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The National Standards Authority of Ireland is the first registrar in the world to receive accreditation to provide registration for the new EIA/ECCB-954 standard. The new standard specifies the technical requirements that manufactures must meet to ensure there are no hazardous substances in their…
George Group recently joined Decisioneering Inc.’s Six Sigma Partner Program to promote the use of Decisioneering’s Crystal Ball simulation and optimization software throughout Six Sigma initiatives.The Crystal Ball line of Microsoft Excel-based software is used by industries ranging from Six Sigma…
Seeking to promote eco-friendly practices among its suppliers and reduce incoming component inventory, Samsung India recently tightened its vendor compliance regulations and started a Six Sigma program. Dubbed “Together Win through Six Sigma” (TWIN), the program aims to improve vendor productivity…
A recently released book illustrates how to apply Six Sigma to improve sales and marketing teams’ ability to generate viable leads and improve customer service. In response to these concerns, we formed a new organization, the International Quality Federation (IQF). The IQF is an all volunteer…
An innovative four-week Six Sigma Black Belt training course sponsored by Excel Partnership will begin in July. The course will take place one week a month for four months, beginning July 25–29, followed by Aug. 15–19, Sept. 19–23 and Oct. 24–28. Courses will be held in San Francisco and will…
A new Six Sigma course offered at the University of Notre Dame is specifically designed for health care professionals. “Lean Six Sigma Black Belt for Health Care Professionals” addresses the complex challenge of controlling costs while improving quality in the medical field. A blended-learning…
Voltaix Inc.’s employees have recently received lean manufacturing training in an effort to improve the company’s semiconductor performance.The training was provided by the New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program Inc. Earlier this year, 15 Voltaix employees received Six Sigma Green Belt…
Iowa’s Easter Seals nonprofit organization recently adopted Six Sigma practices and it now expects to save thousands of dollars in ongoing Six Sigma projects. The organization partnered with Pioneer Hi-Bred International Inc. in 2000 to begin Six Sigma training, and to address production and supply…
The International Organization for Standardization is the “world’s largest developer of standards,” according to the World Trade Organization’s World Trade Report 2005. The recently released report was written by WTO economists and discusses the benefits standards deliver in terms of consumer…
The American National Standards Institute will host its 2005 Annual Conference on Oct. 6 at the Marriott at Metro Center in Washington, D.C. The conference, “From A to Veeck: Standardization and the Law,” will provide an opportunity for anyone involved in the standards process to get up to speed on…
A recent study of internal quality assurance functions found that hybridized quality structures provide the most reliable outcomes. “Improving the Quality Function: Driving Organizational Impact & Efficiency,” performed by Best Practices LLC, concludes that companies that use at least three…
The National Committee for Quality Assurance recently added five new measures to the 2006 edition of its Health Plan Employer Data and Information Set (HEDIS). The online tool is used by U.S. health plans to measure and report on their performance in key areas of clinical care and customer service…
The International Electrotechnical Commission’s Standardization Management Board (SMB) recently released a new document outlining its strategy in alignment with the IEC’s Masterplan 2000. SMB Standardization Strategy 2005–2007 identifies eight objectives: Ensure the development of market-…
In a wrap-up of the American Society for Quality’s World Conference for Quality and Improvement, ASQ officials reported the conference a big success.A total of 1,927 people attended the event, which was held in May in Seattle. ASQ reports that book sales increased 50 percent over last year and…
PQ Systems Inc. recently released an enhanced version of its GAGEpack EZ software that includes new measurement systems analysis and gage management capabilities. Other new features include maintenance scheduling, robust reporting features and user-selected sigma values for R&R percentages.…
Vision Engineering Ltd. is relocating to a manufacturing facility in New Milford, Connecticut, where it will offer higher quality and lean manufacturing of its microscopes and noncontact measuring equipment, company officials reported.Rick Coyle, Vision Engineering general manager, says that the…
A week after Leica Geosystems rejected its surprise acquisition offer, Hexagon Metrology has mounted an effort to buy all outstanding shares of the Swiss metrology company. Hexagon has offered Leica shareholders 440 Swiss Francs per share of Leica stock—a 21.23 percent…
Pilgrim Software Inc.’s Fusion 2005 User Conference will be held Nov. 6–9 at the Marriott Waterside Hotel and Marina in Florida. Pilgrim expects the conference to be its largest yet. It will feature IT personnel, executives and Pilgrim users from all over the world to discuss best practices and…
Participants at the ISO 9001 & TQM International Conference and the Shanghai International Symposium on Quality proposed several ways that quality philosophies can adapt to the rapidly changing Asian social environment. The conferences were held simultaneously in Shanghai recently. Participants…
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…
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…
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…
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,…
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…
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…