Company: RS Information Systems, Inc
Company Description: RS Information Systems, Inc. is a federal systems integrator providing solutions in information technology, systems engineering, telecommunications, and scientific support. The Company is one of the 40 largest federal contractors in the country providing mission critical support to the Department of Energy, U.S. Air Force, NASA, Department of Transportation and the National Weather Service.
Nomination Category: Team Awards Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Best Support Team

Nomination Title: RS Information Systems Quality Council

Tell the story about what this nominated team achieved in 2003 (up to 500 words). Focus on specific accomplishments, and relate these accomplishments to past performance or industry norms. Be sure to mention obstacles overcome, innovations or discoveries made, and outcomes:

RS Information Systems, Inc. was faced with a unique challenge… to graduate
from the 8(a) program and compete with the huge corporations in the world of IT
government contracting.  One of the primary differentiators our executives looked
toward was ISO 9001:2000 certification.  The additional complication came when it was decided that RSIS wanted to be ISO certified by the end of the same year. 
How would RSIS accomplish in nine months, what takes most corporations
approximately two years?

Judi Niedercorn had only been with RSIS for about six months when our
executives looked to her to fast-track the company toward an ISO certification. 
Drawing upon her experience in the competitive speed-to-market internet industry, 
Judi turned to the employees of RSIS to make it happen.  She knew that the best
way to quickly and efficiently engender such dynamic change within our
organization was to initiate a “grass roots”, cross-functional effort.  The RSIS
Quality Council (QC) was rapidly formed with staff from each department within the
company.  Almost none of the members of the original 14-person group had any
quality training or experience prior to joining the QC, but that didn’t stop us, or
dampen our enthusiasm.  The biggest challenge for the QC to overcome was
resistance to change and the fact that our work processes were undocumented,
but in keeping with our “grass roots” business model the Council members worked
within their own departments to disseminate knowledge about RSIS’ ISO
initiatives, facilitate process improvement and documentation, and provide
essential feedback to the Quality Council and corporation as a whole.  The QC
quickly formed an unparalleled rapport among its members and improved and
standardized The Way We Work. 

This creative, energetic and diverse team developed and implemented the RSIS
Quality Management System.  In 2003, we proudly displayed our ISO 9001:2000
certification on the wall at Headquarters…and, the Quality Council didn’t stop
there.  In 2003, the QC increased in size and successfully added two more sites
(in two different states) to the ISO Certification held at Headquarters.  By January
of 2004, the number of certified sites rose to five as a direct result of QC and
corporate dedication.  Recent audits produced some “best-in-class” comments
from our third-party certification auditor.

Excellence in organizational performance does not occur by accident.  The
executives and employees of RSIS and our customers began to experience the
improvements and embrace the change.  There had always been the expectation
that ISO certification would make RSIS more marketable (which it did), but there
were unexpected dividends:  far more efficient and repeatable processes; improved
cost and risk management, increased effectiveness and productivity, continuous
process improvement, and a proven increase in customer satisfaction. 
Additionally, our executives have more detailed data by which to make decisions. 
Not only has RSIS corporate culture embraced the Quality Council, the QC is
helping to form RSIS corporate culture… phrases like Continual Improvement,
Quality Objectives, and ISO Certification have become commonplace, as staff at
all levels discuss customer satisfaction initiatives and participate in improvement
activities. 

List hyperlinks to any online news stories, press releases, or other documents that support the claims made in the section above. IMPORTANT: List each link on a separate line, begin each link with http://, and enclose each link in square brackets; for example, [http://www.website.com]:

Here is the URL from our corporate website.  It illustrates our Commitment to
Quality to our employees, our customers, and clients.  This page also includes
quotes and testimonials from Intertek Testing Services (ITS), our independent ISO
registrar.
http://www.rsis.com/rsis-corporate/RSIS/About-RSIS/Quality-Commitment.cfm

A concrete example of the benefits RSIS has received from our ISO registration
was the reward to us in the 2nd quarter of 2003 by NASA of the George M. Low
Quality Award.  Here is the Press Release about our win of the award... RSIS
COO, Scott Amey acknowledges our ISO certification in his acceptance speech
for the NASA George M. Low Quality Award.
http://www.rsis.com/rsis-corporate/RSIS/RSIS-Pressroom/RSIS-Press-Releases/RSIS-Receives-NASA-Premier-Award.cfm

Another URL listing our NASA George M. Low Quality Award, it references the
same quote from Scott Amey about our win and the role ISO certification played.
http://www.rsis.com/rsis-corporate/RSIS/About-RSIS/RSIS-Awards/NASA-George-M-Low-Award.cfm

Press Release detailing the award the DOE ITISS contract to RSIS, one of the
largest federal information technology services contracts ever awarded to a small
business.  Our ISO Certification is listed in the company overview at the end of the
release.
http://www.rsis.com/rsis-corporate/RSIS/RSIS-Pressroom/RSIS-Press-Releases/DOE-Awards-409M-Support-Contract.cfm

This URL links to the Association of Proposal Management Professionals
publication which contains an article about the impact of the RSIS ISO certification.
http://www.apmp.org/docs/Fall_2003_Cov_ISO_1+6.pdf

Provide a brief (up to 100 words) biography about the leader(s) of this nominated team:

Judilynn Niedercorn serves RSIS as the Director of the corporate Quality
Improvement Office.  Judi’s leadership at RSIS has increased customer
satisfaction, company recognition, and mission advancement.  Her department
and the Quality Council lead RSIS’s quality initiatives and ISO and other corporate
quality certifications.  In two years her staff has become a valued asset in project
and program improvement.  With her leadership, the RSIS Quality Council has
accomplished an unparalleled success in a very short period of time.  Judi has
over 20 years of high-tech industry experience.  She came to RSIS from UUNET
where she directed the Quality Management Systems division.