(The Conference Board: New York) -- The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index, which had declined in June 2012, improved slightly in July. The index now stands at 65.9, up from 62.7 in June. The Expectations Index improved to 79.1, from 73.4.

(NCQA: Washington, D.C.) -- The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) has released its new Case Management (CM) Accreditation program for organizations managing care for patients with complex health care and social needs.

(NSF: Ann Arbor, MI) -- NSF International, an independent global public health and safety organization that develops standards as well as tests and certifies products for the food, water, health, and consumer products industries, has acquired Becker & Associates Consulting Inc.

(Bruker: Phoenix) -- At the Microscopy & Microanalysis (M&M) 2012 Annual Meeting, Bruker announced the Dimension FastScan Bio Atomic Force Microscope (AFM), which enables high-resolution microscopy res

(Beamex: Marietta, GA) -- Beamex introduces a new modular calibration system, MCS200. It is a modular test and calibration system for workshops and laboratories. The MCS200 offers efficient and ergonomic possibilities for the maintenance of process instruments.

(Simpler Consulting: Corapolis, PA) -- Simpler Consulting, a global management consulting firm, has released a new book,

(Apriso: Long Beach, CA) -- Apriso, developer and provider of manufacturing software solutions, now offers its FlexNet Quality application with visual Quality Defect Tracking (vQDT), which embeds visual imagery of products and components within FlexNet to more readily address quality defects and

(Nextec: Eastlake, OH) -- Nextec Laser Metrology, a corporation serving the quality inspection market, has released WIZinspect, a 3D multiposition laser inspection solution that enables manufacturers to improve the quality control process with faster speed and higher precision while lowering cost

(Zontec: Cincinnati) -- Zontec Inc. a global developer of SPC software solutions, has released an update to its Synergy 1000 for its customers worldwide.

(Reis Robotics: Obernburg, Germany) -- Reis Robotics, developer, manufacturer, and provider of robot technology and automation systems integration, has developed SafetyController, for generating software-driven Cartesian and axis-related safety areas for optimum operator-specific safety equipment