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‘There is most likely some interplay between the weak capital spending numbers and the weak job market of the last few years; there is less incentive to spend money on productivity-enhancing equipment when labor is cheap.” This recent musing by Neil Irwin of The New York Times was his reflection…
I am halfway through reading what I consider (thus far) an important lean book. Alan Robinson and Dean Schroeder’s The Idea-Driven Organization: Unlocking the Power in Bottom-Up Ideas (Berrett-Koehler Publishers, 2014) is a thoughtful, practical book on the topic of employee engagement and daily…
To support the fair sale of gaseous hydrogen as a vehicle fuel, researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have developed a prototype field test standard to test the accuracy of hydrogen fuel dispensers. Once the standard is field tested, it will serve as a model for…
After my recent column, “19 Signs Customers Are Just Not That Into You,” which sounded an awful lot like the romantic comedy, He’s Just Not That Into You, I was inspired to write this piece by the title of another rom-com, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days.
When we engage with customers (or when they…
In my last column, I showed how hidden special causes can sometimes create the appearance of common cause, but the purpose of common-cause strategies is to deal with this and smoke them out. When there's an underlying structure to how these data were collected, or when one can somehow code each…
(DCS: Troy, MI) -- Dimensional Control Systems (DCS) has released its latest version of 3DCS Variation Analyst, v. 7.3. As an update to the 3DCS Suite, both CATIA-integrated users and multi-CAD standalone users will get access to all the new functions. What’s more, those who are under active…
Quality Digest’s readers are quite familiar with the deficiencies of the U.S. airline industry, whether through articles in the media, personal experience, or both. Relatively minor issues involve inefficient boarding processes, fees for the first piece of checked luggage, and uncomfortable…
For decades now, the measurement systems analysis (MSA) approach has been the predominant method for evaluating measurement systems capability. Although this method is widely considered to be an acceptable and comprehensive approach throughout most of the world, a growing number of specialized…
Just as technology has changed the way people do business, quality systems are transforming the way manufacturers manage the assurance of the quality of their products, as well as compliance with regulatory requirements. Companies rely more and more on automated quality systems instead of manually…
(Humantech: Ann Arbor, MI) -- Humantech has launched a new survey on the use of computer technology for managing ergonomics programs. It is conducting the study to determine current trends, needs, and best practices used to manage information, plans, and results of effective programs. This 16-…
Diode lasers—used in laser pointers, barcode scanners, DVD players, and other low-power applications—are perhaps the most efficient, compact, and low-cost lasers available. Attempts have been made over the years to amplify the brightness of these valuable lasers for industrial applications, such…
At some point, maybe at many points, it strikes me that we are all role models. We all influence each other. We are a network of emotions and actions.
When we do something, positive or negative. Kind, indifferent, or cruel. Self-centered or altruistic. Other people notice. Other people react.…
The FDA recently released a new draft guidance document for medical device data systems (MDDS). The FDA defines MDDS as “hardware or software products that transfer, store, convert formats and display medical device data. An MDDS does not modify data, and it does not control the functions or…
Yesterday someone posted a provocative question that showed up on my Facebook timeline. They asked, “If you don’t know your purpose, are you still looking for it?” Surprisingly, many of the comments indicated the commenters didn’t know their purpose, or that their sense of purpose was continually…
In Italy there’s growing tension among low-income retirees about their pensions. Among the EU countries, Italy has one of the highest percent of unemployed population and is ranked as one of the least productive countries.
So the question is: Who will pay the pensions of the retired people?
Italy…
If you are familiar with the technical concept of the Internet of Things (IoT), you already understand the impact this technological sea change will have on manufacturing. However, plenty of hype still surrounds the spread of IoT in manufacturing from a worldwide perspective, so here are the key…
(Oxford Lasers: Shirley, MA) -- In the pharmaceutical and medical industries, packaging integrity is of the utmost importance. It’s essential to be able to accurately and routinely check packaging performance on leak testing equipment. In turn the performance of the test equipment needs to be…
Arecent client satisfaction survey conducted by our company, the British Assessment Bureau (BAB), a UK-based certification body, highlighted the benefits of achieving certification to ISO 9001. Here is a summary of the results.
As our client base has increased over the years, we have moved the…
‘If I had the key members of your executive suite all in the same room, would they all be able to articulate the essence of your business strategy clearly and consistently?” I asked the executive vice president of strategy.
“Probably not,” she replied. “But I do know we need a new one, because…
One of the common tools of quality assurance is acceptance sampling. Acceptance sampling uses the observed properties of a sample drawn from a lot or batch to make a decision about whether to accept or reject that lot or batch. While the textbooks are full of complex descriptions of various…
(NIST: Gaithersburg, MD) -- The Baldrige Foundation is now accepting nominations for the 2015 Harry S. Hertz Leadership Award (HSHLA). The award is presented annually at the Quest for Excellence conference. We are seeking nominations to identify exemplary leaders for recognition with this…
Airline passengers have already said bon voyage to the controversial backscatter X-ray security scanners, pulled from U.S. airports in 2013 over concerns about privacy and potential radiation risks. But the devices may be reintroduced in the future, in part because they produce superior images of…
In part 1, part 2, and part 3, we shared our blind wine-tasting experiment, the survey results, and the experimental results, respectively. To wrap things up, we’re going to see if the survey results tied to the experimental results in any meaningful way.
First, we look at whether self-identified…
What makes a successful business thrive? That’s what eight out of 10 new entrepreneurs would like to know because their businesses fail within the first 18 months, according to Bloomberg.
Adam Witty has managed to turn plenty of heads in the business community as founder and CEO of Advantage…
There’s a reason why companies like Coca-Cola, Disney, Gap, and GE consistently rank among the world’s most admired organizations—and it has to do with more than just the strength of their products and services.
These companies have demonstrated their commitment to the local communities and…
