All News
Click here to read part 1 of this series.
Analytic statistical methods are in very strong contrast with what is normally taught in most statistics textbooks, which describe the problem as one of “accepting” or “rejecting” hypotheses. In the real world of quality improvement, we must look for…
(Hexagon Metrology: North Kingstown, RI) -- Hexagon Metrology Inc. has announced expanded equipment rental options for its bridge coordinate measuring machines (CMM), portable arm, and laser tracker product lines. Brown & Sharpe Bridge CMMs such as Global and ONE are now available in most…
(Quality Digest: Chico, CA) -- Quality Digest and Musselman Pictures, in partnership with William Tandler of Multi Metrics, have announced the release of "SmartGD&T: An Advanced Beginner's Course." The DVD contains nine short, but information-packed, episodes on geometric dimensioning and…
(DeFelsko Corp.: Ogdensburg, NY) -- DeFelsko recently announced the addition of Bluetooth Wireless Technology to the popular PosiTector 6000 Coating Thickness Gauge. Memory models allow users to wirelessly transmit readings from gauge to a Bluetooth-compatible device up to 10 m (33 feet) away.…
Long before Six Sigma; long before SPC; long before ISO, TQM, TQC, ZD, and Mil-Q-9858A there were quality products. Quality meaning both goodness and defect-free. Look at furniture made around the time of the America Revolution. It was excellent. Fine inlay, precision joints, superior finishing.…
(Frost and Sullivan: London) -- The European large scale micro metrology market is anticipated to register low growth during the first few quarters of 2009 due to the economic downturn. An upturn in the economic situation by the last quarter of 2009 is set to spur market growth with resurgent…
(Mahr Federal: Providence, RI) -- Mahr Federal will be featuring its new MMQ 200 cylindricity measuring machine at Quality Expo 2009, Sept. 22–24, at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois, at booth No. 4725.
The MMQ 200 Formtester extends the capability of Mahr Federal's…
(FDA: Rockville, MD) -- Michael R. Taylor, J.D., a nationally recognized food safety expert and research professor at George Washington University’s School of Public Health and Health Services, will return to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to serve as senior advisor to the…
In “The Power of Observation—Part 1,” we learned that a good portion of problem solving should be devoted to a thorough understanding of what’s going on before any corrective action steps are taken.
In many cases, too much time is spent on proposing various solutions before the problem has been…
The New Yorker magazine featured a cartoon showing a discussion between a salesman and his sales manager. The despondent salesman asked, “I know you’re always telling us to sell the sizzle and not the steak, Mr. Bollinger, but just what is the sizzle of a 90º elbow, flexible-copper fitting?”…
Failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) is a systematic analysis technique that facilitates the identification of potential problems (failure modes) within a design or manufacturing process. Problems can then be ranked in order of importance to prioritize improvement actions. These actions are…
(Hexagon: North Kingstown, RI) -- Wilcox Associates Inc., a Hexagon Metrology company, announced the release of PC-DMIS 2009, the latest version of its market-leading CAD-based metrology software. PC-DMIS 2009 is a family of software products covering a variety of metrology hardware platforms and…
(NIST: Gaithersburg, MD) -- Miniature devices for trapping ions (electrically charged atoms) are common components in atomic clocks and quantum computing research. Now, a novel ion trap geometry demonstrated at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) could usher in a new…
(InterTech: Skokie, IL) -- Recession-strapped manufacturers and machine builders with applications requiring high-speed leak testing of parts from several cubic centimeters to several liter volumes can now integrate leak testing into test-intensive assembly operations with unprecedented ease with…
(USGBC: Washington) -- As part of LEED v3, the latest version of the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) program for green building design, construction, operations, and maintenance; buildings seeking LEED certification will begin submitting operational performance data on a recurring basis as a…
You have a carefully crafted clay prototype made by a top design artist. Each detail is exquisite and you want to make sure every last one is molded into the finished article. Contact measurement isn't an option, because the piece is too complex and too malleable for touch probes. You need…
It can be extremely difficult if not impossible to have an antiquated, document or paper-based quality management system (QMS) work for a company. To possess, build, and support this type of management system burdens the organization.
On the other hand, a QMS that is electronic, linked, or…
(AHRQ: Rockville, MD) -- The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's (AHRQ) annual release of state-by-state quality data continues to give mixed reviews for the quality of care that states provide. As in previous years, AHRQ's 2008 State Snapshots show that no state does well or poorly on all…
Mike Micklewright's pun of the month (we can only hope there is just one)
Question: When Potsie and Fonzie tried to trick Richie into handing over his date to Ralph Malph in exchange for a better looking girl, what did they call the deal?
Answer: A Ponzie scheme.
Training within industry…
(Intertek: Boxborough, MA) -- Intertek, a leading global provider of quality and safety solutions, is working with medical device manufacturers who are currently under pressure to stay compliant under widespread changes to EU regulations.
The European Union has published a revision to its…
This is further information on the story released on July 1, 2009: http://www.qualitydigest.com/inside/quality-insider-news/iatf-releases-revised-version-isots-16949.html.
--Editor
(ISO: Geneva) -- ISO has just published a new edition of ISO/TS 16949:2009, which specifies quality system…
As I listened to South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford struggle through tears and sobs as he described his sordid, illicit affair with a woman from Argentina, I concluded that he must have been listening to the new Kenny Chesney song “Out Last Night” with these opening words:
We went out last…
Bright Minds, a Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) mentoring program, provides a chance for students interested in manufacturing to get an in-depth look into the industry. Students are given the opportunity to immerse themselves in rapid prototyping, tooling, and additive manufacturing.…
(NCQA: Washington) -- Beginning in 2010, the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) will publicly report on health plans' resource use for patients with diabetes and asthma. The reporting of these two relative resource use (RRU) measures will allow purchasers and consumers to compare…
(BSI: United Kindom) -- Findings of a recent BSI survey show that a standard to help improve energy efficiency is much needed. Of 800 public-and private-sector UK organizations surveyed, only half rated their energy management practices as good or very good. This is despite 78 percent saying that…
