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National Technical Systems Inc., an engineering services provider, recently acquired Dynamic Labs, an environmental testing laboratory. The acquisition marks the growth trend that NTS has established in the past few years, company officials report. Dynamic Labs operates facilities in Phoenix…
The implementation of Six Sigma at Decatur Memorial Hospital has saved millions of dollars and dramatically improved patient satisfaction. The hospital reports that 10 months after it installed patient-safety technology software from Omnicell Inc., it was more than $2 million under budget in its…
One of the latest trends in the ongoing evolution of Six Sigma is its rising popularity among college students and its appearance in universities’ curricula. These courses are exposing students to the power of data-driven quality improvement and, in many cases, giving them firsthand…
SigmaPro Inc. will begin its fall training Sept. 25 with a Master Black Belt course. It will be followed by service for Black Belt, lean Sigma Black Belt and lean Sigma Green Belt courses. All of the courses’ curricula are designed to provide in-depth knowledge in how to apply DMAIC (…
Anderson Packaging, a pharmaceutical contract manufacturer, recently hired Chuck Aubrey to join its executive management team. In the newly created lean Six Sigma position, Aubrey will lead Anderson Packaging’s corporate lean Six Sigma programs, help facilitate ongoing process improvements…
A recently released book promotes hoshin kanri , a Japanese method of strategically planning and managing complex projects, as a powerful component of Six Sigma and lean enterprises. Hoshin Kanri for the Lean Enterprise: Developing Competitive Capabilities and Managing Profit, by Tom…
The University of California at Irvine Extension will offer a new lean Six Sigma course this fall. The Six Sigma Lean Green Belt course has been designed for professionals in a variety of industries, ranging from manufacturing to service to seek increased management efficiency. It will be…
As I said in my premier Heretic column, “Dogma and Definition,” I’m interested in examining our assumptions and premises about Six Sigma so we can discard the dross and refine the potential benefits in implementing it.To that end, I have decided to co-opt an omnipresent element of pop…
The International Organization for Standardization’s Committee on Consumer Policy (COPOLCO) and Committee on Developing Country matters (DEVCO) will hold a seminar on improving consumer participation in standards development. The event, hosted by the Botswana Bureau of Standards, will be…
The American Board of Quality Assurance and Utilization Review Physicians Inc. will host its 29th-annual Health Care Quality and Patient Safety Conference this fall in Rosemont, Illinois. “Does Quality Pay?” will feature a thorough examination of the effects of quality-assurance programs…
The International Organization for Standardization reports an 18-percent increase in the number of international registrations issued for ISO 9001 in its annual “ISO Survey of Certifications.” The survey is ISO’s main barometer for measuring international use and compliance with its…
Chad Kymal recently received the Quality Professional of the Year award from the American Society for Quality. Kymal is CEO of Omnex Inc. and a contributor to Quality Digest. He was recognized for his long-term commitment and contributions to the quality industry. The award was presented…
Last year I had the good fortune of doing some consulting with B&C Specialty Products in Hopeulikit, Georgia. B&C does light manufacturing, primarily plastic molding and assembly, and they also distribute imported products produced by companies in the Far East. They have about 150…
Many people know about William Tell shooting the apple on his son’s head. What can this archery event teach us about accuracy and precision? What do these words mean? When are they equal, and when are they not? “Accuracy,” “precision” and “resolution” are sometimes misunderstood or…
B.C. MacDonald & Co., a provider of specialized cutting tools and gaging products, will open a new metrology center in September. The new center will display more than $2 million worth of 3-D metrology and dimensional gaging equipment in Lisle, Illinois. Mahr Federal and Optical Gaging…
Mitutoyo America Corp. recently released the second edition of its metrology handbook, Metrology Handbook—The Science of Measurement. Nobuo Suga, advisor and instructor at the Mitutoyo Institute of Metrology is the author. The book is designed primarily for students enrolled in MIM courses…
Renishaw’s calibration products division recently started offering users of its ML10 laser calibration system complimentary upgrades to the latest version of the company’s Laser 10 software package. The ML10 laser interferometer system is widely used by OEMs and end users in research,…
RNDT Inc., a commercial nondestructive testing (NDT) laboratory, recently received from the Performance Review Institute its ISO/IEC 17025 and National Aerospace and Defense Contractors Accreditation Program accreditation for multiple NDT testing methods. The lab, based in Johnstown,…
Hexagon AB, a Swedish conglomerate, recently acquired a Thai metrology distributor, Thaimach Sales & Service Co. Hexagon reports that its new subsidiary, to be renamed Hexagon Measurement Technologies Thailand, will be its largest distributor of coordinate measuring machines in…
The International Organization for Standardization reports an 18-percent increase in the number of international registrations issued for ISO 9001 in its annual ISO Survey of Certifications. The survey is ISO’s main barometer for measuring international use of and compliance with its…
The National Committee for Quality Assurance recently added new requirements for health plans seeking accreditation to its Quality Plus program. The change becomes effective in 2007.Candidate health plans will have to demonstrate that they provide their members with information to help…
Attendees at the Conference of African Ministers of Industry recently affirmed the role of international standards and conformity assessment in helping to develop commerce in Africa. The conference produced a formal report, in which it “reiterate[s] the commitment of our governments and call[…
The International Organization for Standardization has published a new standard to clarify types of environmental labels used to designate potentially harmful products. ISO 14025:2006, "Environmental labels and declarations—Type III environmental declarations—Principles and procedures"…
The U.S. World Standards Day Planning Committee recently named Constance A. Morella, U.S. ambassador to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, as the recipient of the Ronald H. Brown Standards Leadership Award. Morella received the award as recognition for her role in…
Don’t you love it when you go to the store and they have a “BOGO” sale? BOGO, as in buy one, get one. Who can resist the attraction of being able to get two things for the price of one? I once had a client who was going through the company’s registration assessment for ISO 9001. The client…