All Features
Thomas R. Cutler
Kanban, in its most simplifying role, is a visual signal (or cue) that something needs to be replenished. More specifically, lean manufacturers today use kanban to drive a process to make, move or buy the appropriate parts. Thus, kanban has become one of the fundamental building blocks of a pull (…
Quality Digest
Six Sigma Qualtec recently launched a new program for achieving its advanced Master Black Belt certification. The newly revised offering is designed tot meet the evolving needs of today’s businesses, placing a higher emphasis on meeting specific objectives, achieving dramatic improvements in…
Quality Digest
JLG Industries Inc. recently implemented a new strategic plan that diversifies its operations and increases the focus on its Six Sigma program. The company’s new vice president of Six Sigma quality processes and training is now John Louderback, who has been with the company since 1993, when he…
Quality Digest
MoreSteam.com recently introduced an online design for Six Sigma training program that uses a video game to illustrate design techniques. MoreSteam.com’s DFSS simulation incorporates the Roller Coaster Tycoon computer video game as an engaging learning platform. The simulation includes rich voice…
Quality Digest
PowerSteering Software Inc. and Computer Sciences Corp. have formed an alliance to offer a new line of Six Sigma and strategic program management services based on PowerSteering’s software. “Executives in charge of strategic initiatives are increasingly looking for solutions like Six Sigma that can…
Praveen Gupta
Companies are facing challenges in sustaining the energy and resources to continually benefit from Six Sigma. Black Belts face challenges in continuing to work on projects as these are becoming increasingly difficult to identify. Experts are talking about the ”Death of Six Sigma.“ Company…
Quality Digest
A recently released book examines new insights and perspectives on how Six Sigma process management can be used to achieve business process leadership. What is Six Sigma Process Management? (McGraw-Hill, 2005) by Rowland Hayler and Michael Nichols, outlines the use of Six Sigma process management,…
Quality Digest
In an effort to strengthen local support to its customers, ASI DataMyte Inc. recently opened a new Shanghai office and expanded its distribution network in Poland.TQMsoft, headquartered in Krakow, Poland, specializes in quality systems training and consulting, and produces overall quality solutions…
Quality Digest
Overall company growth and the addition of a new sales and marketing staff have prompted American Systems Registrar to move into new headquarters recently.The registrar’s new address is 5989 Tahoe Drive, Ste. 120, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Richelle Kinzie, ASR president, reports that the company…
Quality Digest
New rules that prohibit the presence of lead and other hazardous substances in electronics and electrical equipment will be outlined in training courses held this summer and early fall in the United States. The new Hazardous Substance Free specification, adopted by the International…
Quality Digest
MetricStream Inc. and Tata Consultancy Services, an Indian IT services firm, recently formed an alliance to help clients decrease the cost of compliance with government regulations and industry mandates. According to the companies, a recent study found that companies will spend nearly $15.5 billion…
Quality Digest
TÜV América de México recently received ISO 9001 registrar accreditation from the entidad mexicana de acreditacíon (EMA). The accreditation will allow TÜV América de México to better meet local market needs and strengthen its customer commitment. It will also allow the registrar to conduct more…
Paul McNamara
Brutally competitive markets are driving companies to design, build and improve their products faster and at lower costs. Faced with this economic climate, companies are understandably intent on freeing up resources—capital, engineering time and even plant space—that can be reallocated to high-…
Quality Digest
Quality will need to become more of a focus as service industries realize that competing on price alone isn’t a viable, long-term business strategy, according to authors of the American Society for Quality’s Quality Index.“ISO management systems and Six Sigma have long been a staple of the…
Quality Digest
Brookfield Engineering Laboratories was the recipient of the 2005 Northeast Shingo Prize for Excellence in Manufacturing.The award was presented by the University of Massachusetts’ College of Management’s Greater Boston Manufacturing Partnership. The Shingo Prize has been dubbed the “Nobel Prize of…
Quality Digest
Nutek Inc. will offer a seminar entitled “Product and Process Design Improvement Using the Taguchi Approach” in August. The event will be held August 2–5 at the Somerset Inn in Troy, Michigan. The seminar will prepare attendees for immediate application of the Genichi Taguchi technique in their own…
Quality Digest
Pilgrim Software Inc. recently completed its first “Crystal Reports/Data Mapping and Reports” Boot Camp for owners of its software products. Eight customers and one partner attended the three-day session, which offered optional Crystal Reports training. The training provided students with the…
Quality Digest
A newly released pocket-sized book will help automotive suppliers meet an upcoming deadline to comply with the new international technical specification for quality ISO/TS 16949.Robert Peach and James Collins Jr.’s The Memory Jogger for ISO/TS 16949 (QSU Publishing Co., 2005) is intended for every…
Quality Digest
Wilcox Associates recently introduced STI+, an add-on module to its PC-DMIS software that simplifies shop floor measurements. STI+ allows users to check parts without having to become coordinate measuring machine experts. With a few mouse clicks, STI+ guides users through part setup and measurement…
Quality Digest
The recent publication of a magazine article about the growing black market for counterfeit drugs prompted the president and CEO of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America to issue a warning. The article, published in the June 20 issue of Forbes magazine, details the growing…
Quality Digest
Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt recently announced of a national private-public collaboration to advance the use of electronic health records and interoperability through established standards. The American Health Information Community will aid in the nationwide transition to…
Quality Digest
P-Wave Inc. and Promium recently formed an alliance to offer environmental labs a unique document and data management solution. The partnership integrates LabCORE, P-Wave’s laboratory document management system, with Promium’s ELEMENT data system, a laboratory information…
Quality Digest
SAFE-BioPharma Association recently announced that INC Research has become its first contract-research organization member. INC Research will deploy the SAFE infrastructure to equip its internal teams and physician investigators with electronic identity standards. “We adopted the SAFE digital…
Quality Digest
Chemir Pharma Services recently changed its name to Azopharma in response to its extensive growth and commitment as a contract pharmaceutical services provider. Azopharma is a FDA-registered and cGMP-compliant research and development organization that supports the development and…
Quality Digest
Chemical inventory systems deliver real-time and accurate information about inventory status to ensure greater cost control while supporting validation requirements, according to a recent in-depth white paper from ChemSW Inc.“Chemical Inventory Systems Enable Pharmaceutical Pilot Plants to…
