Astronomers, physicists, and scientists from related fields across the world convened in Tucson, Arizona on Jan. 18, 2012, to discuss an endeavor that only a few years ago would have been regarded as nothing less than outrageous.

What is the economic rationale for pursuing lean production? Much of the lean literature is concerned with the nuts and bolts of lean, and the economics of lean are somewhat less publicized.

In an era of fast-paced and ever-increasing competitiveness, continuous business improvement is no longer reserved for a select group of innovators. It is a requisite for survival.

(Nanovea: Irvine CA) -- Nanovea, designer and manufacturer of profilometers, mechanical testers, and tribometers, has launched its N3 line, which provides high-end measurement technology to the broader market.

(Harrington Group: Orlando, FL) -- The new version of Training Manager from the Harrington Group includes new features and the same fresh interface Training Manager 3 users have benefited from.

In three years, 157 hospitals participating in the Premier health care alliance’s QUEST have saved an estimated 24,820 lives and reduced health care spending by nearly $4.5 billion.

(NVision: Coppell, TX) -- NVision Inc. is helping sculptor Somers Randolph gain additional revenue by laser scanning his creations and saving them as computer models, which can later be used to reproduce the original works at any size on a 3-D printer.

(PRI: Warrendale, PA) -- A recent report about engineering in the United Kingdom in 2012 notes that 63 percent of UK employers in manufacturing are already experiencing difficulty recruiting individuals with science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) skills and knowledge.

(Sologic: Midland, MI) -- Apollo Associated Services, a provider of root cause analysis (RCA) training, software, and services for 20 years, has launched a new suite of RCA products and services, and changed its name to Sologic.

Life can be a real kick in the pants.