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(ISO: Geneva) -- The just-published new edition of ISO 9004 provides organizations with a model for sustained success in today’s complex, demanding, and ever-changing environment.
ISO 9004:2009—“Managing for the sustained success of an organization—A quality management approach,” is the third…
During my sabbatical from writing this column this summer, I watched an interesting program on the National Geographic Channel’s “Mayday” series1. It serves as a terrific example of how a good root cause analysis can get to the heart of a seemingly complicated problem.
The show focused on the…
Turbines that are housed in aircraft engines are subjected to pretty tough conditions. They must perform at speeds of 30,000 rpm in temperatures greater than 800ºC for hours at a time.
The engine manufacturers fully understand that even small surface defects can reduce performance, increase…
(Nikon Metrology NV: Leuven, Belgium) -- Nikon Metrology NV announces the compact, yet versatile, XT V 130 X-ray inspection system that efficiently traces failures inside complex electronic devices and multilayer circuit boards.
To maintain highest quality standards in an environment of…
(Mettler-Toledo Inc.: Columbus, OH) -- Periodic balance testing is an important factor in quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC), and established testing procedures are needed to ensure that instruments always perform to the required specifications.
Mettler Toledo’s GWPExcellence balance…
(EPA: Washington) -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released new information on EPA and state enforcement of hazardous waste and air regulations. In addition, the EPA posted data that allows the public, for the first time, to compare toxic releases with compliance data from…
(Canon Communications LLC: Los Angeles) -- Join 16,000 medical product development professionals from around the world at MD&M West, the world’s largest medical design and manufacturing event, Feb. 8–11, 2010.
Whether you’re planning to attend the Medical Design & Manufacturing (MD…
(Chene Canada Inc.: Montreal, Canada) -- Chene Canada Inc. is a service provider in the nondestructive testing (NDT) field who is currently assessing the market potential in the United States and Canada. Founded in 1988, Chene has developed a unique value proposal for companies who have NDT needs…
(Nikon Metrology NV: Leuven, Belgium) -- The corporate name of Metris has been changed to Nikon Metrology NV. Under the Nikon brand, Nikon and Metris will synergize their respective strengths with regard to technology, marketing, and services, thereby delivering innovative metrology products with…
Jim Clifton, Gallup’s chairman and CEO, says businesses have, in most cases, maximized every possible benefit from practices based on neoclassical economics, such as Six Sigma, reengineering, and total quality management (TQM). The significant competitive advantages from these practices have hit a…
(J.D. Power Asia Pacific: Shanghai) -- Overall new-vehicle initial quality in China has improved by 14 percent in 2009, compared with 2008, as the quality gap between China’s domestic brands and international brands narrows, according to the recently released J.D. Power Asia Pacific 2009 China…
(J.D. Power Asia Pacific: Shanghai) -- Overall new-vehicle initial quality in China has improved by 14 percent in 2009, compared with 2008, as the quality gap between China’s domestic brands and international brands narrows, according to the recently released J.D. Power Asia Pacific 2009 China…
There have been a couple of great columns in recent weeks in Quality Digest Daily dealing either directly or indirectly with the subject of root cause analysis. Mike Micklewright gave us his spin on medical consequences of inadequate root cause analysis and Dirk Dusharme illustrated the pitfalls…
(Baumer: Southington, CT) -- To eliminate the problems associated with fluid leaking from tanks, pumps, vessels, trays, and other containers, Baumer has introduced the FODK 23 optical sensor for leak monitoring. The evaluation electronics for this sensor are housed in a chemically-resistant, IP67-…
In the fast growing market for wind power systems, quality assurance according to international industrial standards has become an important issue. Wind power plants are no longer a niche playground for environmental proponents, but a serious business where cost efficiency, life-cycle costs,…
(TR Cutler Inc.: Fort Lauderdale, FL) -- TR Cutler Inc.’s president and CEO, Thomas R. Cutler, has devised a new professional coaching system for manufacturers worldwide named C.E.O., or Continuous Experiential Optimization.
“Throughout decades of business process improvement approaches,…
(Paul N. Gardner Co. Inc.: Pompano Beach, FL) -- The Digital Pocket Microscope from Paul N. Gardner Co. offers up to 200X magnification, suitable for most quality inspection work.
The DPM contains a high-resolution color camera offering crisp, clear images. The integrated LED illumination can be…
(FDA: College Park, MD) -- The Food and Drug Administration recently announced the publication of the new FDA Food Code, a model code and reference document that provides a scientifically sound technical and legal basis for regulating the retail and food service segment of the food industry. The…
I have identified myself as a “reformed” lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt. Some will see this as an affront to lean and Six Sigma. I want to assure you that there are many things to like about lean and Six Sigma. The issue at hand is that a better solution is available that can help organizations…
Didrick Medical Inc. is a small privately owned company located in Naples, Florida, that designs and fabricates active-function artificial finger prostheses, called the X-Finger, for partial finger amputees. The owner refined the design for more than six years before he took it to the marketplace…
Everyday objects such as toothbrushes or shaving devices have to meet increasingly higher design and quality requirements. Shorter product life cycles place high demands on development and production processes. In between the single product development steps, the aesthetically shaped prototypes…
Standardization should support your business strategy, otherwise, why bother? You cannot support a strategy unless you have one.
Strategic thinking means thinking forward to the areas you intend to grow over the next four to 10 years, especially in standards committee activity. You can benefit…
Lean, lean Six Sigma, total quality management (TQM), and other techniques have helped companies improve processes through the execution of projects. However, much of these efforts have resulted in siloed process improvements that don't benefit the enterprise as a whole.
To illustrate this…
(Qualitest USA: Plantation, FL) -- Qualitest introduces the latest addition to its hardness tester family. The QualiBrineller is an advanced load cell type Brinell hardness tester applying loads from 62.5 kgf to 3,000 kgf. The rugged design makes the tester suitable for production/shop…
(Vickers: West Yorkshire, England) -- A Leeds-based chemicals company is expected to become the first in the United Kingdom to develop a “gold standard” for the precise measurement of chemicals in products typically used by every individual and business in the United Kingdom.
Vickers…