All News
(Pilgrim Software Inc.: Tampa, FL) -- Pilgrim Software Inc., a provider of enterprise compliance and quality management software solutions, recently announced the global availability of its SmartInsight Report Writer product. SmartInsight enables business users to quickly gain visibility into all…
The latest version of the technical specification, ISO/TS 16949:2009—"Quality management systems—Particular requirements for the application of ISO 9001:2008 for automotive production and relevant service part organizations," specifies quality system requirements for automotive suppliers so that…
Robert James had what it takes to start a manufacturing company focused on oil-free air and gas compressors—history, expertise, and the willingness to take a second chance on a business he knows well. Nearly 40 years ago, his father William James, began producing oil-free air compressors under the…
(NSF International: Ann Arbor, MI) -- NSF International, a public health and safety organization, and Trucost Plc, a global provider of environmental data and analysis, have announced the availability of a new report entitled, "Carbon Emissions—Measuring the Risks." This free report examines the…
(ASQ: Milwaukee,WI) -- The American Society for Quality (ASQ) invites health care professionals to register for two free health care webinars; one focused on how senior leaders create top-performing emergency departments and the other addressing the challenges of complying with the Joint…
(IEC: Geneva) --A new edition of one of the International Electrotechnical Commission's (IEC) best-selling publications dealing with electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) will be published in a few days.
The importance of EMC phenomenon is such that in 1993 the first edition of IEC 61000-4-8—"…
(HHS: Washington) -- Demonstrations being conducted by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) continue to provide strong evidence that offering financial incentives for improving or delivering high quality care increases quality and can reduce the growth in Medicare expenditures…
Over the past couple of articles, we have explored how an incomplete understanding of how SPC limits are calculated can lead to constructing control charts that look strange. But using some of the things I mentioned, hopefully you can see that these “strange” control charts actually reveal quite…
(ECCB: Midland, TX) -- Between RoHS, WEEE, ELV, Battery and Packaging Directives, China RoHS and others, many countries have enacted regulations on the restriction and management of hazardous substances in consumer products. They are real and they are here to stay. Even the United States is…
(ORTEC: Oak Ridge, TN) -- The ORTEC business unit of AMETEK Advanced Measurement Technology (AMT) has introduced the DigiDART-LF, a portable “SMART” multi-channel analyzer (MCA) for sodium iodide (NaI TI), lanthanum bromide (LaBr3:CE) and other scintillation detectors.
The rugged, lightweight…
(Adcole Corp.: Marlborough, MA) -- A new software package for their Model 1200 Crankshaft-Camshaft Gage that reportedly provides significant measurement and post-processing improvements is being introduced by ADCOLE Corp. of Marlborough, Massachusetts.
Adcole’s Model 1200 Crankshaft-Camshaft…
(National Guard Bureau: Arlington, VA) -- National Guard officials have implemented a new program designed to streamline operations and, in the end, cut costs and improve efficiency in day-to-day activities.
The continuous process initiative, or CPI, combines the Army's lean Six Sigma program…
(TIEM: Columbus, IN) -- Toyota Industrial Equipment Mfg. Inc. (TIEM), the U.S. manufacturing plant for Toyota lift trucks, announced the winners of its annual Supplier of the Year Award. The Quality Cost Delivery (QCD) award is given to TIEM suppliers whose quality, cost, and delivery exceed a 95…
Dr. Evan Goldman (l) and John Ficker of EDGE adjust mockup of vest and body armor for testing sensor system.
Wearing body armor for protection against bullets and shrapnel has been a double-edged sword for soldiers. While the armor provides an indispensable…
(Geomagic: Research Triangle Park, NC) -- Cathy Hofknecht, vice president of marketing for Geomagic, has received a Women in Business 2009 Award in the Inspiration category from the Triangle Business Journal.
According to the Triangle Business Journal web site, the Inspiration category “honors…
As the U.S. automotive industry struggles to get back on its feet, automotive industry suppliers are finding new markets for their manufacturing skills. The burgeoning medical device field is one industry ideally suited to support that industry. Precision machining, automation, expertise in…
Story update 8/21/2009: We corrected an error regarding the function of the accreditation body.
I’ve worked with several companies over the years and dealt with different individuals, different processes, and different levels of ISO 9001 understanding. However, when an organization is…
If you are not actively selling quality, you’re missing the boat. Quality (both goodness and conformance), should be sold inside and outside of your company. A song from an old Broadway musical says, “How are you going to conquer the world if nobody knows you’re there?” Good question.
Selling…
(W. Edwards Deming Institute: Palos Verdes Estates, CA) -- The 2009 Fall Conference of The W. Edwards Deming Institute, is designed to foster a better understanding of the Deming System of Profound Knowledge and its applications. In keeping with this aim, the 2009 conference planning team is…
(New Mexico MEP: Albuquerque, NM) -- Sagebrush Technology production manager Vaughn Halford knows a lot of military secrets. But the secrets he eagerly spills are the ones that New Mexico Manufacturing Extension Partnership (New Mexico MEP) helped him uncover.
Ask the heads of any small or…
(E Instruments: Langhorne, PA) -- The SignalCal 2 T/C from E Instruments simulates voltage and thermocouple readings for calibration purposes. The device is rugged and easy to use, measures eight types of thermocouples (R, S, B, E, K, J, T, and N), and has an accuracy of ±0.05 percent. The…
Total Quality Management (TQM) is a management approach that requires quality in all phases of the company’s operations, by doing things right the first time. All waste and defects must also be eliminated.
As a long-term methodology, TQM has customer satisfaction as its final goal, and…
(Business901: Fort Wayne, IN) -- Joe Dager, owner of Business901 has just included a comprehensive series of spreadsheet templates that are intended to help users perform process analysis associated with lean and Six Sigma initiatives. The templates are part of the software packages offered by…
Madico, the world’s preeminent manufacturer of metalized, coated, and laminated films, has been producing high quality manufactured film systems since 1903. Located in Woburn, Massachusetts, the hi-tech ISO 9001-certified firm has more than 170 employees.
A quality and compliance management…
Today, more than ever, the quest for productivity, quality, and speed has spawned a significant number of techniques and tools: lean manufacturing or service, business process improvement; Six Sigma, total quality management, and so forth. Although the operational improvements resulting from these…
