Industry News
ELIZABETH LARSON

Spring conference showcases 1998 Baldrige winners

The Quest for Excellence XI conference, scheduled for April 25-28 in Washington, D.C., will feature the 1998 Baldrige Award recipients--Boeing Airlift and Tanker Programs, Solar Turbines Inc. and Texas Nameplate Co. The winners will share details of their quality practices. For more information, visit the Baldrige Web site at www.quality.nist.gov or contact the American Society for Quality at telephone (800) 248-1946.

Marposs wins quality distinction

Ford Motor Co. has awarded its Q1 Quality Award for Machinery and Tooling Suppliers to Marposs S.p.A. of Bentivoglio, Italy. Marposs S.p.A., headquarters of the worldwide Marposs Organization for manufacturing and servicing gage systems, thus becomes the first company in Italy to receive the award. "The Q1 process stimulated and challenged us to increase our responsiveness to customer needs," says Stefano Possati, Marposs Group's president and board chairman. "We've become an even better company as a result, and we intend to continue our drive toward higher levels of excellence."

British firm acquires U.S. CMM manufacturer

LK Inc., a leading CMM developer, designer and builder, has been sold to Schroder Ventures of Great Britain. "The strength and resources of Schroder Ventures will help us continue our aggressive program of new product development," says LK Inc. Vice President Walter Pettigrew. New technology that LK has brought to market includes the ULTRA high-accuracy CMM offering submicron repeatability, LY90 layout-style CMMs and CAMIO CAD interface software. Operational responsibility for the new LK Group will rest wholly with LK's existing management, adds Pettigrew. Visit the company's Web site at www.lk-cmm.com .

Free online course examines color fundamentals

ColorTec is now offering an extensive color training course free on their Web site, www.color-tec.com. Modeled after ColorTec's Industrial Color Seminars series, the training course covers the fundamentals of color instruments, color software and the human "color" experience. The online course targets those relatively new to the commercial use of color instruments; it may also be used as a review for more experienced color system operators as well as a resource for color system trainers.

Firm awarded global distinction

Arthur Andersen has honored human resources consulting firm Development Dimensions International as a "Global Distinction" winner in this year's international Best Practices Awards program for "Unleashing the Power of Technology." The award recognizes small to mid-sized companies around the world whose business practices have led to outstanding business performance. DDI was honored for DDILink, its worldwide intranet that has expanded the company's use of intellectual capital, and improved organizational productivity and communications among its more than 1,000 employees worldwide. Visit DDI at www.ddiworld.com .

Software companies form partner program

Pilgrim Software has entered into an agreement with QAD to add Pilgrim's powerful quality management software product suite, Q&MIS, to QAD's enterprise software. "As a member of the QAD Product Partner Program, Pilgrim will work closely with QAD to better serve our joint customers," says Laura Kirkley, QAD's independent software program manager. "We're delighted to be doing business with QAD in this capacity and look forward to a mutually beneficial partnership," says Ami Utji, Pilgrim's president. "This agreement provides us with a highly effective avenue to manufacturers that will benefit from our quality management software." Visit Pilgrim's Web site at www.pilgrimusa.com .

STAT-A-MATRIX appoints new technology vice president

J. Glenn George has been named the new vice president of technology for STAT-A-MATRIX/The Sam Group. In this position, George will be responsible for business process, quality and regulatory technology for the diversified consulting practice, including new product development, deployment and fulfillment of services, and development of training programs and consulting processes. George's professional affiliations include membership in the U.S. TAG to ISO/TC 210 and TC 212, the American Society for Quality and the American Society of Clinical Laboratory Services.

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