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Long ago, W. Edwards Deming warned us about the use of what he called “arbitrary numerical goals.” Targets are another name for these. They are so commonplace that governments, service, and manufacturing organizations all use them. Targets have become accepted in all organizations, but this…
(Mahr: Providence, RI) -- In the world of high-precision metrology, all parts are elastic, which means they will deform to some extent under applied force, even if only by a few millionths of an inch. But certain parts, like thin-walled bearing rings, deform much more readily than others, to the…
(WASP: Plano, TX) -- KDL Pathology specializes in dermatopathology and is trusted by physicians, patients, and other laboratories for the most accurate and reliable pathology services. Based in Knoxville, Tennessee, KDL has expertise in inflammatory and neoplastic skin disorders, ocular disease,…
(Cognex: NATICK, MA) -- Cognex Corp., developer, manufacturer, and marketer of machine vision systems, surface inspection systems, and industrial ID readers, has released the Cognex Explorer control center, available at no cost to all Cognex customers. This unique utility displays a graphical view…
(PwC: London) -- Even with new generation capacity plans, power-industry executives expect blackout risks to rise in Europe and North America as the industry confronts the challenge of energy affordability, efficiency, and energy security policies not meeting demands. There are also worries that…
(Third Dimension: Filton, UK) -- Third Dimension, developer and supplier of industrial 3-D measurement solutions, invites you to visit its booth at CONTROL 2012 for a first look at its new GapGun+ range of products. Chat to GapGun experts and request a demonstration to see how the company can help…
(Hexagon: North Kingstown, RI) -- Hexagon Metrology has released the version 1.1 firmware update for the Leica AT401 Absolute Tracker. The AT401 now features a full-speed digital read out for dynamic laser tracker measurement processes and free-form surface inspection. The ultra-portable 3-D laser…
(API: Rockville, MD) -- Automated Precision Inc. (API), developer and manufacturer of advanced measurement solutions, has released its latest generation handheld scanning and probing device, the I-360, a lighter and easier-to-handle instrument that eases the problems of obtaining complex…
(Advise Analytics: Chicago, IL) -- Advise Analytics, a Chicago-based scientific software company, has launched a new system for statistics called AdviseStat, an intelligent analytics advisor. Unlike most statistics software, which relies on the user’s expertise to analyze data correctly, AdviseStat…
When the data come along one value at a time, we tend to put them on a chart for individual values (an XmR chart). Since virtually all business and managerial data occur one value at a time, the primary chart for service-sector data is the XmR chart. Yet the original process behavior chart was the…
Editor’s note: This is the third of a four-part video interview with Juran Institute’s CEO, Joseph DeFeo, and hosted by Quality Digest’s CEO, Jeff Dewar. View part one here, and part two here.
Imagine this conversation....
Mary: “You still have to listen to the customer.”
Bob: “But we’re certified…
What customers value most changes constantly, and the pace of change has increased exponentially with the economic recession.
One year ago people were looking at the financial stability of a company before purchasing its products, according to surveys conducted by my company, Smart Advantage. No…
(Edmund Optics: Barrington, NJ) -- Edmund Optics, developer of optics, imaging, and opto-mechanical components, has introduced its new TECHSPEC Optical Cage System. Offering a high-precision alternative to complex optical alignment systems, these versatile optical bench components are designed for…
(Microscan: Renton, WA) -- Microscan Systems Inc., developer of precision data acquisition/control systems including machine vision and barcode solutions, will offer a machine vision lighting course and product demonstrations at The Vision Show. Organized by AIA (formerly the Automated Imaging…
(Gartner: Stamford, CT) -- The Gartner Security and Risk Management Summit 2012 is the premier conference and meeting place for IT and business executives responsible for creating, implementing, and managing a proactive and comprehensive IT strategy for information security, risk management,…
(SAE: Warrendale, PA) -- The relative strength of the U.S. economy compared to other regions of the world is reflected in the latest biennial SAE International Salary Study, released during the SAE International 2012 World Congress, while the overall strength of transportation and mobility…
Innovations in software and technology are creating increasingly complex systems: cars that park themselves; medical devices that automatically deliver drugs; and smartphones with the computing power of desktop computers, to name a few. Such complex systems allow us to do things that seemed…
OK, so there’s nothing about this video that isn’t cute. And that’s fine. But what does it have to do with lean? One of the most important lessons that lean can teach us is how to appreciate variation and make the most of it.
When Jim Henson and this little girl went on set, it was to create a…
Leonardo da Vinci’s comment, “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication,” could easily serve as a lean tag line.
Surely, lean tools, like standard work, visual controls, and mistake proofing devices, are only truly effective if they are easily explained, understood, deployed, maintained, and…
(Laser Design: Minneapolis) -- Laser Design and GKS are proud to announce that one of their engineering services customers, Sbyke USA, has won awards from both Popular Science and Parenting magazines for its patented rear-steer kick scooter. Receiving top honors in Popular Science’s “Wheel Wars”…
During the next few months, manufacturers of certain in vitro diagnostic and radiology products may start to notice they are getting decisions on their premarket notification submissions, aka 510(k), sooner than expected. This will be due to a six-month pilot program called Triage, launched…
(Predictive Solutions: Oakdale, PA) -- The SafetyCary blog aims to share best practices related to keeping people safe in their workplaces, particularly through the use of leading indicators, advanced analytics, and predictive modeling. The blog’s writer, Cary Usrey, Predictive Solutions’…
As the Supreme Court debates the fate of “Obama Care,” we should recall the formal name of the law: the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). Most of the public debate has been about the cost of health care, losing sight of the urgent need to fix the ongoing crisis of quality and…
(AMETEK: Largo, FL) -- AMETEK Test and Calibration Instruments has expanded the capabilities of its versatile JOFRA HPC600 handheld pressure calibrator. The instrument’s built-in electric pump now allows the calibrator to achieve pressure and vacuum generation up to 20 bar/300 psi with the single…
(Nordson: Carlsbad, CA) -- Nordson YESTECH, a subsidiary of Nordson Corp. and a developer and producer of automated optical and X-ray inspection systems for the electronics industry, has introduced its latest generation of automated optical inspection (AOI) systems, the FX, BX, and BX-UV conformal…
