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The Food and Drug Administration has determined that endoscopic trocars reprocessed by Vanguard Medical Concepts Inc. are substantially equivalent to new instruments and has cleared the company to resume selling them. Vanguard voluntary took its trocars off the market last fall, pending an FDA request for additional documentation of Vanguard’s methods for cleaning, testing and sterilizing the costly devices. At issue was whether the trocars, which are marketed for single use, could be safety reconditioned for a limited number of additional uses and function as new without patient health risks. 
As the nation tightens its borders against possible terrorist attacks, it risks undermining those efforts by allowing the importation of non-FDA-approved prescription drugs. This was the conclusion of a report issued by Giuliani Partners, a firm headed by former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani. “Examination and Assessment of Prescription Drug Importation from Foreign Sources to the United States” was commissioned by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America. The report found that the risk of importing drugs far outweighs any benefits and calls on the Department of Homeland Security to conduct a threat and vulnerability assessment. 
Firstlogic Inc., a provider of enterprise information quality and mail-automation software, recently announced that Dendrite International has started using its data quality solutions to improve customer information management for Dendrite’s pharmaceutical and life sciences clients. Dendrite is a provider of sales, marketing, clinical and compliance solutions to the life sciences and pharmaceutical markets. It’s using Firstlogic’s Information Quality Suite to validate and cleanse data about the end-user physicians that prescribe medications. The software also allows Dendrite to help pharmaceutical manufacturers in their promotion and marketing efforts. 
Sypris Test & Measurement Inc. has added electromagnetic interference (EMI) and electromagnetic conformance (EMC) testing capabilities to its offerings. The services are available in Sypris’ facilities in Burlington and North Billerica, Massachusetts; and Wayne, New Jersey. The company reached an agreement with Quest Engineering, in which Sypris will perform EMI and EMC testing for Quest in its North Billerica facility. Quest Engineering will perform air lab, audio and product safety testing. 
SRI Quality System Registrar has a new president and chief operating officer, Greg Swan. Swan has more than 30 years experience in quality management, 15 in auditing and certifying management systems. He’s the former president of Bureau Veritas Quality International North America Inc. and the founder and past president of the Independent Association of Accredited Registrars. Swan holds a degree in psychology from the State University of New York and was a submariner in the U.S. Navy. 
Metris, a provider of laser-based scanning applications, recently announced the simultaneous acquisition of Krypton N.V., of Belgium; and MetricVision, a Washington-based company. Krypton develops and produces quality control and testing solutions based on linear camera technology. MetricVision develops and manufactures precision 3-D measurement laser radars based on its patented coherent laser radar technology. Bart Van Coppenolle, Metris president and CEO, reports that the acquisitions will position the company to lead the optical metrology market. 
The first Lean Accounting Summit will take place Sept. 22–23 in Dearborn, Michigan. The event, planned to take place annually, will feature more than 20 leaders in the lean accounting sector. Presenters include Tom Johnson, professor of business administration at Portland State University; Brian Maskell, president of BMA Inc.; and Orry Flume, 2004 Shingo Prize-winning author of Real Numbers: Management Accounting in a Lean Organization. 
Organizers of the 12th annual International Research Seminar are seeking paper proposals for presentation. The seminar will be held Feb. 13–14, 2006, in New York City. The event is being sponsored by the W. Edwards Deming Institute and Fordham University. Papers that link Deming’s work to the academic literature or works of other great thinkers are particularly sought, as are papers that extend or expand Deming’s work, and those that describe applications of his management ideas. 
