In my August column, “How to Turn Capability Indexes Into Dollars,” I defined the effective cost of production and use and showed how it can be obtained directly from the capability

Organizations that struggle with outsourced projects which have gone bad or failed completely usually cite vendor management issues as the reason. It’s as if the vendor is always to blame, and the buyer is completely blameless. Rarely is this the case.

This is a story that, if columns in Quality Digest Daily had a rating, would be rated PG 13—not suitable for children and sensitive adults. As the story progresses, you will see why. You have been warned.

(Leica Geosystems: Heerbrugg, Switzerland) --  Leica Geosystems has announced Leica SpiderQC v.

(LaserLinc: Fairborn, OH) -- LaserLinc Inc., a manufacturer of noncontact laser and ultrasonic measurement systems, has developed Lobex, an innovative solution for lobing-detection in centerless grinding.

(Enterprise Minnesota: Minneapolis) --  Minnesota’s manufacturers are looking for every available advantage these days and now have another resource: Enterprise Minnesota has launched a Lean Product Development service to help companies quickly reduce time-to-market, develop better products more

(Kent State University, Stark: North Canton, OH) -- Kent State University, Stark campus, will offer lean Six Sigma Black Belt training and certification programs this fall.

(DALSA Corp.: Waterloo, ON, Canada) -- DALSA Corp., a global provider of digital imaging technology, together with its distributor Online Solutions (Imaging) Pvt.

(Rucker & Associates: Raleigh, NC) -- Health care experts got a dose of lean Six Sigma principles when Rucker & Associates presented its best industry practices to ISH Inc. to help the company better understand the power of lean Six Sigma for efficiency and productivity.

(Proto3000: Vaughan, ON, Canada) -- A patient had to undergo the surgical ablation of most of her nose, because of a skin cancer that had attacked her right nasal septum.