Missed opportunities for improvement represent a 20–60 percent chunk carved out of the bottom line. Scores of programs and projects that claim improvement but never materialize in the financials are a travesty.

(Minitab: State College, PA) -- Swiss-based Metalor Technologies, a global leader in precious metals and advanced materials, is a supplier to electronics companies and manufacturers of medical and electrical equipment.

(URAC: Washington) -- URAC, a leading health care accreditation and education organization, has released revisions to three products within its suite of Pharmacy Quality Management Accreditation programs.

(TÜV SÜD: Peabody, MA) -- International safety standards and regulations are complex and constantly evolving.

(Purdue University MEP: Indiana) -- Purdue University’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Center will offer Six Sigma training programs around the state beginning in late January.

(Micro-Measurements: Raleigh, NC) -- Vishay Precision Group Inc. (VPG) has announced its Micro-Measurements Division’s U.S. training session schedule for the first half of 2011.

(3D Engineering Solutions: Cincinnati) — Cincinnati-based 3D Engineering Solutions (3DES), an engineering and metrology services provider, recently provided long-range laser scanning and 3-D laser mapping services for a Fortune 100

As a retired citizen, I no longer have to make any New Year’s resolutions because changes to my lifestyle at this juncture could be injurious to my health, well-being, and mental acuity. So I’ve decided to make them for others in our society.

Measurement error is ubiquitous. As a result, over the past 250 years, different areas of science and engineering have come up with many different ways to deal with the problem.