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The Society of Manufacturing Engineers and the Association for Manufacturing Excellence recently made a popular book a required reading for those seeking certification as lean manufacturing experts. Lean Transformation: How to Change Your Business into a Lean Enterprise, (Oaklea…
After three years of small, steady improvement, customer satisfaction with the federal government’s services registered a slight decline in 2005, according to the American Customer Satisfaction Index. Satisfaction with government services was measured at 71.3 on the ACSI’s 100-point…
Starting this year, qualifying quality-minded nonprofit organizations will be eligible to participate in a pilot Baldrige Award program. The National Institute of Standards and Technology, which administers the Baldrige National Quality Program, will accept applications from nonprofit…
Seven books on TQM will be published and translated into Arabic, according to e-TQM College, a Dubai-based provider of online courses in total quality management. The move is an attempt to address the lack of TQM resources in the Middle East and to increase awareness of TQM in the area, while…
An upcoming conference will focus on the use of total information quality management (TIQM) to improve varied organizations’ quality and processes. The TIQM Mastery Series will be held March 6–10 at the Nashville Convention Center. It’ll feature three courses: IQ 101: IQ Principles &…
A new book uses simple language and examples to introduce Six Sigma novices to the methodology.The Pocket Idiot’s Guide to Six Sigma (Alpha Books, 2005), explains everything rank-and-file employees need to know about Six Sigma, including an overview of the system and a history of the…
Solectron Corp. recently opened a manufacturing facility in Singapore that will use Six Sigma and lean to produce medical products more efficiently. The plant, called the Singapore Medical Center of Excellence, is located in Chai Chee, Singapore’s “Techno Park.” It’ll use the Solectron…
The Society of Manufacturing Engineers recently released The Hitchhiker’s Guide to Lean: Lessons from the Road, a book that explores actual lean applications. Authors Jamie Flinchbaugh and Andy Carlino, founders and partners in the Lean Learning Center, use the book to reveal the most…
In its efforts to ramp up hybrid engine production, Ford Motor Co. will use design for Six Sigma for the first time in a major powertrain program. Ford’s new 250-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6 engine, also known as the Duratec 35, will be built at the company’s Lima Engine Plant in Ohio. The new…
An upcoming conference on global outsourcing will feature the use of Six Sigma in organizing a global workforce. Strategic Research Institute’s 3rd Annual Global Outsourcing Conference will include experts from such diverse industries as consumer goods, publishing, pharmaceutical research…
What poor-quality cars lack in performance and reliability, they can make up for with style, according to a new study.In the short term, consumers will put up with performance deficiencies if they’re satisfied with the style and appearance of new vehicles, reports A.T. Kearney, a…
A recently released, comprehensive study of patient care shows significantly improved care of patients with serious conditions. Premera Blue Cross, a Washington-based health insurer of upward of 1.3 million people, performed the study with several prominent medical groups across Washington…
The 52nd annual Reliability and Maintainability Symposium (RAMS) will be held January 23–26 in California. Reliability and maintainability have been growing beyond their traditional role of prediction to include risk management, process verification and product validation. The growth has…
Statit Software Inc. recently released Performance Indicator & Management Dashboard (piMD), a new approach to measurement and analysis for the health care industry. Statit reports that a review of current software options for health care executives revealed a need for a system that…
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has begun formal evaluation of an application filed by TÜV Healthcare Specialists to become the first new accreditation service for U.S. hospitals in 40 years. If granted the accreditation, TÜV will not only accredit hospitals in…
Event-planning company WCBF will host its annual Global Six Sigma Summit this summer in Las Vegas. The event, which is scheduled to have an unparalleled panel of expert speakers and many high-profile CEO attendees, will be held June 27–30 at The Venetian in Las Vegas. The keynote addresses will be…
UltraCell, a producer of fuel-cell technology, will use the latest in lean manufacturing processes at its recently opened manufacturing and corporate facility..Located in Livermore, California, the facility will enable the company to convert from prototype manufacturing to volume production. It’ll…
Sigma Dynamics recently released four new applications designed to connect the operational and analytical sides of customer-relationship management. The applications are part of its Sigma Intelligence Platform, which includes strategic routing analysis, predictive cross-sell, real-time customer…
Rockwell Automation will offer a series of varied educational courses starting January 2006. The courses will be offered throughout various U.S. cities and include the following: AC/DC motors and drives fundamentals Introduction to vibration technology Ethernet/IP design and configuration…
The average staffing level for full-time quality professionals is 23.8 per 1,000 employees, according to a recently released study. The figure was revealed in “Improving the Quality Function: Driving Organizational Impact & Efficiency,” performed by Best Practices LLC. The study found that…
Several police precincts of the Dubai Police Department have received registration to ISO 9001. The registration was announced by Dhahi Khalfan Tamim, commander-in-chief and lieutenant-general of the Dubai Police, at a recent Dubai Police Academy graduation ceremony. In addition, Dubai’s General…
The American Society for Quality has released a third edition of its popular The ASQ Auditing Handbook.The best-selling handbook is a comprehensive resource for professionals in the quality, environmental, safety and health-auditing industries. It’s designed to correspond to ASQ’s Certified Quality…
The Association for Operations Management (APICS) recently recognized several organizations for supply chain efficiencies, innovation and other notable successes. APICS annually recognizes successful organizations with its Corporate Awards of Excellence. The 2005 recipients are: Engenio…
George Rathbun, director of architecture in Pfizer’s Global Research and Development Informatics group, was recently named chief technology officer of SAFE-BioPharma Association. SAFE-BioPharma is the pharmaceutical-industry–sponsored organization that’s developing and managing a secure digital-…
Beijing United Family Hospital and Clinics recently became the first integrated health system in Asia to earn accreditation from the Joint Commission International. The hospital is a joint venture between Chindex International, a U.S.-owned health care company that operates Chinese hospitals, and…