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We usually focus on lean and Six Sigma concepts as ideas for providing improvement. But there are many other approaches around the world that are insightful and worth noting as lessons learned for business and other organizations. For example, during the month of April 2009, an estimated 714…
When someone mentions design for Six Sigma (DFSS), the initial thought usually turns to developing new, innovative products. While DFSS has its roots in product development, individual components of the toolset can be applied in a variety of ways.
Recently, the use of DFSS has exploded in…
(AMT: McLean, VA) -- Testifying before the House Small Business Committee, Douglas K. Woods, president of The Association For Manufacturing Technology (AMT), told members of the committee that the effects of tax breaks and other provisions within the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act—the…
(ASTM International: West Conshohocken, PA) -- Localized corrosion, such as pitting, cracking, or crevice corrosion, can be destructive to process equipment, but if it is detected early enough, potential damage can be minimized or avoided.
A new ASTM International standard provides a means for…
(IDEAL Industries Inc.: Sycamore, IL) -- While all electronic equipment is designed to handle varying voltage within a specified range, voltage events become a concern when they exceed designed tolerances. The Voltage Performance Monitor (VPM) from IDEAL quickly and accurately identifies voltage…
(NIST: Gaithersburg, MD) -- The Baldrige National Quality Program (BNQP) at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) collects suggestions throughout the year on opportunities for improving the Baldrige Criteria for Performance Excellence, the Malcolm Baldrige National…
(ISSSC and 10 til 2: Cincinnati) -- The International Society for Six Sigma Certification (ISSSC) and 10 til 2—The Part-time Placement Service—have formed an alliance that will help connect area businesses with highly skilled professionals certified in the Six Sigma program.
"This new alliance…
(SigmaXL: Toronto) -- The provider of user-friendly Excel add-ins for statistical and graphical analysis, announces the release of SigmaXL Version 6.
New features include:
Powerful Excel workbook/worksheet manager
Lean value stream mapping template
Process capability and control charts…
Ultrasonic leak detection has been used for a variety of applications ranging from energy reduction by locating compressed air leaks to quality assurance inspections, such as locating wind noise and water leaks in automobiles. The secret to success is to understand the nature of what type of leak…
Automated inspection and gauging systems can help companies to improve overall product quality and grow their business while reducing manufacturing costs, helping them to become more competitive in this difficult business climate. Whether they are producing automotive, medical, consumer, or…
(ISO: Geneva) -- The first meeting of ISO’s new project committee PC 242, which is to develop an international standard on energy management, was held Sept. 8-10, 2008 in Washington, D.C.
The future ISO 50001 will establish an energy management framework for industrial plants, commercial…
(Palisade: Ithaca, NY) -- When building simulation models with @RISK, consider the following best practices suggested by Palisade's director of training and consulting, Michael Rees, Ph.D.:
* A risk model may need to be built at an appropriate level of detail. A model which is too detailed will…
The Coordinate Metrology Systems Conference (CMSC) is next week, July 20–24. There is no event in the United States better situated to communicate the value and return on investment of large scale 3-D metrology than the CMSC. This year’s CMSC, its 25th, will be held in Louisville, Kentucky. It is…
“I suffer simultaneously from amnesia and déjà vu. I have the feeling that I keep forgetting the same thing over and over again.”
—Steven Wright (surreal comedian)
It all seems so logical, doesn’t it? Focus on processes, improve your organizational decision making through utilizing quality…
(Paul N. Gardner Company Inc.: Pompano Beach, FL) -- The Novo-Gloss I.Q. is the first hand-held instrument to profile how light is reflected from a surface. Traditional glossmeters measure quantitatively and aren't sensitive to effects that reduce appearance quality. The Novo-Gloss I.Q. uses…
(Olympus: Center Valley, Pa.) -- Process engineers, fab managers, professionals in yield enhancement, process development, and failure analysis will benefit from the newly introduced Olympus defect inspection and review system, the company’s fast and accurate semiconductor defect review solution.…
(John Wiley & Sons Inc.: Hoboken, NJ) -- The recession is in full swing and companies everywhere are feeling the pain. Yours is likely no exception. Shrinking budgets, sweeping layoffs, and a smothering malaise that's settled over your workforce make it hard to see the proverbial light at the…
Three-dimensional (3-D) assembly refers to the use of high-accuracy, in-place, 3-D coordinate measurement devices for the digital assembly of parts. This process is often referred to as computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) or gaugeless manufacturing. Whatever the name, 3-D assembly is replacing…
Investing in capital equipment always involves an analysis of the return on investment (ROI), but never as much as during a recession. The question this year is often, "Our company is already tightening its belt, is this equipment going to help us save a lot of money in a relatively short time…
(Georgia Institute of Technology: Atlanta) -- A new statistical analysis technique that identifies and removes systematic bias, noise, and equipment-based artifacts from experimental data could lead to more precise and reliable measurement of nanomaterials and nanostructures likely to have future…
(UL: Northbrook, IL) -- Underwriters Laboratories (UL), a provider of safety testing and certification, recently announced the completion of its photovoltaic testing facility expansion in San Jose, California. The expansion has increased testing capacity by more than 40 percent, making it the…
(Delcam: Birmingham, UK) -- Delcam has launched its own online TV channel, Delcam TV, on www.delcam.tv. Delcam is believed to be the first CADCAM company to invest significantly in this new marketing medium.
Customer testimonials are featured covering design, manufacturing, and inspection…
A lean Six Sigma program instituted by Erie County, New York, has come under fire recently. The county's program is outlined in an article in Quality Digest Daily, "Analyzing Data Saves Millions for County Tax Payers," which describes how county executive Chris Collins implemented a lean Six Sigma…
There’s a new wave of environmental consciousness rolling across the landscape of U.S. business. In certification circles, we refer to it as the Green Wave. But companies are discovering that going green isn’t easy, and getting green certified is even tougher. Research data from the American…
(InnoCal: Vernon Hills, IL) -- InnoCal, a provider of calibrations for industrial and scientific equipment, now offers factory-authorized gas-monitor calibrations and service repairs for MSA and Sperian products. InnoCal provides warranty and nonwarranty service for MSA’s single and multigas…
