A series of groundbreaking case studies by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and partner organizations shows that implementing standards can provide economic benefits from between 0.5 and 4 percent of companies’ annual sales revenues.

Igor Centric, CEO of Dysfuncompany of America Inc., is lolling behind his desk with his legs crossed on top of it. He is staring up at the ceiling with his hands clasped behind his head.

(AIA: Ann Arbor, MI) -- A new camera interface standard that is based on the USB 3.0 interface (SuperSpeed USB) is being developed specifically for the global machine vision market.

(ATS: Norwood, MA) -- Advanced Thermal Solutions Inc.

(Newport: Irvine, CA) -- Newport Corp. has announced that it has completed the acquisition of Ophir Optronics Ltd. (“Ophir”), a global leader in precision infrared optics, photonics instrumentation, and 3-D noncontact measurement equipment, for $8.43 per share in cash.

(Elysium: Southfield, MI) -- With almost 250 participants already registered for the third annual Boeing/Northrop Grumman Global Product Data Interoperability Summit, the list of speakers has now been released (see below).

(AIA: Ann Arbor, MI) -- The International Conference for Vision Guided Robotics (ICVGR), sponsored by the Automated Imaging Association (AIA) and the Robotic Industries Association (RIA), focuses on the successful implementation of vision-guided robotics for a variety of industries.

Reflection, or hansei in Japanese, is a critical part of lean. Without purposeful reflection it is difficult to improve our value streams, processes, or ourselves.

1.
Wild craziness
No one knows diddly here
Going homeward bound

2.
We have an issue!
Looking for the root cause?
Go to the gemba!

(EPA Alliance Training Group: Houston) -- The EPA Alliance Training Group, provider of cost-effective environmental training to the private and government sectors, is offering the “ISO 14001 EMS Workshop: Auditing and Conformance” in Orlando, Florida, Jan. 11–13, 2012.