NAIT and Mount Royal collaborate to offer Quality Management Extension Certificate

After years marked by product recalls, missed deadlines and disrupted supply chains, and with market uncertainty taking centre stage, the need for effective systems that ensure consistent quality has never been more critical. To meet this demand as Canadian businesses seek to innovate on home soil, Mount Royal University’s Faculty of Continuing Education (MRU) is proud to refer students to the Quality Management Extension Certificate, offered by the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT). Delivered online by NAIT, this program is designed to equip professionals with the skills and quality mindset needed by organizations to thrive in a very competitive world. Quality management applies across all sectors from aviation to IT, healthcare to hospitality. 

“Whether you’re building airplanes, delivering financial services or running a nonprofit, quality management systems ensure that products and services are delivered safely, efficiently and consistently. Without a quality management system, you can’t sustainably or predictably deliver any product or service that’s competitive,” says Jason Riley, president of Advanced Performance Management and longtime instructor at MRU.

MRU begins to refer into this program at a pivotal moment. Over the past decade, economic pressures—exacerbated by global crises like the 2008 financial crash and the COVID-19 pandemic—have led many organizations to cut middle management positions. Unfortunately, those were the very people responsible for ensuring procedures and systems functioned as intended.

“Middle management was gutted,” Riley explains. “And with that went the discipline to ensure work instructions were followed and systems were up to date.” The results of these actions led to a rise in safety incidents, missed deadlines, and customer dissatisfaction.

This program is designed to reverse that trend by developing a new generation of professionals who understand both the why and the how of quality management by delivering career-ready training in quality systems, policy development and auditing so professionals from virtually any industry can add significant value to their roles. Riley adds, “It controls how you do the work—not just what you do. It ensures that you’re meeting customer expectations and delivering what they’re actually willing to pay for.”

A framework for innovation and cost reduction

One common misconception is that quality management is a bureaucratic obstacle to innovation. In reality, it’s quite the opposite. When properly implemented, a quality management system lays the groundwork for innovation by providing the clarity and consistency needed to experiment safely and scale what works.

“Think of it like going to the gym. At first, it’s clunky and painful. But once you get into the habit, it becomes second nature. Then, suddenly, you’re reaping all the benefits,” Riley tells. Similarly, a strong quality management system helps businesses innovate without sacrificing safety, cost, or speed. Organizations that invest in quality management systems often reduce costs in the long term. Avoiding rework, delays, and customer complaints leads to higher margins and better reputations. “We complain about inflation, but we don’t realize how not adhering to a quality system actually makes things more expensive down the line,” says Riley.

“At its core, quality management is more than a corporate buzzword. It’s the backbone of value creation for the customer.”

The Quality Management Extension Certificate program is designed to help students gain practical tools and techniques developed in post-World War II Japan and still considered the gold standards today. They will also explore case studies across industries and learn to apply quality principles to both products and services.

Perhaps most importantly, the program will help learners cultivate a mindset of ownership, accountability and continuous improvement. As Riley puts it, “The journey to competency starts with awareness.” For anyone leading teams, managing projects or launching a new business, understanding quality management provides the edge needed to avoid costly mistakes and deliver consistently excellent results. Quality management training is a strategic investment in performance, consistency and long-term success.

 Instructor Jason Riley

Courses in the Quality Management Extension Certificate program start May 13, 2025. Visit the program page to learn more.