Ah, remember the good old days when you educated yourself about your job from a trade magazine, a technical book, the occasional trade show, or by observing and asking questions of someone with more knowledge than you? Today there is no shortage of information outlets.

Certainly when the magazine started 50 years ago, no one could have envisioned that Quality would evolve to so much more than a monthly print issue. No longer do you have to wait for the print edition to arrive in the mail or the digital edition in your inbox. Today you can receive much of your quality information instantaneously.

Quality’s Web site (www.qualitymag.com) is everything quality-related and provides a gateway to even more information.

Q-Tube. Quality’s own video channel. Videos are regularly updated to show you the latest products and technologies to help improve manufacturing processes.

Podcasts. Download or stream informational podcasts on a variety of topics including laser radar, nondestructive testing, video measurement, as well as interviews with past Quality Plant and Professional of the Year award winners.

Blogs. Industry experts and editors from Quality Magazine share their views on the latest in quality and manufacturing.

Webinars. Get the education you need right at your desktop. If you’re not able to make the live event, view it on-demand at a time that is convenient for you.

Social media. With a LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook presence, we at Quality are able to keep in touch with all of our virtual friends and interact with them on a constant basis. No longer do you need to send a letter to the editor to share your opinion on how we’re doing.

Virtual trade show. On May 4, we’ll co-host our first virtual tradeshow, TechManufacturing Expo. The virtual show will allow manufacturing professionals to attend educational sessions and interact with suppliers via their computer screens. This is the online equivalent of a live tradeshow and will include webinars, podcasts and virtual booths.

Live events. The annual Quality Conference focuses on the most important topics related to test, inspection and measurement. The 2011 Quality Conference will deliver a truly unique and intimate platform focusing on advancing the manufacturing industry. Featuring 45-minute presentations over two days and three tracks, plus multiple workshops, the Quality Conference will deliver top-notch education through case studies and hands-on professional examples. Held this year in Charlotte, April 11-13, the event is produced in collaboration with the University or North Carolina-Charlotte and the Charlotte Research Institute. For more information or to register, www.qualitymagconference.com. 
 
In what other ways would you like to receive information? Share your thoughts with me at [email protected], or with other members of the Quality community at the Quality Magazine LinkedIn Group page, the Quality Facebook page and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/QualityMagazine.