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Excel Partnership Inc. recently became the first U.S. company to achieve RABQSA certification for its environmental management systems course. The certification was awarded after Excel Partnership proved that the course materials adhere to a strict set of requirements. In January, RABQSA introduced…
The second-annual Six Sigma Gulf Summit 2005 will be held on Dec. 5–7 at the Bahrain Conference Centre.The event, which is sponsored by the Juran Institute Inc., will feature a keynote speech from Joseph A. De Feo, Juran Institute president and CEO. He will present an executive briefing on Six…
The third-annual Design for Six Sigma Conference will be held Jan. 16–18 at the Memphis Marriott Downtown. The event is billed as the premier forum for companies to achieve DFSS success. Topics to be discussed include: Integrating DFSS with engineering practices after initial deployment…
A new book contends that top-down lean implementations often fail, and provides specific examples of successful bottom-up approaches. In his new book, Creating Lean Corporations (Productivity Press, 2005), author Jeffrey Morgan shows how the bottom-up approach empowers the employees doing the tasks…
SigmaQuest Inc. and Customer Service Associates Inc. have entered into a new distribution agreement. The agreement will allow CSA to sell and support SigmaQuest’s performance-intelligence software throughout North America. CSA has more than 130 sales and support staff members in the United States…
The Automotive Industry Action Group has announced that it will cancel next year’s Auto Tech trade show. The next AutoTech won’t be held until May 2007, and the venue has yet to been announced.“To avoid overlap with other automotive events, AIAG has determined that May would be a better month to…
If you’re wondering what the cost of nonconformance to standards and quality firefighting is to your company, Philip Crosby Associates Inc. has a workshop for you. The Price of Nonconformance workshop focuses on cost-of-quality fundamentals such as improving operational performance, sustaining cost…
A recently released study finds that best-in-class manufacturing companies optimize performance through structured outsourcing programs, continuous improvement initiatives and shared customer-focused measurements. The research was performed by Aberdeen Group, a value-chain strategies consultancy,…
The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America reports that PhRMA member-companies are helping world governments prepare for the possibility of an avian flu pandemic.An important line of defense in the event of an outbreak will be antiviral drugs such as Tamiflu, a Roche product, and…
BioMed Realty Trust Inc. recently acquired two new properties, one in San Diego and one in the San Francisco area.The company’s new site in San Diego is it ninth in that area. It purchased the 28,704 square-foot facility for $8.5 million from Isis Pharmaceuticals Inc. Isis, a public…
Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Minnesota was recently awarded a contract with the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services to offer Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage through its Northern Plains Alliance, a group of six Blue Cross plans throughout the upper Midwest. It will extend drug coverage…
Responding to a growing demand for automated testing tools by life-sciences companies, Genilogix LLC recently released its Validation Accelerator with e-Signature. The device is designed to work with Mercury’s TestDirector for Quality Center product, which enables clients to leverage optimal power…
The balance of trade in medicines for the United Kingdom dipped over the first half of 2005. The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry reports that there was a 14-percent drop in the trade balance over the first six months of 2005 as compared with the first half of 2004—from 1.693…
The ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board (ANAB) is developing an accreditation program to support ANSI/AIHA Standard Z10, its new American standard for occupational health and safety systems. Because the new standard is compatible with environmental and quality management standards such as ISO…
The Quest for Excellence Conference XVIII, the official conference of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, will be held next spring in Washington, D.C. The event will be held April 23–26 at the Hilton Washington. It will feature presentations from the 2005 Baldrige Award winners, who will…
In a plan to “strengthen American business through the successful use of the Baldrige Criteria for Performance Excellence and its framework,” three major quality trade associations have formed the Malcolm Baldrige Collaborative Project. The alliance was formed by the Baldrige National Quality…
Three new judges were recently elected to the 2005 Minnesota Quality Award Panel of Judges. The new judges are Debra Bowers, Independent School District 283 superintendent; Mary Ann Nelson, Minnesota Department of Education assistant commissioner of academic excellence; and Rachelle Schultz, Winona…
A report recently released by the National Committee for Quality Assurance shows that health care improved significantly, but health-care plans that publicly report their performance have declined. The information was part of NCQA’s annual “The State of Health Care Quality” report, which was…
The International Organization for Standardization recently released guidelines for local governments to implement ISO 9001. More than 670,400 organizations in 154 countries have already implemented ISO 9001. However, the new guidelines explain the standard in terms more familiar to local…
RABQSA recently started offering its AS9100 aerospace auditor certification program on its Web site. The registrar has offered AS9100 certification services for some time, but the old scheme required customers to contact RABQSA directly for copies of relevant documentation. The new scheme meets…
Research from Quantitative Software Management Inc. has found that best-in-class software-development projects not only make it to market faster than competitors, they are significantly less expensive. The company surveyed 563 IT software-development projects over the course of four years and…
Kaiser Aluminum recently received the 2005 TBM Perfect Engine Award for its Chandler ( Arizona) facility, a recognition of the company’s implementation of lean Six Sigma. The award is given annually by the TBM Consulting Group Inc. to a facility that achieves outstanding productivity results. The…
As part of its ongoing transformation effort, leadership at the Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) recently held several lean Six Sigma value-stream mapping events to identify projects that will provide the best return on investment. “Project identification and selection is a disciplined,…
The Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) has selected the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Port Hueneme Division as the base for its new Lean Six Sigma College. During their training, students learn about basic lean, Six Sigma and theory of constraints principles and tools, including value-stream…
Solectron recently held two consecutive events to honor its suppliers for their successful lean Six Sigma initiatives. The company received more than 50 entries to its first-annual Global Solectron Production System Kaizen Competition. The Supplier Day conference was held immediately after the…