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TÜV America recently received accreditation to the SQF Program, a certification program for managing food safety and enhancing food-chain quality systems. The SQF Program is managed by the Safe Quality Food Institute and provides two standards based on the type of supplier. The SQF 1000…
The International Organization for Standardization recently opened a new section on its Web site to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) achieve the benefits of standardization. The materials and articles address the benefits of registration to ISO 9001 and ISO 14001, and…
Fabricators & Manufacturers Association International will host a lean seminar in May in Nashville, Tennessee.“Practical Lean: Lean Manufacturing for Smaller and Mid-Sized Operations” will be held May 8–9 at the Sheraton Music City Hotel. It will offer interactive training in lean…
PowerSteering Software Inc. recently released enhanced software that features an advanced reporting module and new demand management functionality driven by an active voice-of-the-customer program. PowerSteering Enterprise 4.7 provides more than 100,000 users with beefed-up strategy…
The official conference of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award will be held April 23–26 at the Hilton Washington in Washington, D.C.Representatives from the 2005 Baldrige Award recipient organizations will attend Quest for Excellence XVIII and share their exceptional performance…
Mikel J. Harry, co-creator of Six Sigma, recently launched a new computer-based training program for the methodology. Historically, Six Sigma training can take up to 160 hours and can cost up to $12,000 per trainee. These factors have put high-quality Six Sigma training out of reach for…
Two recently released books look at the changes and best practices organizations should follow to comply with the 2006 Baldrige criteria.This year’s changes to the Baldrige criteria include a focus on organizations’ business ethics and governance systems, along with their emergency-…
Robert H. McGuckin III, an expert and pioneering researcher in the fields of U.S. job creation and productivity trends, recently died of neuroendocrine cancer at his home in Alexandria, Virginia. He was 63. McGuckin was director of economic research at The Conference Board and former…
The Ice Cream Maker: an Inspiring Tale About Making Quality the Key Ingredient in Everything You Do (Currency, 2005), by Subir Chowdhury, was recently recognized by the U.S. Congress for its groundbreaking approach to quality management.The book has been distributed to all members of…
Ten publications will receive the 2006 Shingo Research Prize, which recognizes researchers throughout the world who promote new knowledge and understanding of manufacturing and business-improvement methods, systems and processes. The research award will be given at the 18thAnnual Shingo…
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…
The National Committee for Quality Assurance has released a draft standard of its 2007 accreditation requirements for public comment. The draft includes increased requirements for managed care organizations and preferred-provider organizations seeking accreditation. They’ll be required…
Ten very different organizations recently received The Shingo Prize for Excellence in Manufacturing. The prize, which has been dubbed the Nobel Prize of manufacturing, recognizes organizations’ quality and efficiency achievements using lean principles. It’s the premier manufacturing…
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…
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…
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,…
