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Day in and day out, we talk about quality, whether it’s the quality of production, testing, calibration, or some other company function. Typically, emphasis is on developing and implementing policies and procedures, but what is more important is follow up. It’s a mistake to prepare dozens of…
Within the last week I have had two conversations representing two sides of the same challenge. I first conversed with an engineer who recently became a member of his company’s process improvement team. He lamented that he sometimes missed the relative simplicity of engineering challenges compared…
(Mahr Federal: Providence, RI) -- At IMTS 2012, Mahr Federal, a manufacturer and marketer of dimensional metrology equipment, unveiled a revolutionary way to measure surfaces. Mahr Federal introduced a new Android app that allows users to measure common surface roughness parameters using their…
The Microscopy business group at Carl Zeiss presented a new technology at the annual meeting for the Society for Neuroscience, which took place Oct. 13–17, 2012, in New Orleans. The Lightsheet Z.1 provides biologists with a new method of imaging dynamic processes in living organisms.
Biologists…
Despite pressing economic worries, the environment remains a top concern for consumers the world over. And that means environmentally friendly business practices are as necessary for the bottom line as they are for the planet, says Joe Veilleux, president of Euromed USA.
“Being a producer of…
I have been riding my bike to work lately instead of taking my car. I figured I could use the exercise. I figured it would be good for my health. I figured it might help stave off global warming. I figured wrong.
I’ve noticed lately that the sky seems to get darker a little earlier every day. I…
Imagine yourself at the starting line, stretching and flexing and making sure your shoes are tied tight and your winning bib number is securely fastened. This is you, at the gate, achieving your wildest dreams.
As the starting gun sounds, you sprint into action, with every muscle in your being…
Quality of compressed air is a broad term. One person may deem his compressed air quality as “poor” if he finds water at the end-use point. Another may tell you that her compressed air is high quality because she is able to maintain a dew point temperature at –40°F or lower. As with any measurement…
Here’s a question for makers of minuscule moving machines—the kind being eyed for nanomanufacturing and assembly as well as other uses: Do you know where your micro- and nanorobots really are? Care to bet?
A team of researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) would…
To help manufacturers adhere to new regulations intended to reduce the risk of lead poisoning in children, researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have developed standard test samples of lead paint films of the sort sometimes found on children’s products, as well as…
The electronics industry, perhaps more than any other, truly demonstrates the axiom that change is the only constant. Whether it's smart phones, medical devices, tablets, computers, or other consumer electronics, the one regular occurrence is change. Features and functions are revised, which alter…
There are two things right now that get relatively bipartisan support in Washington, D.C. The first is that a major league baseball team in D.C. won a pennant for the first time since we stopped huddling around our radios for entertainment. [Editor’s note: The Nationals lost in the first round of…
One of the many hidden challenges in hospital systems is to ensure required supplies are readily available and in the right quantity. Significant manpower is invested in material management so that patients receive care without interruption. An optimized supply system that uses modern technology…
(NICE: Ra'Anana, Israel) -- NICE Systems has announced the industry’s first mobile workforce optimization suite, which enables customer service managers and employees access to operational and personal data at any time, from anywhere, using their mobile phones or tablets. This set of applications…
(Newport Corp: Irvine, CA) -- Newport Corp., a global leader in lasers and photonics solutions that make, manage, and measure light, has acquired the products and technology of Vistek, a Tempe, Arizona-based manufacturer of advanced vibration isolation solutions. The new products will be offered…
(SAKOR: Atlanta) -- SAKOR Technologies, a recognized leader in high-performance dynamometer systems, will be exhibiting at the North American Automotive Testing Expo 2012 from October 23–25, 2012, at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi, Michigan. SAKOR will highlight many of its innovative…
It’s funny, but when a bunch of lean thinkers gets together, they tend to be on the lookout for small improvements. Cumulatively these little issues give us headaches, and regrettably sometimes have far more serious consequences. Call this mental muri, every bit as stressful as physical muri, the…
Like many things in the manufacturing world, the definition of “mobile data collection” depends on the company, environment, collection type, required functionality, and myriad variables. The abundance of mobile technology is changing the scope of data collection.
After many discussions with…
It may seem dangerous to ask questions, especially in an environment that is hostile to change. The heart of improvement often lies in listening to many viewpoints in order to involve people affected by the outcome. In an environment of trust, it’s okay to disagree with the boss. W. Edwards Deming…
(Steinbichler: Plymouth, MI) -- Steinbichler, developer, manufacturer, and marketer of optical measuring and sensor technology, will present its new, handheld laser scanner T-SCAN CS as well as the optical tracker T-TRACK CS in hall 8, stand L68, at EuroMold, Nov. 27–30, 2012, in Frankfurt, Germany…
The electronics industry, perhaps more than any other, truly demonstrates the axiom that change is the only constant. Whether it’s smart phones, medical devices, tablets, computers, or other consumer electronics, the one regular occurrence is change. Features and functions are revised, which alter…
In a harsh global economy, great service is the price of admission. Companies whose cultures aren’t built around the ability and the willingness—no, the eagerness—to delight the customer won’t survive. You know this. And if you’re a leader at a global enterprise, no doubt you’ve gained more than a…
Human perception of variation and how we execute the methods of four data processes—measurement, collection, analysis, and interpretation—were discussed in part one of this column. Because human variation can compromise the quality of data and render any subsequent analysis virtually useless for…
Beamex and Emerson have partnered to offer Calibration Excellence, a best-in-class solution for managing calibrations. This solution delivers the benefits of a complete automation asset management and premier calibration management functionality in an integrated solution.
Calibration Excellence…
A line-scan camera uses a single row of photo sensors, instead of a matrix of them, to capture images of a constant stream of moving material, often called a web. The data stream is then processed within a machine vision system to create 2D image data for industrial-quality inspection purposes.…
