All Features
John Toon
Georgia Tech professor Zhong Lin Wang holds a sample nanowire array that can be used to power nanometer scale devices. Georgia Tech Photo: Gary Meek Researchers have developed a new technique for powering nanometer-scale devices…
Quality Digest
The Food and Drug Administration recently proposed recommendations to Congress that would broaden and upgrade the agency’s drug safety plan, increase resources for television advertising review and improve drug development processes. The recommendations are part of the reauthorization…
Rick Ringlespaugh
A tier-two automotive supplier faces the challenge of interacting with customers and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) on many different programs. For each of more than 100 programs the company is involved in, it must submit a detailed quality plan and then be prepared to change the plan as…
Quality Digest
ContingenZ Corp. recently introduced IMCD Small Business. Using the General Cost Consequence model, the new version of the software includes a database designed for small businesses. IMCD Small Business Edition has the same functionality as IMCD Professional, which was formerly called…
Quality Digest
As the American Society for Quality’s managing director, Michelle Mason will be a member of the group’s management committee, which leads in the implementation of its business plan and the achievement of its strategic objectives and vision.Mason was formerly vice president of research…
Quality Digest
Siemens VDO Automotive and Wacker Chemical Corp. recently won the first SAP Industry Leadership Awards. The awards were handed out at SAP Americas’ annual field sales kick-off meeting in Las Vegas.The new awards program honors SAP customers that show business process excellence through…
Quality Digest
Wal-Mart’s bid to install solar energy systems in its stores in five states could boost the solar industry as a sign of corporate interest in sustainable technologies and practices.Photovoltaic cells—solar cells—change sunlight into electricity directly via semiconductor materials such…
Quality Digest
InfoWorld’s 2007 Technology of Year Award has gone to Zimbra, a provider of open-source, next-generation collaboration and messaging software.The Application Innovator Award went to Zimbra Collaboration Suite, an open-source messaging and collaboration solution for service provider,…
Quality Digest
PACCAR Inc., U.S. commercial vehicles maker, recently unveiled plans for a new $400 million powertrain manufacturing and assembly facility in the Southeast United States, saying its comprehensive Six Sigma program helped the company attain the goal. “PACCAR’s outstanding profits,…
Quality Digest
Xerox Corp. is the first company to achieve J.D. Power and Associates Technology Service and Support Certification two years in a row for excellence in customer service, and its comprehensive lean Six Sigma programs contributed to the achievement.Xerox was honored for continuing to deliver…
An introduction to Six Sigma for direct marketing Six Sigma methods, used correctly and thoroughly for continuous improvement of direct marketing sales, can produce remarkable results:1. At a university work-force education program, total registrations doubled in three years through…
Steven Ouellette
Today marks a milestone in our countdown of the Top Ten Stupid Six Sigma Tricks. A subjective and unimportant milestone to be sure, but a milestone nonetheless—we have now reached the halfway point. Forget the New Year, this is cause for celebration.
To commemorate this trivial event, let us turn…
Quality Digest
A new audiocast reveals six “Rules of Innovation” for lean organizations. The rules are included in a new book, The Rules of Innovation: A Guide to Systematic Innovation Management, by Bart Huthwaite, founder of the Institute for Lean Innovation. An accompanying audiocast focuses on giving…
Quality Digest
Quality Trainer is a new, Web-based learning service devised by Minitab Inc. With a focus on statistical education, Quality Trainer is a useful resource for busy quality professionals.The service is available via subscription at the company’s Web site and uses narration, animation, and other…
Quality Digest
The L.S. Starrett Co. is the focus of a recent episode of a television series on the Travel Channel. The network’s “Made in America” series focuses on U.S. manufacturing companies with long histories of producing high-quality, world-renowned products. Starrett was chosen based on its…
Quality Digest
Dielectric Communications recently implemented lean manufacturing, which now helps the company to maintain stringent quality levels, reduce waste before and during production, and ensure that customers receive products faster with minimal lead times. Dielectric is the largest…
Quality Digest
Siperian recently opened of a London office, established to serve its European customers better. The London office is the company’s sixth location and the first in Europe. Siperian Hub, Siperian’s adaptive master data management solution, is an integrated platform that helps organizations reduce…
Nicholas Muthuri
Lean was initially started in manufacturing and production departments, and various efforts are being made to apply its principles in service industries. In a highly industrialized world spurred by high technological changes, businesses are forced to change their strategies to a more lean way…
Quality Digest
epcSolutions alleges that in 2006 more Wal-Mart suppliers used EpcSolutions’ RFIDTagManager than any other radio frequency identification application. Its customers for the software included suppliers of frozen foods, clothing, sporting goods, produce, candy, auto parts and other products…
Quality Digest
Isonics Corp. recently hired Patrick Taylor, Ph.D., as director of quality assurance for its semiconductor division.Taylor received his doctorate from the University of Pittsburgh and worked as manager of quality assurance, director of analytical services operation and lead scientist…
Quality Digest
The 2007 Coordinate Measuring Systems Conference will be held this summer in Reno. The annual event, will take place this year at the Grand Sierra Resort-Reno Hilton on July 16-–20. This is a major conference for close tolerance, industrial measurement specialists, and users and…
Quality Digest
Hexagon Metrology Inc. received the 2006 Manufacturer of the Year award from the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce at its annual meeting in November. The award is given on the basis of investment and job creation within the state of Rhode Island; Hexagon Metrology has its headquarters…
Quality Digest
Dr. Ahmed Shembesh, LNCSM and Vincent Desmond, IRCA sign the agreement in Tripoli The International Register of Certificated Auditors and the Libyan National Centre for Standardization and Metrology recently formed an alliance to provide local…
Michael H. Brill Ph.D.
As part of a volunteer team that cleared a walking trail in my neighborhood, I helped to shovel a straight path through a small berm. Seeking to solve another problem at the same time, a member of the party started to use the dirt he removed to fill in a nearby puddle on the trail.…
Quality Digest
Cessna will add mobile, large-volume measurement to its production floor’s capabilities with the implementation of Leica Geosystems laser trackers. Leica announced recently that Cessna Aircraft Co. had contracted to buy eight of the company’s portable coordinate measuring machines.…