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What Is QAS?
By Cliff Crowder
QAS is an acronym for Quality Assurance Specialist. You can find these specialists in each technology center at the Patent and Trademark Office (PTO). In fact, they serve as a resource for patent examiners.
A QAS assures that quality examinations are performed on patent applications in each technology center. For example, they do in-process reviews of Office actions on customer focus related issues, they enter the results of reviews in a shared database, they analyze in-process review and other data to track quality output trends, and they develop training to address areas that need improvement.
In addition, QASs conduct liaison activities with the Office of Patent Quality Review and the Center for Quality Services to monitor quality, to review customer feedback, and to plan training.
Each QAS is able to answer specific questions related to his or her technology center. For instance, the QAS in Technology Center 1600 can expertly answer questions on biotechnology related quality issues. Similarly, the QAS in Technology Center 2700 can expertly answer questions on computer related quality issues.
The QASs have formed a network at the PTO and meet periodically to discuss common quality issues and to share current best practice information. Quality is the concern of all QASs and they help to ensure that quality products are issued to the public.
If you have a quality question or would like to meet with a QAS to discuss a quality-related issue, E-mail or call one of the QASs listed below.
Technology Center Specialist Telephone
1600 Rob Hill 308-4314
1700 Pat Ryan 308-2383
2700 Jack Harvey 305-9705
Gareth Shaw 305-8547
Reba Elmore 305-9706
2800 Paul Dzryzenski 308-4822
3600 Dave Mitchell 308-0361
3700 Cliff Crowder 308-0949
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