics, and PCBs
  • Helped improve lab test turnaround times from 1 month to 1 day

National Testing Labs / Watercheck
​Ypsilanti, Michigan
1994 - 1995
Microbiologist / Filter testing Specialist / Lab Compliance Officer, 
  • Managed all aspects of microbiology laboratory: analyzed drinking water samples, prepared media, performed certification proficiencies, reported data, daily maintenance of logbooks.
  • Developed and instituted quality control tracking of supplies to isolate faulty supplies and save money
  • Designed & performed drinking water filter tests to NSF/ANSI 42, 53, and 58
  • Plumbed & maintained equipment, analyzed samples, processed data, compiled results & wrote reports
  • Review of all test lab data, ensuring data integrity and compliance to applicable standards and methods
Education
  • B.S. Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Additional Activities
  • ASQ Senior Member
    • Audit Division
    • Measurement Quality Division
  • ASQ-CCT (Certified Calibration Technician) (2007 – current)
  • ASQ-CCT Exam Subcommittee Chair (2012 - 2015) and ASQ-CCT Exam Subcommittee member (2012 - present)
    • Lead and took part in ASQ-CCT Exam workshops
    • Liaison in charge of recruiting and selecting workshop attendees
  • Co-author, The Metrology Handbook, Second Edition, Jay L. Bucher, Editor
  • ASQ-MQD (Measurement Quality Division)
    • Treasurer 2017 - current
    • Office of the Chair 2012 – 2016
    • Secretary 2009 – 2011
  • Joe D. Simmons Memorial Scholarship Committee
  • NCSLI Testing Lab Committee
  • NCSLI Test Equipment Asset Management Committee
  • NCSLI TEAM Committee, Delay-Dating Ad-hoc Committee 144.4
  • Contributor to NCSLI LM-19 Implementation of a Delayed Dating Approach to Calibrations (2018)
  • Published in Cal Lab Magazine, The International Journal of Metrology
  • Published in ASQ-Measurement Science Division newsletter, "The Standard"
  • Presented at:
    • ASQ Toledo section meetings
    • NCSLI regional meetings
    • California Measurement Science Conference
    • NCSL International Annual Workshop & Symposium
    • 21st Asia-Pacific Quality Conference
    • 2014 China Conference on Quality
    • 10th Shanghai International Symposium on Quality
  • NSF International Corporate Sustainability Committee
  • Previous WQA-CWS I (Water Quality Association- Certified Water Specialist, Level 1)
  • US EPA-Contract Laboratory Program analytical chemist
  • Competent Toastmaster
  • Dale Carnegie Training graduate and class assistant
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