(Pivot Management Consultants: Upland, CA) -- Brainstorming-based creativity is unpredictable; you can great ideas, or you can spend a lot of time and discover nothing is useful. TRIZ is systematic, predictable, and usable by anybody regardless of “natural talent” or “creative instincts.”

(NextSense: Graz, Austria) -- NextSense GmbH, a provider of optical sensor technology, will present the CALIPRI noncontact multiplatform method for quick recording and flexible analysis of gap contours at the CONTROL 2013 trade fair in Stuttgart, Germany, May 14–17, 2013.

(Tech-X: Austin, TX) -- Tech-X Inc., an ERP software startup based in Austin, Texas, has released a full-suite, integrated cloud solution for quality management called Cetec Compliance.

(NTMA: Washington, D.C.) -- In President Obama's Feb. 12, 2013, State of the Union Address, he promoted several manufacturing initiatives but warned:

(Leica: Norcross, GA) -- The new Leica DISTO E7500i laser distance meter stands for easy and effortless outdoor distance measurement. The unique combination of digital Pointfinder and 360° tilt sensor allows measurements that are not possible with conventional distance meters.

(CMSC: San Diego CA) -- The Coordinate Metrology Society (CMS), the eminent membership association for measurement professionals, is hosting the 29th annual Coordinate Metrology Systems Conference (

(Lean Math: Hartford, CT) -- We would like to announce a new entrant into the lean blogosphere, it’s called Lean Math (leanmath.com).

(BYK-Gardner: Columbia, MD) -- BYK-Gardner, worldwide partner of the automotive, paint, and plastic industries for quality control of color, appearance, and physical properties, is offering two free posters for technical use: the Color Theory poster and the Viscosity Conversion Chart.

(IAC: Brea, CA) -- IAC Industries, best known for its Dimension 4 Series premium workstations and Workmaster industrial workbenches, introduces Smart Mobile Stations.