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Denise Robitaille
Occasionally, when I’m waiting for a flight, the small talk with fellow travelers will meander into discussions about the purpose of our respective trips. When I tell them that I’m on my way to conduct an audit, they immediately jump to the conclusion that I’m a certified public accountant (CPA)…
Quality Digest
ISO Secretary-General Alan Bryden recently spoke at the World Economic Forum, emphasizing the importance of standards in the world economy. The forum was held Jan. 26–28 in Davos, Switzerland, and was attended by several world leaders in industry, government and trade. Bryden pointed out that…
Quality Digest
The international Organization for Standardization recently published ISO/IEC Guide 74, a standard designed to maximize the effectiveness of symbols. “The use of graphical symbols in signs, on labels and in product instructions and other product documentation has a number of advantages,” says John…
Quality Digest
SAI Global recently announced the acquisition of Ohio-based CRS Registrars Inc. for an undisclosed sum of money. SAI Global, which is based in Australia, reports that the transaction will add $5 million in revenue to its U.S. customer base. Additionally, the combination of CRS’s and SAI’s North…
Quality Digest
Pharmaceutical companies are strengthening their quality assurance programs to comply with government regulations and customer expectations, according to a new survey published by Best Practices LLCThe research firm surveyed seven major pharmaceutical companies and found that they’re striving to:…
Quality Digest
A survey conducted by Xerox Corp. found that 83 percent of manufacturing and engineering professionals say they spend too much time looking for information. The results underscore the importance of an effective document management strategy, the company reports. Nearly 90 percent of the respondents…
Quality Digest
Imaging Sciences International Inc. recently announced its registration to ISO 9001 and ISO 13485.The developer and manufacturer of dental and maxillofacial radiography products, reports that the registration process is part of its expansion into the global marketplace, as it now is eligible to do…
Quality Digest
Frost & Sullivan recently awarded Puritan Bennett, a provider of respiratory products, its 2004 Product Quality Leadership Award. The award was in recognition for Puritan Bennett’s innovative HELiOS Personal Oxygen System, which makes it possible for people requiring supplemental oxygen to “…
Quality Digest
Mercury Interactive Corp. recently released a Chinese language version of its popular Quality Center software.The Chinese Mercury Quality Center is an integrated set of application delivery software, services and best practices that allow IT professionals to optimize the quality of business…
Praveen Gupta
In layman’s language, Six Sigma means great and fast improvement, which leads to virtual perfection. Another indicator of a successful application of the Six Sigma methodology is the degree of breakthrough. Sometimes, when customers demand zero defects at any cost, suppliers are forced to add an…
Quality Digest
Sigma Breakthrough Technologies Inc. recently formed a strategic partnership with Inogen Environmental Alliance to expand both companies’ Six Sigma knowledge and service globally. SBTI, which specializes in teaching companies to implement Six Sigma, will use the partnership to expand its client…
Quality Digest
Information Resources Inc., a provider of enterprise market information, recently announced that its Six Sigma implementation has significantly improved the data quality it supplies to customers.Launched a year ago, the company’s Six Sigma program focused on improving the currency, completeness and…
Quality Digest
The Strategic Research Institute is planning a summit designed for Six Sigma professionals in the financial services sector. The event will be held Feb. 24–25 at the New York Marriott East Side Hotel in New York City. The summit will be presented mostly in a round-table format, with discussions on…
Quality Digest
Online training company MoreSteam.com recently developed a Chinese language Yellow Belt course for its international customers. The new course uses a commonly used, simplified Chinese character set and features the company’s popular interactive features. Like all MoreSteam.com online training, the…
Quality Digest
CVI Laser Inc., an Albuquerque-based designer, supplier and manufacturer of precision optics, recently received registration to ISO 9001 and now plans to further improve by implementing lean and Six Sigma principles. “We have been streamlining our manufacturing workflows, improved processes and…
Quality Digest
Carl Zeiss AQ recently presented three awards to young entrepreneurs for their outstanding business plans in the German optical technologies industry. It was the first time the company widely advertised the competition in Europe. First place was awarded to Günther Kamlage, for his unique laser…
Quality Digest
The National Committee for Quality Assurance has announced that 39 health plans have committed to participate in NCQA’s Quality Plus program.Collectively, the plans cover 11.5 million Americans. Quality Plus standards focus on the depth, accuracy and interactivity of the information health plans…
Quality Digest
The International Organization for Standardization Technical Management Board is circulating a new work item proposal for an ISO Guidance Standard on Social Responsibility. The first meeting of the ISO/TMB group that will develop the proposed ISO SR standard will be held March 7–11 in Brazil. The…
Quality Digest
Nanometrics Inc. and August Technology Corp. have announced that they plan to merge. As a single corporate entity, August Nanometrics Inc. will provide comprehensive inspection, and measurement and analysis systems to the global semiconductor, flat-panel display and related microelectronic…
Quality Digest
DNV Certification was recently accredited to perform audits to RC 14001 by the ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Program (ANAB). The RC 14001 standard combines components of ISO 14001 and Responsible Care into one audit. In doing so, RC14001 goes beyond the scope of an environmental management system…
Quality Digest
The Society of Manufacturing Engineers will host its 2nd annual Automation & Assembly Summit April 18–20 in St. Louis.The conference, titled “Achieving World-Class Manufacturing with Advanced Automation,” will feature more than 50 technical sessions, keynote presentations from leaders in…
Quality Digest
Brooks Software and AssurX Inc. recently released the first real-time electronic device history record (eDHR) software for the medical device industry. The eDHR solution incorporates components of both companies’ software and allows medical device manufacturers to convert their paper-based device…
Quality Digest
Statit Software will host a seminar that examines the use of statistical process control in the health care industry. The two-day seminar, to be held Feb. 7–8 in Corvallis, Oregon, will be facilitated by Marilyn and Robert Hart, authors of Statistical Process Control for Health Care. The seminar…
Quality Digest
An upcoming conference in India will explore quality principles in the health care industry. “Quality Health Care in a Changing Environment: Opportunities & Challenges,” will be held in Mumbai, India, Feb. 5–6. It’s being organized by Seth GS Medical College and KEM Hospital, in collaboration…
Tamar June
If you are thinking of CFR 21 Part 11 compliance in terms of what the FDA may or may not require, you are missing a huge opportunity to make your business more efficient, nimble and ultimately profitable by improving the quality of your operation and its products. That’s the consensus of dozens of…
