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(Sensorex: Garden Grove, CA) -- Sensorex has developed an industry-first mobile accessory for pH measurements. Compatible with Apple, iPod, iPhone, and iPad devices, the PH-1 pH meter accessory measures and records pH values in the lab or field for use in environmental, education, and industrial…
(Geomagic: Morrisville, NC) -- As more than 35,000 gamers descend on Indianapolis later this week for the start of Gen Con, the largest gaming show in the world, Wyrd Miniatures will debut an entire new line of plastic miniatures for its hit character skirmish game “Malifaux.” The designs’ intense…
(Mettler-Toledo: Columbus, OH) -- The Liquidator96, from Mettler-Toledo, researcher and developer of precision instruments, is a manual bench-top pipettor that drives measurable efficiency in leading-edge genomics, proteomics, and cellular studies.
Molecular biology techniques that enable the…
Your ISO management rep is leaving the company, and you have yet to reassign the post. If you’re wondering whether there are any formalities that must be followed, don’t worry. There’s no need to hit the panic button. With some simple planning, you can ensure your management systems remain in shape…
The main plant of Hitachi Engineering and Services (HES) has produced pipe spools for large scale plants. These pipe spools have complicated shapes and are made by various types of materials. In the process of these pipe spools fabrication, high accuracy and high throughput are required. Especially…
CMSC 2012 is now “in the books,” and it was a smashing success at a great venue in New Orleans. Every year, the conference is filled with up-close looks at the latest portable coordinate metrology technologies, unparalleled networking opportunities and social events, and fantastic white paper…
(The Pyzdek Institute: Tucson, AZ) -- The return on investment realized by any continuous improvement effort comes down to two basic functions: How well a company can pick the right battles to fight (project selection), and how efficiently they can fight those battles (project execution).
The…
(Bruker: Santa Barbara, CA) -- Bruker, developer, manufacturer, and provider of scientific instruments and analytical services, has released the new PeakForce Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy (KPFM) mode for its line of atomic force microscopes. PeakForce KPFM utilizes frequency-modulation detection…
When I talk about quality, I’m usually referring to how good a product is or how good the service is, especially when I’m talking about my favorite diner or cafe. But I’ll bet you never thought about how the good food and service you get at your favorite eatery can help you make friends.
You’re…
(Verisurf: Anaheim, CA) -- Verisurf Software Inc. has released Verisurf X v. 6. The new release is loaded with innovative software features that enhance in-process, portable inspection, tool building, CATIA interoperability, and 3D scanning and reverse engineering.
“Verisurf customers use our…
A leader’s primary function is to help employees develop a strong belief in the company’s mission and the importance of their individual jobs. His secondary function is to ensure optimal results from delegated assignments and tasks. Excellent results can spring from motivation that actually helps…
To effectively provide high-quality products, quality management must become part of each employee’s everyday thought processes. Market-leading companies can attest to the operational, branding, and bottom-line benefits of this approach. However, adopting an enterprisewide “how will this decision…
I noticed the training wheels on my son’s bike were no longer touching the ground. He was riding without them. “Let’s take those off,” I said.
“No Daddy, I’m not ready.”
“Sure you are; let’s give it a try.”
After I removed them, he got on the bike, but couldn’t get enough momentum to stay up and…
(Cars.com: Chicago) -- The Detroit Three build plenty of high-quality cars. Buick, Ford, and Lincoln scored above average in the latest Vehicle Dependability Study from J. D. Power and Associates, and Cadillac ranked third in the study’s rankings. J. D. Power’s three-month Initial Quality Study had…
(University of Michigan: Ann Arbor, MI) -- The beta version of Improvement Kata Handbook by Mike Rother, author of Toyota Kata (McGraw-Hill, 2009), is available online to read, download, and use in applying, practicing, and teaching the improvement kata. The handbook is a follow-up to Toyota Kata…
(Productivity Press: Boca Raton, FL) -- Based on a true story, the book, Unleashing the Power of 3P: The Key to Breakthrough Improvement, by Dan McDonnell and Drew A. Locher (Productivity Press, 2012), follows Pete and his team as they journey through lean and the production preparation process (3P…
(QMC: Auburn Hills, MI) -- QMC Inc., a market leader in product quality validation (PQV), has signed with Ford Motor Co. a global license agreement for its award-winning CM4D software. The agreement supports Ford’s efforts to expand its quality processes globally.
In 2002 Ford implemented CM4D…
Northern Digital Inc. (NDI), a provider of optical and electromagnetic measurement systems for medical and industrial applications, has announced that its parent company, Roper Industries Inc., has acquired Ascension Technology Corp., an industry leader in medical electromagnetic tracking.…
(LEI: Cambridge, MA) -- Join LEI for the largest workshop event of 2012 in Indianapolis, Indiana. 17 one-day and two-day workshops compile a curriculum that includes LEI’s most popular workshops focusing on the social and technical aspects of a lean transformation. All workshops contain elements of…
When discussing process management and improvement, I often talk about the concept of “random acts of improvement.” People, with good intentions, are off trying to make their part of the organization better, more efficient, simpler. But often these changes are done locally, in silos, without…
(Visual Workplace: Byron Center, MI) -- Visual Workplace Inc. introduces Sigma 16 specialty vinyl. Three new options are available to suit varied application needs. Dry erase vinyl is ideal for visuals such as scheduling, processes, and maintenance. Etched vinyl is well-suited for creating logos or…
(NRK: Williamsburg, VA) -- The past 15 years have seen an expansion of metrology use throughout the manufacturing process, particularly in the case of large-scale manufacturing. The need for greater efficiencies has made the demand for precision measurement greater than ever. Generally speaking,…
(University of Michigan: Ann Arbor, MI) -- This course, based on the book, Toyota Kata, by Mike Rother (McGraw-Hill, 2010) presents the next level of thinking in lean and operations management.
It’s been difficult to maintain lean improvements. Organizations’ efforts have generated many successes…
(AMACOM: New York) -- Most people learn best through experience. Yet new managers are often tossed onto the front lines with absolutely no experience handling the toughest challenges they’ll face—people problems.
The Management Training Tool Kit, by Alan Clardy, Ph.D. (AMACOM, 2012), includes all…
In 2010, the American Productivity and Quality Center (APQC) identified the Seven Tenets of Process Management to help classify an organization’s process management capabilities. Adherence to these pillars helps build and maintain strong processes across an enterprise. By applying these tenets,…
