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In this article I want to explore an observation on how we make distinctions and what this reveals about the structure of our thinking. I’m inspired by the ideas in George Spencer-Brown’s Laws of Form and broader themes in cybernetics about how observers construct meaning.
The starting point is…
We’d be willing to bet your key collaborators aren’t all in the same building. Your team members, contract partners, clients, and suppliers are likely scattered across the globe. That makes collecting physical, “wet ink” signatures nearly impossible and turns digital approvals into a daily…
(Siemens: Munich) -- At EMO 2025 last September, Siemens introduced Optimize MyProgramming /3D Scanner, a groundbreaking software solution that can transform shop floor-oriented CNC programming. This innovative software combines 3D analysis technologies with programming right on the CNC control,…
Coming soon!
(Platinum Tooling: Prospect Heights, IL) -- Platinum Tooling, the exclusive importer of Heimatec live tooling for the North American machine tool accessory market, offers custom designed and special tooling for most major CNC turning centers, in addition to its extensive standard tooling line.…
The use of artificial intelligence (AI) models, specifically generative AI, is growing. This has raised concerns about the effects on jobs in various professions. The quality profession is among them.
Like it or not, the quality profession has been disrupted. This occurred before AI became widely…
(Shimadzu Scientific Instruments Inc.: Columbia, MD) -- Shimadzu Scientific Instruments announces its new ALTRACE energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometer, designed with the latest X-ray optical system and proprietary high-speed signal processing technology to achieve outstanding high-…
Growing up in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, I witnessed firsthand the heartbeat of American manufacturing. I remember the hum of machines, the rhythm of assembly lines, and the pride of workers crafting products that powered industries across the nation. I can still smell the oil and hear the machines…
(Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence: Cobham, England) -- Hexagon’s Manufacturing Intelligence division introduces ATLASCAN Pro, a new handheld 3D scanner that brings professional-grade laser scanning to entry-level users in any industry. Using multiple laser lines and a unique processing algorithm…
I grew up outside Pittsburgh, widely known as “Steel City.” Although the city is no longer the center of steel or heavy manufacturing in America, its past remains a proud part of its identity.
Like many Pittsburghers, my family’s story is tied to this industrial legacy. My relatives immigrated…
Ninety days to implementation vs. 12 to 18 months with traditional systems: That’s not just an incremental improvement—it’s a complete reimagining of what’s possible in life sciences quality management.
In the highly regulated life sciences industry, quality management system (QMS) implementations…
(Mahr: Providence, RI) -- Mahr, a leading provider of dimensional metrology solutions, announces the new and improved Precimar ICM 100 IP: a fully automatic dial and digital indicator test bench designed to make testing indicators easier and more efficient. Fast and automated image processing, user…
When businesses talk about customer experience, the conversation almost always focuses on the end user. That’s understandable, but dangerously narrow. In modern service ecosystems, particularly those governed by service integration and management (SIAM), the customer experience depends just as much…
(Schreiner ProTech: Oberschleissheim, Germany) -- Colorado-based Kratos Industries manufactures large-format control cabinets and has seen strong growth during the past five years. As the company expanded, the need for accurate labeling also increased, posing significant challenges.
In close…
AI has amazing capabilities, and it’s one of the best technologies for the future. It’s helping to change the world and bringing productivity enhancements across industries with its exceptional use cases. Quality assurance isn’t left out, either. AI is highly useful in any product development…
(SICK: Minneapolis) -- Having provided more digital sensor models of 2D and 3D LiDAR sensors, safety scanners, and camera sensors in the universal scene description data (OpenUSD) format, SICK is opening up new possibilities for virtual engineering with NVIDIA technologies, as well as for the…
Many organizations have decided to automate their quality management system (QMS) or upgrade their currently automated QMS. Quality management tends to involve significant numbers of documents, which automated systems are especially efficient at creating, accessing, tracking, updating, and…
(NIST: Gaithersburg, MD) -- The Center for AI Standards and Innovation (CAISI) at the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) evaluated AI models from the People’s Republic of China (PRC) developer DeepSeek and found that they lag behind U.S. models in…
Digital calipers are one of the most common hand tools used on the shop floor. In a manufacturing plant, under a quality control system, these tools must be checked and calibrated regularly.
Past articles have discussed the pros and cons of doing gauge calibrations internally or by an external…
(Leica Geosystems: Heerbrugg, Switzerland) -- Leica Geosystems, part of Hexagon, has announced the launch of the all-new Leica TS20 robotic total station.
Designed and engineered from the ground up with a deep understanding of surveyors’ workflows, this total station accelerates field work,…
The case for in-office work has never been stronger. This may seem surprising, given that many businesses have operated remotely or in hybrid models for more than five years. The initial excitement about remote work stemmed largely from its immediate conveniences and the individual flexibility it…
(Pacific Northwest National Laboratory: Richland, WA) -- A spinning tool plunges into two pieces of metal, rotating at a high rate of speed. As the tool begins to move, it softens and mixes the metal, creating a powerful weld—one that can securely join similar and dissimilar materials (particularly…
When an issue arises, it’s important to take quick action. Whether that means launching a software patch, pulling a batch, or halting the use of a reagent, it’s critical to tackle the immediate problem.
But just as critical as “How do we fix this?” is “How do we make sure this doesn’t happen again…
(Velo3D: Fremont, CA) -- U.S.-based Velo3D, a leading provider of metal additive manufacturing (AM) technology, and Dyndrite Corp., a leading AM software provider, announce the integration of Dyndrite’s LPBF Pro software with its Sapphire and Sapphire XC print platform. The collaboration provides…
My first day as a consultant coincided with the annual women’s summit, and so the other female new hires and I were invited to join the event. The firm had brought in a “gender empowerment” speaker who mostly seemed focused on addressing the mistakes women made in the workplace.
She went around…