Quality articles from December 2003

Quality archives from December 2003

A 'curious' recovery.(From The Editor)(Editorial)(Industry Overview)
December 1, 2003... "The time has come,' the Walrus said, 'to talk of many things: Of shoes--and ships--and sealing wax--of cabbages and kings--And why the sea is boiling hot--And whether pigs have wings.'" Lewis Carroll, writing "Alice's Adventures in...

Coming events.(Industry News)(Brief Article)(Calendar)
December 1, 2003... JANUARY * ISO 9001:2000 Process Auditing Training, Mississauga, ON, Jan. 15, Canadian Standards Association, (800) 463-6727. * ISO 9001:2000 Process Auditing Training, Vancouver, BC, Jan. 15, Canadian Standards Association, (800)...

Columbia accident report leads to changes.(Industry News)
December 1, 2003... Changes to work processes on the International Space Station (ISS) are just one of the many changes occurring throughout NASA as a result of the accident report that cast a wide net of blame as to the causes of the Columbia shuttle disaster....

MTS Systems Corp.(Business News)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... MTS Systems Corp. (Eden Prairie, MN), a global supplier of testing products, has secured exclusive rights to use patented digital video overlay technology from Darfish USA (Atlanta) for automotive safety engineering applications. Through the...

Faro Technologies Inc.(Business News)(FARO China)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Faro Technologies Inc. (Lake Mary, FL), a maker of software and measurement devices, announced that FARO China--its direct sales, service, support and marketing headquarters in Shanghai--began operations in August. "Establishing FARO China was...

Beta LaserMike.(Business News)(TSI Inc. product lines acquired)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Beta LaserMike (Dayton, OH), a manufacturer of precision measurement and control systems, has acquired TSI Inc's length, speed and diameter product lines, including the Holix series laser gages and the LaserSpeed speed and length indicator.

Metrologic Group.(Business News)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2003... Metrologic Group (Meylan, France) has entered into a worldwide partnership agreement with Volkswagen to provide the car maker with the Metrolog II 3-D inspection software.

Struers Inc.(Business News)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2003... Struers Inc. (Westlake, OH) has moved its headquarters from its current location on Sharon Dr. to its new location at 24766 Detroit Rd., also in Westlake. All phone and fax numbers and e-mail addresses remain the same.

Entela-Boston.(Business News)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Entela-Boston has announced the expansion of its testing capabilities with a move to a larger facility and the addition of new vibration, environmental and EMC test equipment. The new equipment includes an Unholtz-Dickie vibration machine, a...

SPX Corp's.(Business News)(Ling Dynamic Systems acquires Thermo Electron test and measurement operations)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... SPX Corp's (Charlotte, NC) Ling Dynamic Systems (LDS) business has acquired Thermo Electron's test and measurement business, which sells products under the Nicolet brand. Thermo Electron's test and measurement business has design and...

SBS Technologies, Inc. (Albuquerque, NM), has selected CATSWeb Hosted Solutions from AssurX Inc.(Business News)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... SBS Technologies, Inc. (Albuquerque, NM). has selected CATSWeb Hosted Solutions from AssurX Inc. (Morgan Hill, CA) for SBS' Corrective Action Request system that will initially be used by facilities in St. Paul, MN, Mansfield, MA, and Newark,...

Dr. Branimir F. von Turkovich, professor emeritus at the University of Vermont, Burlington, will be honored by The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME International) <TI>SBS Technologies, Inc. (Albuquerque, NM), has selected CATSWeb Hosted Solutions from AssurX Inc. and the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME).(Association News)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Dr. Branimir F. von Turkovich, professor emeritus at the University of Vermont, Burlington, will be honored by The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME International) and the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME), Von Turkovich is...

Measurement conference to feature dimensional metrology.(Industry News)(Measurement Science Conference )(Brief Article)(Calendar)
December 1, 2003... ANAHEIM, CA -- For the first time, the Measurement Science Conference (MSC), scheduled for Jan. 94, in Anaheim, CA, will run a dimensional metrology track and will feature tutorials and seminars. In the past, the conference has focused on...

Assembly expo draws more than 11,000.(Industry News)(24th annual Assembly Technology Expo)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... ROSEMONT, IL -- More than 11,000 manufacturing professionals convened at the 24th annual Assembly Technology Expo, Sept. 23 to 25, making it one of the largest assembly events in years, according to show organizers. The three-day event,...

Trumpf receives gold award.(Industry News)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... FARMINGTON, CT -- Trumpf Inc. has received a Connecticut Quality Improvement Award gold level Innovation Prize at the 16th annual Conference on Quality and Innovation. The award recognizes the development and results of the company's Sprint...

Cyon Research Corp.(People News)(Rick Stavanja)(Peter Marks )(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Rick Stavanja has been promoted to vice president and chief technology officer of Cyon Research Corp. (Bethesda, MD). In addition, Peter Marks was elected to Cyon's board of directors. Cyon Research Corp. provides analysis and consulting...

AIM Inc.(People News)(Tom Miller )(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Tom Miller has been named chairman of the board for AIM Inc., the global trade association representing the automatic Identification and data collection industry.

Akrion.(People News)(William Amstutz )(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... William Amstutz has been named vice president of marketing for Akrion (Allentown, PA), a provider of surface-preparation solutions to the semiconductor industry.

National Technical Systems Inc.(People News)(Derek Coppinger )(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Derek Coppinger has been named national sales manager for National Technical Systems Inc., (Calabasas, CA). The company is an integrated engineering solutions company providing a full range of outsourced product testing, conformity assessment...

FKI logistex Alvey Systems.(People News)(Reyher, George)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... George Reyher was named account manager for FKI logistex Alvey Systems (St. Lois) for the Latin American market.

Vermont celebrates 35th anniversary.(Industry News)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... SWANTON, VT -- Vermont Precision Tools Inc. celebrated its 35th anniversary by hosting a Sept. 6 open house at the company's new 60,000-square-foot facility. The plant includes an upgraded inspection room for its tool division and a new...

DVT wins award, announces agreements.(Industry News)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... DULUTH, GA -- DVT Corp. was presented with an award hat honors products that are built to last. DVT, a manufacturer of machine vision and other products, won a Catalyst Award in the "Built to Last" category, one of six award categories....

SME launches publication database.(Industry News)(Society of Manufacturing Engineers )(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Dearborn, MI -- Online access to what is being called the world's largest full-text database in manufacturing engineering is now available. The Society of Manufacturing Engineers and ebrary, a provider of information distribution systems,...

Data errors costs hundreds of millions.(Industry News)(Industry Data Exchange Association)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... West Springfield, MA -- Item Data exchanged between manufacturers and distributors in the electrical industry contain significant errors, according to a report released by the Industry Data Exchange Association. The report was the result of a...

Correction.(Correction Notice)
December 1, 2003... In the October issue of Quality, a phone number for Xspect Solutions Inc. was incorrect. The correct number should be (248) 896-1193.

Readers question ASQ's credibility: addressing objectivity issues would enable ASQ to meets its mission of promoting quality.(Probing The Limits)(American Society for Quality )(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2003... The American Society for Quality (ASQ) is struggling in its mission to be the steward of the quality profession because of issues with objectivity, according to reader e-mails. Addressing these objectivity issues would enable ASQ to meet its...

Overdosing on traceability: calibration reports only need to deliver basic information.(Other Dimensions)
December 1, 2003... I've never inhaled or injected any illegal drugs, so I have to rely on what the experts say such chemicals do to people. A list of expected side effects includes feelings of euphoria and distortions of the physical. While having never used...

In-process weighing.(Quality Brain Teasers)
December 1, 2003... Anyone who has faced a production problem with a need to solve the problem by using production data can relate to the notion of a brain teaser. The brain teasers presented here are based on real-world situations that are encountered by workers...

Laser scans point clouds: laser scanning compares a detailed inspection model against a cad model in real time.(Quality Innovations)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2003... On heavy-duty production lines, a "please do not touch" mentality can occasionally reign. That's where the ROMER CimCore portable Laser Scanning Inspection System comes in. "Because laser scanning is noncontact, it is particularly...

CMMs for the first-time buyer: confused over which CMM to buy? Here are a few tips for the first-time buyer.(Quality Measurement)(coordinate measuring machines )(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2003... Without question, there are several, perhaps dozens, of coordinate measuring machines (CMMs) available on the market that will be a great gage for any company, no matter its size. In fact, some CMMs may do too much. Too much? Too much if...

At the center or quality: spotlighting the ideas, solutions, products and companies that impact our industry.(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2003... ideas For more than 50 years, the name Werth has stood for the highest quality and precision in the field of dimensional measurement technology. As the world leader in multisensor measuring machines. the company has a committed focus to...

Spending set to soar in '04: manufacturers are looking to dig deep into their wallets in 2004.(Quality Management)(Industry Overview)
December 1, 2003... As the U.S. economy appears to be improving, discrete manufacturers are getting ready to invest in quality as a new survey shows increases in planned spending on test, measurement and inspection equipment, soft ware and services. According...

The changing face of metrology: metrology and calibration continue to evolve.(Quality Test & Inspection)(Industry Overview)
December 1, 2003... The face of calibration is constantly changing with the times. Adding to this evolution is that the complex field of metrology itself undergoes constant changes with new customer demands and concerns presenting manufacturers with a whole new...

Rocket gets boost from laser.(Case Studies)(Advertisement)
December 1, 2003... The FARO Laser Tracker, built by FARO Technologies Inc. (Lake Mary, FL), played a key role in The Boeing Co.'s Delta IV rocket launch earlier this year that successfully deployed into space the first satellite for the United States Air Force's...

Predictive maintenance software translates into savings.(Case Studies)(Advertisement)
December 1, 2003... The capability of today's predictive software provides immediate answers, not merely data. By proactively using PdM, one automobile manufacturing plant realized savings of up to $112,000. The current crop of Predictive Maintenance (PdM)...

CNC form/surface tester.(New Products)(Advertisement)
December 1, 2003... The CNC versions of the CV/CS/SV form testers are capable of automated contour and surface roughness measurements with independent and simultaneous multi-axis CNC control. It can be configured to measure surface roughness, contours or both,...

Video inspection.(New Products)(Advertisement)
December 1, 2003... A new family of SmartScope MVP video measurement and inspection systems has been designed for small shops and customers with limited budgets. The six benchtop models feature measurement ranges from 6 by 3 by 5 inches to 12 by 12 by 6 inches....

3-D fixture creation.(New Products)(Advertisement)
December 1, 2003... FixtureBuilder software can create a 3-D fixture setup from a catalog of components and base plates. Drag a component from the catalog and it snaps into position. The software automatically builds a list of components and their placement...

Environmental chamber.(New Products)(Advertisement)
December 1, 2003... The Heatwave series of environmental chambers use forced air convection technology to reach temperatures up to 350 C with optional cooling to -70 C. The chamber is heated by a mineral-insulated element located around the circulating fan. A...

Wilson[R] Instruments--an Instron[R] Company.(Supplier Showcase)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2003... Instron[R] is a leading provider of testing equipment for the material testing and structural testing markets. Instron's products test the mechanical properties and performance of various materials, components and structures in a wide array of...

Brown & Sharpe Global CMMs add speed and accuracy to aerospace parts production.(Supplier Showcase)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2003... Precision inspection capability, combined with precision machining capability has helped make A&M Engineering a major supplier of close tolerance aerospace components to the commercial and military market. Since the company began operations...

Making thermal shock testing affordable.(Supplier Showcase)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2003... If you are looking for a more significant environmental testing program that can put you ahead of the competition, you may be dreaming of doing fast temperature cycling or thermal shock to improve quality. Perhaps you think the kind of chamber...

The measure of quality.(Supplier Showcase)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2003... New PosiTector[R] Ultrasonic Thickness Gage DeFelsko, a U.S. manufacturer of coating thickness gages and inspection instruments, is pleased to introduce the newest member of its expanding family of quality gages, the PosiTector[R]...

GAGEtrak 6--feature-rich budget priced calibration management software.(Supplier Showcase)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2003... GAGEtrak calibration management software improves quality, reduces costs, and helps you meet international calibration standards. Users can schedule calibrations, track gages, retrieve calibration records, generate work orders, print reports,...

Making quality improvement easy.(Supplier Showcase)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2003... Today's quality improvement projects are more complex than ever. They need to be rooted in an analysis of hard data and produce measurable results, yet many of the professionals implementing them--such as those working in healthcare or...

The world trusts Minitab for Quality.(Supplier Showcase)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2003... Companies striving to improve quality turn to Minitab for the software, support, and services they need to achieve their goals. Outstanding Software MINI TAB Statistical Software is a powerful statistics package specially designed for...

Quantrol system used in cork extraction testing.(Supplier Showcase)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2003... The Challenge: Cork Supply USA, Inc, supplies more than 100 million corks annually to an expanding United States wine industry. With a reputation as a premium wine cork supplier their process features triple quality assurance, responsive...

IBS--the integration of quality and productivity; featuring the QSi system and the QSYS professional series.(Supplier Showcase)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2003... QSi system Quality Management Addresses the elements of ISO 9001:2000 and, if used its entirety, provides a paper-free quality system, helping your organization reap the promised benefits of ISO 9001:2000 certification. Includes...

Mycrona blue line delivers variety and accuracy.(Supplier Showcase)(Mycrona of North America)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2003... Mycrona Blue Line provides a great variety of measuring ranges and accuracies for routine and complex metrology applications. Each machine is CNC controlled and has a modular construction. A camera is a standard feature of all the models. If...

A broad range of precision tools.(Supplier Showcase)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2003... S-T Industries Inc. started manufacturing precision measuring instruments at its St. James, MN, factory in 1942 under the brand name of Scherr-Tumico. S-T has continued to expand its line of precision measuring instruments over the last 58...

GE Panametrics.(Supplier Showcase)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... GE Panametrics is a leading manufacturer and worldwide distributor of nondestructive testing equipment Throughout its more than 40 years of history, GE Panametrics has been in the forefront of ultrasonic technology, introducing innovative...