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Wal-Mart recently decreed to almost 70,000 of its suppliers that they must start using RFID chips—a nightmare for smaller companies that might not be able to afford to implement such a system. Fortunately, an RFID provider has agreed to supply the necessary system for $25,000. The cost…
In a strategic partnership, Fuji Machine Manufacturing Co. and Cogiscan will develop and market a new RFID technology for Fuji machines. The companies jointly developed the RFID Smart Reader kit for Fuji’s XP-series machines. The kit will complement the existing RFID kits for the CP-…
Leica Geosystems’ Metrology Division will showcase its Universal CMM product line at the upcoming WESTEC show in Los Angeles. The Universal CMM consists of a Leica Laser Tracker combined with the Leica T-Scan and/or the Leica T-Probe II. Specifically designed for the measurement…
Editor’s Note: An incorrect version of this story was included in the Feb. 21 issue of “Quality Insider.” The following is the correct version. We apologize for any confusion this mistake may have caused. Instron Corp. now offers on-site temperature-calibration services for a variety…
Microsoft Corp. has partnered with USC Consulting Group LLC to roll out its new lean technology for manufacturing companies. Microsoft has redesigned its approach to key clients by developing a “trusted advisor” role in which it helps clients that use Microsoft applications solve business…
AEA, a high-technology trade group, will host a series of six events focusing on new and upcoming regulations that restrict hazardous substances in electrical and electronic components. The European Union Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE) and Restriction on the…
National Technical Systems Inc.’s Calgary division recently started offering wireless-device testing to FCC standards and European Radio & Telecommunications Terminal Equipment Directive (R&TTE). Original equipment manufacturers require certification for wireless products such…
European researchers are hard at work developing wireless sensors that will predict when components will fail. The implication of such a sensor has broad implications for just about all sectors of the manufacturing industry. The sensor could theoretically reduce machinery breakdowns to…
Ampro Computers recently expanded its investment in software developed by Infor for managing and reporting on key areas of its business. Ampro supplies custom computer boards to allow manufacturers to integrate computers into their products in a way that minimizes the product size, cost…
iGrafx recently announced the availability of the 2006 version of its process-excellence series of software solutions. iGrafx 2006 has enhanced modeling and simulation capabilities to better support corporate process-excellence initiatives. It also adds significant improvements and…
Perkins Technical Services Inc. was recently awarded a nearly $500 million contact to provide lean Six Sigma consulting, process management and organizational development throughout the U.S. Army Aviation & Missile Command. Perkins has subcontracted much of the work. One of the…
Diane Ritter, a prolific author and former colleague of W. Edwards Deming, recently joined The Quality Group as its director of business excellence. Ritter is a co-author of the popular The Memory Jogger (GOAL/QPC, 1994) series of Six Sigma pocket guides, and has more than two decades of…
Dave Rasmusson’s The SIPOC Picture Book: A Visual Guide to the SIPOC/DMAIC Relationship (Oriel Inc., 2006) helps readers use Six Sigma concepts to sort, categorize and organize new concepts and information, and integrate them with what they already know. SIPOC—supplier-input-process-…
The Global Six Sigma Awards will be presented on June 28, 2006, at the Venetian Resort Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Scheduled to coincide with the Global SixSigma Summit, the awards will honor Six Sigma’s best achievements and leading practitioners.Entries for 12 different awards (10…
Synthis Corp., a provider of enterprise knowledge-management software, was recently named one of Georgia’s most innovative technology companies. The list was compiled by the Technology Association of Georgia, which accepts nominees from the state’s technology community. Recipients are…
An upcoming conference will offer attendees a unique environment to learn about the production of hazardous-substance–free (HSF) products. HSPM2006 will include a thorough overview of QC 080000 IECQ HSPM, a recently released standard that addresses new requirements (such as RoHS in Europe…
An upcoming conference will examine the dual use of lean and Six Sigma to achieve the most return on investment. Lean Six Sigma 2006, hosted by Ixperion, will focus on the application, not simply the theory of the methodologies. There will be streams designed for manufacturing,…
RABQSA recently reported a partnership with the Australian government and other stakeholders to develop a certification scheme for disability-services auditing personnel. The organization expects to release the scheme this spring. The scheme’s been designed to ensure that auditing personnel,…
Customer satisfaction slowly and steadily climbed during the fourth quarter of 2005, according to The American Customer Satisfaction Index.The index is released quarterly and examines customer satisfaction in rotating groups. During the fourth quarter, it measures satisfaction with the quality…
A new ISO/IEC standard aims to harmonize the various approaches used around the world for assessing the quality of e-learning initiatives. ISO/IEC 19796:2005, Information technology—learning, education and training, quality management, assurance and metrics—provides an overall framework to…
Heightened awareness among electrosurgical-device companies and health care consumers about the potential spread of communicable diseases during surgery has increased market demand for disposable surgical devices. While this is good news for large-scale manufacturers, high expec-tations…
Cognex Corp. will host a series of complimentary machine vision seminars for pharmaceutical professionals involved with packaging operations. The half-day seminars, titled “Applying Machine Vision to Pharmaceutical Packaging” will be held in March and April in Indiana, Michigan, New Jersey…
Digirad Corp., a provider of cardiovascular imaging services and solid-state nuclear medicine imaging products, recently achieved registration to ISO 13485:2003. The standard specifies a quality management system for medical device manufacturers and complies with the Canadian Medical…
Five pharmaceutical facilities from all over the world were recently named finalists for the second-annual Facility of the Year competition. AstraZeneca, Baxter BioPharma Solutions, Daiichi Asubio Pharma Co., Janssen Pharmaceutica and Wyeth Pharmaceuticals are the finalists in the…
PharmaManufacturing.com was recently named a finalist for the Best B2B Web Site award in American Business Media’s 52nd annual Jesse H. Neal Business Journalism Awards program. PharmaManufacturing.com is affiliated with Pharmaceutical Manufacturing magazine, a publication of Putman…