Quality professionals pride themselves in being efficient and are always searching for ways to improve their approach to improving processes. One of the methods for doing so is to have modern, up to date communication systems.

(Dimensional Metrology Standards Consortium: Arlington, TX) -- By special request, another DMIS and I++DME Training Workshop has been scheduled for the week of Oct. 5–8. Reservations may be made now. This may be the last workshop until spring of next year.

(Carl Zeiss: Maple Grove, MN) -- Carl Zeiss IMT will be introducing the next generation of TiMS software, the ACCTeePro integrated software for surface finish, form, and geometry, at the 2009 Quality Expo held in Chicago on Sept. 22 –24.

(ISU: Ames, IA) -- It’s not easy to make machines that convert wind to electricity. Just consider the turbine blades that spin in the wind: a single blade can be 40 to 50 meters long and 10,000 to 15,000 pounds. It has to be built within millimeters of specifications.

“Writing is not a job; it’s a hobby!” thundered my father when I told him my plans for college. “You need to get a profession: Medicine, law, engineering, or accounting.” 

(BSI: Reston, VA) -- BSI, a provider of regulatory and quality management reviews and product certification for medical devices, recently launched the CE-Dedicated FastTrack.

(Xspect Solutions Inc.: Wixcom, MI) -- Wenzel Geartec will be introducing a unique new hybrid gear measuring machine at the Gear Expo (www.gearexpo.com/About-Gear-Expo.html) in Indianapolis, Indiana, Sept. 15–18, 2009.

(WCBF: Chicago) -- WCBF offers an exclusive invitation to join a complimentary Lean Six Sigma Webinar on Sept. 17 at 10 a.m., EDT, presented by Norman Bodek and Lee Campbell. The event comes to you from the forthcoming 4th Annual Global Lean, Six Sigma, and Business Improvement Summit, Oct.

(Veeco: Plainview, NY) -- Veeco Instruments Inc.

Ray Bell was a math teacher, turned credit manager of a farm equipment company in my rural southern Georgia hometown. He was also my dad. I knew he kept a very detailed ledger book that had information on every customer he gave a loan.