Genesis began with identifying a need – a precision tool that would standardize our product quality data management while saving time, money and labor throughout the four factories of Tabak a.s. in the Czech Republic. A collaboration seemed natural when the same need was expressed by personnel at PM’s affiliates in Almaty, Kazakstan; Krakow, Poland; Neuchatel, Switzerland and Turkey. R&D personnel fulfilled the role of facilitator and represented other PM affiliates in their formative stage. Existing systems were leveraged, but not used as all were « mainframe ≈ systems and most had been heavily customized over the years. Genesis delivered an integrated system, a specially configured, Microsoft Windows-based software program and industry-compliant package that evaluates more than 800 individual product attributes – from volume and density to cigarette diameter and paper quality. Genesis is in use today at more than 14 factory sites with another 10 sites planned before the end of this year. The Genesis project team took the fast track to completion – just 18 months from the conception to completion, including field test and use in PM’s factory in Kutna Hora, Czech Republic. Working under a time pressure they demonstrated fantastic talent, enthusiasm, mutual trust and good will to produce an integrated data management system that conforms to PM’s QA methodology. The Genesis team organized user requirements workshops to ensure the system met the requirements of those who would use the system every day. When deciding on the best technical solutions the collaborative spirit paid off by reaching consensus to incorporate the best from each affiliate. This talk will use the Genesis project as a case history of successfully managing the change that inevitably accompanies expansion. We’ll see the advantages of harnessing this change to drive improvement programs aimed at integrating new affiliates around the globe into our standardized QA systems.