Download directory

Test and measurement equipment and service providers are the lifeblood of the quality profession. Without them, quality professionals wouldn’t have the tools they need to accurately measure, test, or inspect vital parts, components, and direct-to-consumer products. Gauge manufacturers and nondestructive testing equipment providers provide the industry with thousands of general-use and specialized tools, including micrometers, thread, height, plug and depth gauges, and digital indicators, to name a very few. Calibration service providers, on the other hand, make certain that the devices used to measure quality in your shop are accurate and working properly.

The three directories in this section are the Gauge Manufacturers buyers guide, the Nondestructive Testing buyers guide, and the Calibration
Services and Software buyers guide.

Outside of their jobs, employees make important decisions every day. They vote on community issues. They help teach their children new skills. They purchase homes and cars and life insurance. But on the job, how many people are allowed to make important decisions about their work? How many people have input into how they do their own jobs, lead a team, find out what their customers need or make decisions about what will work better for their customers?

What are self-directed work teams?

Minnesota-based 3M is among an increasing number of companies that involve employees in the daily management of their business through work teams. These teams are empowered to take corrective actions to resolve day-to-day problems. They also have direct access to information that allows them to plan, control and improve their operations. In short, employees that comprise work teams manage themselves.

In the field of medical products, devices, and components, regulatory requirements and customer expectations are demanding. Throughout the world, manufacturers and their suppliers are expected to comply with the highest standards and regulations.

ISO 13485--”Medical devices--Quality management systems--Requirements for regulatory purposes” is the standard for organizations engaged in the manufacture of medical devices. According to the most recent survey by the International Organization for Standardization ( www.iso.org/iso/survey2006.pdf ), there were a total of 8,175 current ISO 13485 registrations across 82 countries in 2006. Approximately 30 percent of all ISO 13485 registrations were issued in the United States, compared to only 6 to 7 percent of all ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 registrations. According to the survey, the 2006 total represents an increase of 3,110 (61%) compared to 2005, when there were 5,065 registrations across 67 countries and economies. Other major markets include Europe, Japan, Canada, Sweden, and Israel.

Download directory

Quality improvement is a tough undertaking for even the savviest organization. There’s no need to go it alone, however. Quality system consultants and trainers can help keep you and your organization on the right path, and ensure that you’re current in your knowledge of best practices.

On the following pages, you’ll find our Consulting and Training buyers guide. This guide include hundreds of companies that employ experts in the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award program, statistical process control, Six Sigma, leadership training, quality system development, and certification, among others.

These directories are not meant to endorse or exclude any particular organization. Rather, they should be used as the starting point in the data-gathering process. Readers are encouraged to contact the companies directly for more information and to ask for—and check—references. Further information, including company descriptions (if provided to us) can be found on our web site at www.qualitydigest.com/content/buyers-guides.