Quality articles from August 2005

Quality archives from August 2005

GM needs: long-term strategy.(FROM THE PUBLISHER)
August 1, 2005... At a recent meeting, the talk turned to the news coming from General Motors (GM) about Chairman Richard Wagoner's decision to cut 25,000 jobs by 2008. With some GM employees at the meeting, there was concern about how Wagoner's decision would...

Coming events.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Brief Article)(Calendar)
August 1, 2005... SEPTEMBER 11-16 26TH ANNUAL ELECTRICAL OVERSTRESS (EOS) AND ELECTROSTATtC DISCHARGE (ESD) SYMPOSIUM, Anaheim, CA. Electrostatic Discharge Association, (315) 339-6937. 13-15 ...

Machine-tool consumption up 18.6%.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
August 1, 2005... MCLEAN, VA -- April U.S. machine-tool consumption (USMTC) totaled $257.39 million, according to The Association for Manufacturing Technology (AMT) and the American Machine Tool Distributors' Association. This total, as reported by companies...

SAI Global Ltd. makes acquisition.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... MAUMEE, OH -- ISAI Global Limited acquires Easy i Holdings Ltd. (El Segundo, CA), a compliance training and awareness solutions company with operations in the United States and the United Kingdom. Easy i, which has several million users based...

Kodak announces appointments.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
August 1, 2005... ROCHESTER, NY -- Eastman Kodak Co. has hired Gary Dunford as area manager, southeast region (U.S.) for the company's nondestructive testing business. Dunford most recently served in the company's health imaging business unit as an applications...

USS awards GM machine vision contract.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
August 1, 2005... DETROIT -- General Motors awards Michigan-based United Sales & Services Inc. (USS), a three-year blanket order for DVT vision error-proofing equipment, and also blanket orders for integration, engineering, labor, fixtures and panels. DVT...

Software enables real-time initiative monitoring.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... SUNBURY, CT -- A new Initiative Deployment Manager (IDM) has been developed by Juran Institute and i-Solutions to provide greater flexibility and functionality in successfully managing and controlling business initiatives in real time to...

Partnership expands educational reach.(NACE Foundation )(ASM Materials Education Foundation )(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... MATERIALS PARK, OH -- ASM Materials Education Foundation and the NACE Foundation are working to expand the degree of cooperation between the two educational organizations in promoting increased interest in applied science and education careers...

QMI ad receives recognition.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... CLEVELAND, OH -- QMI has received a second Advertising Excellence Award from Quality magazine for its newly designed advertisement highlighting the goal of QMI's auditing service. The ad, part of QMI's rebranding campaign, first appeared in...

Instron.(BUSINESS NEWS)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Instron (Norwood, MA), provider of testing equipment for evaluating mechanical properties of materials and components, receives Korea Laboratory Accreditation Scheme (KOLAS) accreditation for its calibration laboratory in Korea. This allows...

Synerject LLC.(BUSINESS NEWS)(engine management systems )(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Synerject LLC, (Newport News, VA) an engine management systems and mechanical test provider, receives ISO 17025-1999 standard accreditation from the American Association of Laboratory Accreditation.

DNV Certification.(BUSINESS NEWS)(licensing, certification and accreditation)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... DNV Certification (Houston) receives accreditation to Responsible Care 14001 (RC14001) by the ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board. This approval authorizes the registrar to certify and approve companies to the RC14001 standard and RCMS. The...

Intertek ETL Entela.(BUSINESS NEWS)(buildings and facility)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Intertek ETL Entela (Detroit) adds another laboratory building, along with new vibration, environmental and audio test equipment. Engineering and electrical departments will relocate to the new facility. The new facility adds more than 16,000...

IQS Inc.(BUSINESS NEWS)(contracts awarded by U.S. General Services Administration )(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... IQS Inc. (Cleveland), provider of integrated quality performance management software, is awarded a U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) schedule contract for Federal Supply Service. The contract, in effect through October 2009, enables...

Johnson Thread-View Systems.(BUSINESS NEWS)(locations)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Johnson Thread-View Systems, a manufacturer of fully automated, noncontact thread measurement systems, has relocated to Bloomfield, CT. With the new location, the company has doubled its manufacturing and assembly space, which the company hopes...

Volkswagen AG (Germany) recognizes LiCONmt (Ann Arbor, MI) designer and builder of flexible production machining concepts.(BUSINESS NEWS)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Volkswagen AG (Germany) recognizes LiCONmt (Ann Arbor, MI) designer and builder of flexible production machining concepts, as one of its top 25 suppliers. At a European VW Group award ceremony in Warsaw, Poland, Bernd Pieschetsrieder, VW...

Carl Zeiss SMT (Oberkochen, Germany) achieves a record resolution of 0.08 nanometer during qualification of its latest generation ultra-high-resolution transmission electron microscope (UHRTEM).(BUSINESS NEWS)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Carl Zeiss SMT (Oberkochen, Germany) achieves a record resolution of 0.08 nanometer during qualification of its latest generation ultra-high-resolution transmission electron microscope (UHRTEM). The resolution was achieved using a 200 kV...

Rimtec Corp.(BUSINESS NEWS)(licensing, certification and accreditation)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Rimtec Corp. (Addison, IL) a manufacturer of mechanical servo coupling and magnetic couplings and clutches, has achieved ISO 9001:2000 certification.

Panasonic Factory Solutions Co. of America.(BUSINESS NEWS)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Panasonic Factory Automation (Elgin, IL) has been renamed Panasonic Factory Solutions Co. of America (PFSA). The name change illustrates the unity of the company's capital equipment business globally under the Panasonic name while reinforcing...

Omron Electronics LLC (Schaumburg, IL) names Kaman Industrial Technologies Corp. (Windsor, CT) as a national distributor.(BUSINESS NEWS)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Omron Electronics LLC (Schaumburg, IL) names Kaman Industrial Technologies Corp. (Windsor, CT) as a national distributor of its electronic sensor and industrial products.

MEC Northwest.(BUSINESS NEWS)(buildings and facilities)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... In response to the strong demand among OEMs for design engineering and turnkey production volume electronic assembly services, MEC Northwest (Canby, OR) purchases a 45,000-square-foot light industrial building for its more than 70 employees....

Webview Inc.(BUSINESS NEWS)(mergers and acquisitions)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Webview Inc. (Santa Rosa, CA) purchases all the assets and intellectual property of the Spectrum Vision System by Advanced Technologies Inc. The vision system can inspect pharmaceuticals, food products and automotive products at speeds of up to...

Fisk Alloy Wire Inc. and Fisk Alloy Conductors Inc. (Hawthorne, NJ) have both been registered to ISO 9001: 2000 and the aerospace industry quality standard AS 9100.(BUSINESS NEWS)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Fisk Alloy Wire Inc. and Fisk Alloy Conductors Inc. (Hawthorne, NJ) have both been registered to ISO 9001: 2000 and the aerospace industry quality standard AS 9100. The companies are suppliers of specialty copper alloy wire and conductors.

Comet relocates headquarters.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Comet North America)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... STAMFORD, CT -- Comet North America, a supplier of X-ray, RF and dosimetry solutions, relocates to an expanded headquarters in Stamford, CT. The newly renovated 12,000-plus square-foot facility serves as the center of excellence for the...

Thermo Electron acquires Niton LLC.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... WALTHAM, MA -- Thermo Electron Corp. purchases Niton LLC (Billerica, MA), a provider of portable X-ray systems for metals, petrochemicals and environmental markets. Niton's product line brings handheld energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence...

In memoriam.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Obituary)
August 1, 2005... Dr. Grant Boctor, president of Digitaltest (Germany), has passed away. Boctor was founder of the test, production and quality control solutions provider for a variety of industries including automotive, medical and aerospace. The company...

Being right about proposed changes: doing your homework and making sure that proposed changes are good ideas is critical to continually improving organizations.(PROBING THE LIMITS)
August 1, 2005... Quality professionals in a continual improvement role often become frustrated with resistance to change or lack of management support for proposed changes. This is a common issue in the quality profession and one many of us struggle with. ...

Working at crossed purposes: too often, it's the wrong people making the buying decisions.
August 1, 2005... This month's rant is about buying equipment. My point: Too often, those without a stake in the outcome of what they are buying are in charge of making the buying decisions. The purchasing of measuring equipment and gages is my case in...

Video microscopes in the workplace: video microscopes lead to increased productivity.
August 1, 2005... Video images are an important part of communications today in business. Much of today's information comes from observing images on a screen, so using a video microscope to magnify and observe small objects is a natural progression. Various...

From manual to automated assembly.(a question for brain teasing)
August 1, 2005... Anyone who has faced a production problem with a need to solve it by using production data can relate to the notion of a brain teaser. The brain teasers presented here are based on real-world situations encountered by workers in manufacturing...

Scan shiny surfaces: new laser scanner offers shiny surface capabilities for improved accuracy and speed in contact measurement.
August 1, 2005... If one trend in contact measurement is clear, it is that the start gun has been fired in the race to capture thousands of points per second at greater accuracy and speed for heightened inspection and reverse engineering performance. Among those...

Changes come to gage blocks: new standard forces manufacturers to alter gage block calibration.
August 1, 2005... Ten years ago, if a box of Grade 2 gage blocks was sent to an outside lab forT calibration, there would have been little need for discussion about what a company needed. If that same box was sent today, without any instructions, a company could...

Change solves Navy's quality challenges: ensuring interchangeability through interface control is essential for successful deployment of battlefield weapons systems.
August 1, 2005... In describing the role of the Navy's Interface Assessment Division of which his lab is part, Michael Wheeler, manager, Gage and Standards Laboratory says, "Some people call us the 'Consumer Reports' of the Navy." The Interface Assessment...

Beat the shop floor environment: harsh manufacturing conditions make accurate part measurement difficult.
August 1, 2005... Efficient and effective process control can be performed by installing coordinate measuring machines (CMMs) on the shop floor, close to production equipment. By using CMMs for process control, machining anomalies can be quickly identified in...

Don't train; motivate: empowering trainees increases their learning level.(QUALITY MANAGEMENT)
August 1, 2005... The boss's phone call made the challenge clear: next week's training seminar for all the plant managers is critical to improving the overall defect rate in the division this year. And the boss will evaluate the trainer's performance in...

Implementing lean in tough times.
August 1, 2005... Ross Controls (Madison Heights, MI), an international supplier of standard pneumatic and hydraulic controls and systems, found itself facing difficulties in manufacturing efficiencies. A couple of years ago, Ross investigated the...

Ultra-precise calibration leads the way.
August 1, 2005... To be sure load cells remain accurate while controlling costs, most aerospace centers run substantial in-house metrology operations. Reliable load cell readings are the heart of structural testing of aerospace components and are indispensable...

Photogrammetry solution.(QUALITY PRODUCTS)
August 1, 2005... V-Stars photogrammetry system has cableless, lightweight probes to capture CAD-compare and deformation measurements. The portable system is suited for in-place measurements and inspection of large objects such as aircraft, automobiles and space...

Machine vision system.(QUALITY PRODUCTS)
August 1, 2005... NetSight II DCL is a Camera Link machine vision system that can process multiple image views simultaneously. The system is for applications that require line or area scan digital cameras. Equipped with 256 MB of program memory, 20 GB of storage...

Digital microscope.(QUALITY PRODUCTS)
August 1, 2005... The DG-2A portable digital microscope has a focus-bar indicator, time/date stamping, fixed shutter speed and color balance. The basic set includes a camera body with LCD monitor, lithium-ion rechargeable battery, battery charger, video cable,...

Process analysis software.(QUALITY PRODUCTS)
August 1, 2005... Business process analysis software, iGrafx 2005 is a family of software solutions for process-based initiatives including Six Sigma, lean, business process management and ISO standards. The software has lean tools including value-stream maps...

QC management software.(QUALITY PRODUCTS)
August 1, 2005... Trakker version 2.1 quality control management software is a client/server Web application. The software provides users with equipment calibration tracking, aged goods tracking and management tracking of assigned tasks. By providing these...

High-capacity force tester.(QUALITY PRODUCTS)
August 1, 2005... The TSFM500, high-capacity motorized force tester is for compression and tension testing of springs, packaging, metals, fabrics and other items requiring up to 500 ft-lb of force. The product has a remote control unit and a speed range of 0.2...

Fixtures.(QUALITY PRODUCTS)
August 1, 2005... Alugrip fixtures are modular workpiece fixturing sets made of aluminum. The product is suitable for manufacturers who need a simple, low-cost fixture quickly and on the spot. The set includes 81 pieces for multiple setup versions. The fixturing...

Laser scanner.(QUALITY PRODUCTS)
August 1, 2005... The K-Scan handheld laser scanner is a walk-around scanning solution combining the Metris LC50 laser scanner and the Krypton K600 optical portable CMM. The product is suited for on-site 3-D digitizing tasks where minimal setup times and fast...

Vision 'measures' up: Cognex chief says vision is a viable solution to quality needs.(VIEW FROM THE TOP)(Interview)
August 1, 2005... Machine vision technology, long used for such applications as parts recognition and positioning, as well as product identification and quick go/no-go decision-making, is increasingly being called on to gather complex dimensional measurement...

Comet relocates headquarters.(Comet North America)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... STAMFORD, CT -- Comet North America, a supplier of X-ray, RF and dosimetry solutions, relocates to an expanded headquarters in Stamford, CT. The newly renovated 12,000-plus square-foot facility serves as the center of excellence for the...

Anechoic test facility opens.(NEWS)(Signalscape)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... CARY, NC -- After months of construction, Signalscape announced the opening of a high-performance anechoic test facility earlier this year. The facility is designed with sound-absorbing walls to create a free-field environment for acoustic...

YESTech opens office in China.(NEWS)
August 1, 2005... SAN CLEMENTE, CA -- YESTech Inc., a provider of automated optical and high-resolution X-ray inspection systems, has opened an office in Shanghai, China. The office provides sales and technical support to the company's growing customer base in...

Faro receives large order.(Faro Technologies Inc.)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... LAKE MARY, FL -- Faro Technologies Inc., received approximately $1.7 million in orders from Airbus S.A.S., for the company's Laser Trackers. The Laser Tracker is a portable, 3-D measuring system that measures large parts, tooling and...

LTI hires NDT technologies coordinator.(NEWS)(Laboratory Testing Inc.)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... HATFIELD, PA -- Phil Trach joins the nondestructive testing department at Laboratory Testing Inc. (LTI) as NDT technologies coordinator. A recently created position, the NDT technologies coordinator will focus on the development and integration...

X-ray powers up complex parts: high-resolution X-ray technologies tackle new electronics inspection challenges.
August 1, 2005... No matter what marvels emerge from their manufacturing plants, electronics assemblers never satisfy the demand for smaller, cheaper and better-performing products. Among other things, this endless demand has caused exponential growth in printed...

Eddy current yields testing success: Robust, reliable and accurate tools are critical to an effective eddy current test system.
August 1, 2005... Like most test techniques deployed in the production environment, having a robust, reliable and accurate instrument is only part of a successful test. Other factors are equally important and must be considered before building a test system. ...

Fatigue testing brings better parts; assembly-level fatigue testing leads to improved production of leaf springs.(Rockwell American Manufacturing Co)
August 1, 2005... For one supplier of leaf springs for golf cars and other applications, the manufacturing process starts with high-carbon, high-alloy spring steel that comes in 22-foot bar lengths from the mill. Rockwell American Manufacturing Co. (Seagoville,...

Universal testing machines ensure consistency; available for applications of various sizes, UTMs offer newer software, faster response time and higher accuracy.
August 1, 2005... Universal testing machines (UTM) are commonplace for labs and shop floors, testing everything from tensile, compression, shear, peel, fatigue, cycling and load. Manufacturers use UTMs to ensure product quality, evaluate materials and develop...

Crack tester.(PRODUCTS)
August 1, 2005... The Zetec InSite CT eddy current crack tester enables 100% on-line inspection and can support up to eight dual-frequency probes from 5 Hz to 10 MHz with a sampling rate of up to 10,000 samples per second. The tester has a built-in industrial...

Video recording system.(PRODUCTS)
August 1, 2005... ForeEyes 2020 is a video recording and testing system that combines a pocket digital video recorder, a 3.5-inch color display and a 20-gigabyte hard drive that connects to a waterproof CCD camera. The product allows the operator to turn on the...

Leakage current tester.(PRODUCTS)
August 1, 2005... The Model 1855 is a tester for leakage current and insulation resistance measurements on capacitive components. The product performs high-speed testing in an automated product environment of benchtop testing in R&D applications. It has a charge...

Film processor.(PRODUCTS)
August 1, 2005... The Nova X-ray film processor is for NDT applications in industrial environments where compact size, lightweight design and low-power consumption are important for reducing operating costs. The product can handle up to 30, 35- by 43-centimeter...

Image capture system.(PRODUCTS)
August 1, 2005... The XES-81TIS is an image capture system that combines a stereo zoom microscope with Microcam. Microcam captures, enhances and measures images with its included software. For biomedical applications, the XES-T20IS combines a compound microscope...

XRF analyzer.(PRODUCTS)
August 1, 2005... The QXi Micro X-ray fluorescence analyzers identify and analyze elements from chlorine to uranium. The analyzer uses a collimated beam of 13 mm to 0.1 mm diameter with laser beam focusing. The product performs standardless quantitative analysis...

Hardness tester.(PRODUCTS)
August 1, 2005... The Tukon 2100B microindentation/ Vickers tester performs both micro and macro load range hardness testing. The product offers test forces as low as 10gf and as high as 50Kgf. Closed-loop control provides easy operation and accuracy. The system...

Particle analysis.(PRODUCTS)
August 1, 2005... Clemex PS3 is a fully automatic particle characterization workstation. The image analysis system detects micronized particles as small as 0.5 micron. The automated calibration routine ensures complete validation of measurement accuracy, in...

Torque sensor.(PRODUCTS)
August 1, 2005... The Model 01251 noncontact rotating torque sensor has 16 bits of resolution and a 5,000 Hz sample rate. Rated up to 20,000 rpms, the sensor is available in a broad range of torque capacities and configurations. The product has a digital,...

Micro borescopes.(PRODUCTS)
August 1, 2005... Micro borescopes are ideal for close-range inspection and where access is limited and the insertion point is only a few millimeters in diameter. A focusing eyepiece and fiberoptic bundle provide high resolution. The product is available in...

Alloy analyzer.(PRODUCTS)
August 1, 2005... The XLt 800 SY alloy analyzer portable X-ray fluorescence analyzer can be used as part of the flow accelerated corrosion inspection protocol. Repeatability and accuracy for chromium in carbon steels ranges flora 0.02% to 0.1%. The analyzer,...

Inspection services.(PRODUCTS)
August 1, 2005... Center of Excellence for Transportation Services offers an aerial lift device on-site inspection and testing program, aerial lift device on site repair and service program, on-site live line tool, hard cover-up testing programs and laboratory...

Near-IR area camera.(PRODUCTS)
August 1, 2005... The solid state SU640SDV-1.7RT InGaAs SWIR area camera has a 640- by 512-pixel resolution on a 25 micron pitch with a room temperature operation and built-in anti-blooming properties for capturing images in the 900 to 1,700 nanometer waveband...

Force sensors.(PRODUCTS)
August 1, 2005... Miniature S-beam type force sensors for tension and compression testing are ideal for applications with limited space. Series SJR sensors measure approximately 0.7 by 0.3 by 0.75 inch and have threaded holes for mounting attachments or...

X-ray inspection system.(PRODUCTS)
August 1, 2005... The YTX-5000 in-line automated X-ray inspection system combines automated optical and X-ray inspections and inspects for both visible and hidden defects on BGAs, flip chips and other area array devices. The product includes auto-zoom 130Kv...

Machine vision camera.(PRODUCTS)
August 1, 2005... The IK-TF7A is a 3-CCD machine vision camera with progressive scan technology for online color inspection, testing, identification and measurement. The camera measures 44 by 44 by 78 millimeters and weighs 5.82 ounces. Three 1/3-inch...

Strobescope.(PRODUCTS)
August 1, 2005... The LED miniature strobescope measures rotational speed, cycling linear motion and vibration without contact or reflector tape. It permits timing checks and inspection of hard-to-reach engines, rotating shafts, cams, gears and fans. The product...

Image processing software.(PRODUCTS)
August 1, 2005... The VIP Plus is a Windows XP-based X-ray image processor that delivers enhanced diagnostic capabilities for the visualization, measurement and analysis of PCB assemblies, components and internal electrical interconnections. The X-ray diagnostic...

Displacement transducers.(PRODUCTS)
August 1, 2005... The D1600 series displacement transducers provide contactless measurement of absolute piston position in hydraulic and pneumatic cylinders and other OEM applications. Their robust construction, large insensitivity to shocks and long life--due...

Flaw detector.(PRODUCTS)
August 1, 2005... The handheld Epoch LT digital ultrasonic flaw detector is 1.5 inches thin and weighs 2.35 pounds. For weld inspection, bond detection, thickness gaging and general flaw detection, the product has automated transducer calibration, and an...

Displacement sensors.
August 1, 2005... LK-G series laser displacement sensors have a resolution of 0.0004 Mil, ah accuracy of [+ or -] 0.03%, and 50 kHz sampling speed. The sensors have a range of more than 7 feet, and measurements can be obtained on any type of surface or material....

Density filters.(PRODUCTS)
August 1, 2005... Neutral density filters are manufactured within an ISO 9000 quality environment and calibrated in the company's ISO 17025 accredited calibration laboratory. The filters are certified on an instrument which has been referenced to the NIST...