Quality articles from July 2001

Quality archives from July 2001

Saving U.S. Jobs.(current steel market tariff effects)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Blue-collar unions such as the United Steelworkers of America have long pushed for stiff trade barriers against low-priced foreign competition. The unions see this as a way to save American jobs. And the Bush Administration's recent move to...

CONTACT QUALITY.
July 1, 2001... Editorial Contributions If you have information you'd like the editors to consider for a future issue, here's who to contact and how to reach them. The editorial office mailing address and fax number are shown at the top of this page. ...

Course and Training Information on the Web.(internet services information)
July 1, 2001... Today's fast-paced lifestyle can leave little time for attending classes to brush up on work-related skills. The World Wide Web offers a variety of outlets for upgrading skills, from online courses to training books, CD-ROMs and videos that can...

QUALITY Survey of the Month.(ISO 9000 standard preparation statistics)(Polling Data)(Statistical Data Included)
July 1, 2001... Throughout May, Quality Online visitors were asked about ISO 9000: 2000. Here are the results. Seventy-eight percent of Quality Online respondents said they are currently registered to ISO 9000:1994, while 22% are not. Seventy-four...

Don't Let Them See You Sweat.(Manufacturing management theory and techniques)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Manufacturing is among the hardest hit sectors in the current economic slowdown, but companies can cause additional damage by allowing customers to perceive that their operations are having difficulties, according to the George S. May...

Carroll Packaging Inc.(brief company registration information)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Carroll Packaging Inc. (Dearborn, MI) has achieved QS-9000 registration.

Spiral Carbide Tool Co.(brief company registration information)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Spiral Carbide Tool Co. (Livonia, MI) has achieved registration to QS-9000 TE.

TorqTec International.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... TorqTec International has opened new offices in Raleigh, NC, and Novi, MI.

Southwestern Ohio Steel Inc.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Southwestern Ohio Steel Inc. (Hamilton, OH) has received the Gold Supplier award from Johnson Controls Inc. The award recognizes suppliers for their achievements throughout the year, including 100% on-time delivery, outstanding customer service...

Pearpoint Inc.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Pearpoint Inc. (Thousand Palms, CA) has been acquired by United Dominion Industries.

National Quality Assurance USA.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... National Quality Assurance USA (Acton, MA) has earned accreditation to assess and register the management systems of companies to AS EN 9100.

Stratasys Inc. (Eden Prairie, MN) and Fuji Photo Film Co. Ltd. (Tokyo) have signed an agreement.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Stratasys Inc. (Eden Prairie, MN) and Fuji Photo Film Co. Ltd. (Tokyo) have signed an agreement to codevelop a rapid phototyping process refinement for use in Fuji's reusable pocket cameras.

Charmilles Technologies Inc.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Charmilles Technologies Inc.'s southern California technical center has moved to Yorba Linda, CA.

Hi-Tech Steel Treating Inc.(ISO 9002 and QS-9000)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Hi-Tech Steel Treating Inc. (Saginaw, MI) has achieved ISO 9002 registration and QS-9000 compliance.

3D Instruments LLC.(Stancorp Inc. acquisition)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... 3D Instruments LLC (Huntington Beach, CA) has been acquired by Stancorp Inc. (Girard, OH).

Advanced Systems and Designs (Troy, MI) has been appointed exclusive agent for Quality America's.(SPC software)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Advanced Systems and Designs (Troy, MI) has been appointed exclusive agent for Quality America's (Tucson, AZ) shop floor SPC software.

Lord Corp.'s Mechanical Products Division (Cary, NC) has purchased Baladyne Corp. (Ann Arbor, MI).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Lord Corp.'s Mechanical Products Division (Cary, NC) has purchased Baladyne Corp. (Ann Arbor, MI). The purchase enhances Lord's technology to handle vibration by dealing with it at the source.

Morgan Advanced Ceramics.(company expansion)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Morgan Advanced Ceramics has expanded manufacturing and engineering operations in its New Bedford, MA, facility.

Fluke Corp.(accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025:1999 and ANSI/NCSL Z540-1: 1994)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Fluke Corp. (Everett, WA) has received accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025:1999 and ANSI/NCSL Z540-1: 1994 from the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation, for its precision measurement service facility in San Diego.

Brown and Sharpe.(Brown and Sharpe Manufacturing Co. opens precision center)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Brown and Sharpe (North Kingston, RI) has opened a west coast precision center to provide sales, service and consultation to measuring systems customers throughout the western United States.

Faro Technologies.(new sales offices)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Faro Technologies (Lake Mary, FL) has opened sales offices in Turin, Italy, and Barcelona, Spain.

NTMA Names Top Apprentice.(29th Annual National Tooling and Machining Association's National Apprentice Competition)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... The 29th Annual National Tooling and Machining Association's (NTMA) National Apprentice Competition determined the best of the best in a 2-day competition involving projects in lathe, mill, precision grinding and a comprehensive exam. Daniel...

Skill Standards Released.(manufacturing industry standards information)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... The Manufacturing Skills Standards Council and the National Skill Standards Board have released the first voluntary skill standards for the manufacturing industry. The skill standards will ensure that workers are able to perform their jobs in...

The National Association of Manufacturers' (NAM) Manufacturing Career Alliance has awarded The Association for Manufacturing Technology (AMT) a grant to promote manufacturing careers to young people.(award information)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... The National Association of Manufacturers' (NAM) Manufacturing Career Alliance has awarded The Association for Manufacturing Technology (AMT) a grant to promote manufacturing careers to young people. AMT supports NAM's school-to-career...

Mechanical Power Transmission Association.(brief executive change information)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Charles Lloyd was elected president of the Mechanical Power Transmission Association. Edward Ward. was elected to a three-year term on the board of directors. Took Coder and Paul Gorski also are members of the board.

American Society for Testing and Materials.(Wayne N. Holliday elected to vice-chairman)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Wayne N. Holliday has been elected vice chairman of the American Society for Testing and Materials' 2001 board of directors.

Automotive Industry Action Group.(brief executive change information)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Marilyn Sherry has been named the internal quality manager for the Automotive Industry Action Group.

Contact Manufacturers Expect Growth.(outsourcing management information)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Original equipment manufacturers in the electronics sector are planning to substantially increase outsourcing of manufacturing to contact manufacturers, according to a survey conducted by New York investment house Bear Sterns. "Brand name...

Precision Metrology Expands.(company product introduction)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
July 1, 2001... Precision Metrology Inc. (Alpharetta, GA), a calibration and repair laboratory, has added the calibration of accelerometers, shock and vibration test instruments and electronic standards to their list of calibration and repair services. The...

NASA Awards Contracts.(brief contract information)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... NASA has awarded five-year contracts to 11 companies to provide revolutionary research into new aerospace engines to support its Ultra Efficient Technology program. The contracts could total up to $197 million each. The contracts fund research...

Zeiss Announces New Headquarters.(Carl Zeiss IMT Corp)
July 1, 2001... Carl Zeiss IMT Corp. (Minneapolis) is building a new North American headquarters and an advanced coordinate measuring machine manufacturing facility. Scheduled to open in November 2001, the 90,000-square-foot Minneapolis campus will allow the...

Electronic Development Labs Inc.(Steve Winnes operations manager)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Steve Winnes has been promoted to operations manager of the Danville manufacturing facility of Electronic Development Labs Inc. (Danville, VA). [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

General Inspection Inc.(Eric Peterson vice president of engineering)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Eric Peterson has been hired as the vice president of engineering for General Inspection Inc. (Davisburg, MI). [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Leeman Labs Inc.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Peter Brown has been appointed president and chief executive officer of Leemah Labs Inc. (Hudson, NH). Peter Brown [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Uniloy Milacron.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Ronald R. Lamanna has joined Uniloy Milacron (Manchester, MI) as business unit manager for molds, parts and service. [ILLUSTRAION OMITTED]

Intertek Testing Services'.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Sarah Dimmock has joined Intertek Testing Services' (Boxborough, MA) quality management systems business unit as an account executive.

ColchesterCNC.
July 1, 2001... Harvey W. Rohmiller has joined Colchester-CNC (Cincinnati) as a product manager. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Princo Instruments Inc.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Ken Loewenstern has been hired as the vice president of Princo Instruments Inc. (Southampton, PA). Fran Mashintonio has joined the company as sales manager.

Key Technology Inc.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Key Technology Inc. (Walla Walla, WA) has appointed Kirk W. Morton as president and COO. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Yxlon International Inc.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Juergen Klicker has joined Yxlon International Inc. (Akron, OH) as president and CEO.

RTS Enabling Technology.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Dennis LeTendre is the new president of RTS Enabling Technology (Richland, WA).

How Much Data Is Needed?(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Traditionally, brain teasers are thought of as puzzles to solve using logical thought processes in a sequential manner. Everyone who is faced with using the current data available in their organization can relate to this notion of a brain...

Cameras Let Off-Site Users See Quality.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Whether across the country or at the other end of a factory, a part or process can be seen in near-to-real-time with the click of a mouse by capturing digital images and transferring them via the Internet or other computer network. Machine...

Get Answers for CMM Calibration Uncertainty.
July 1, 2001... Correct estimation of measurement uncertainty is key to calibration accreditation. If it were possible to travel back in time a few years and ask people working in the quality field about measurement uncertainty and accreditation, the...

Web-based APQP Keeps Everyone Connected.(Advanced Product Quality Planning)
July 1, 2001... Now that Web-based APQP has arrived, new product design will never be the same. The Internet, it is often said, "changes everything." Thanks to new Web-based software, the Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) process used in the...

Crankshaft Grinding ... With a Kiss.
July 1, 2001... A new technique known as kiss grinding offers numerous advantages in producing high-quality thrust faces on camshafts and crankshafts. Machining the thrust walls on camshafts and crankshafts is both a critical operation and a problematic...

What Quality Professionals Are Thinking.
July 1, 2001... Hardworking, ambitious, optimistic, and yet wary: an exclusive look at the men and women in the quality trenches. You, reader, may be an E689, an Inspector, Tester and Grader. Or you might be an F797, a Production Tester, or an A056, an...

Gage Reduces Inspection Time 50%.(at)(Multiline Technology Inc. )(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
July 1, 2001... Expanding the measuring choices for die inserts used in multilayer registration systems for printed circuit boards has helped reduce inspection time for Multiline Technology Inc. (Farmingdale, NY). The design and layout of multiple layered...

Automated Inspection Saves Time, Money.
July 1, 2001... Manual inspection of certain stamped and over-molded products four years ago took up to 25 minutes to complete. Today, with an automated system, the same inspection job takes about five minutes. Precision Concepts Inc. (Winston-Salem, NC)...

Laser Toolsetter Optimizes Productivity.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... For over 20 years, Desenco Inc. (Akron, OH) has been producing high quality rubber molds for injection and transfer molding of precision parts. The company needed to accurately measure Z depths of parts. Most of the molds were manufactured...

Machining center.(from American SIP Corp.)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
July 1, 2001... The 7000 high precision CNC horizontal boring and milling center has positioning accuracy of 0.0001 inch over the X, Y and Z axes. The measuring system resolution is 0.00001 inch. The X, Y, and Z axis travel ranges are from 40 inches up to 60...

Video measurment.(Sony Precision Technology America Inc.)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... YF10 noncontact 3-D video CMM has 0.0001-millimeter digital scales, a high accuracy servo-controlled stage and bridge assembly with closed loop feedback. The machine has a measuring volume of 400 by 400 by 200 millimeters. An operator can move...

Handheld identifier.(Edmund Industrial Optics)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Handheld optical fiber identifier determines signal power, presence of specific modulated tones and direction of traffic. The identifier has fibers carrying 800 to 1,700 namometers of light. It has an interchangeable adapter head for jacketed,...

Digital output camera.(Toshiba America Information Systems Inc.)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Model IK-TU51 high-resolution camera has digital output. The camera has an electronic shutter speed up to 1/50,000 of a second. The three chip, 10-bit digital signal processing camera has interchangeable 1/2-inch or 1/3-inch remote heads. ...

CMMS: Paint thickness measurement.(Perceptron Inc.)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Wet Film measurement system measures paint film thickness while the paint is still wet. PaintScan software locates dirt-type defects, and Autospect measures the appearance of the finished product. The system uses laser ultrasonics to measure...

CMMS: Portable CMM.(Romer Inc.)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... The 3000i portable CMM is accurate to 0.0008 inch in a 6-foot measuring range. The system uses PowerProbe, an automatic surface sensing touch trigger and scanning probe that eliminates operator touch pressure variations. Probes can be changed...

CMMS: Vision probe.(Mitutoyo America Corp.)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Quick vision probe turns a CNC CMM into a noncontact vision machine. The probe can be mounted on an autoprobe change system. Two types of vision probe connections are available, an autojoint connector or straight shank. Repeatability is [+ or...

CMMS: Accurate CMMs.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... The CMMs include horizontal arm, gantry and bridge-type machines. These machines come with manual or direct computer control. The CMMs have hardened guide rails and robust construction. Mora Precision Systems Inc. (810) 759-2400 Reply...

CMMS: CMM software.(International Metrology Systems Inc.)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Virtual DMIS CMM software has a built-in Smart Measure feature that allows users to touch a part with the probe, while the software does the rest. The 32-bit software is PC-based and combines development tools, CAD and CMM industry standards....

CMMS: Multisensor system.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Onyx automatic multisensor system uses an optical video probe, touch probe and laser probe. The optical video probe combines flat field parfocal zoom optics with a high resolution video camera. The probe has 6.8X zoom. The touch probe measures...

ENVIRONMENTAL TEST: Climate control gage.(Elcometer Inc.)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Dewcheck gage measures climate control. The gage has a surface probe, as well as an ergonomic housing. It can store readings and has an option to print directly to a portable printer. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Elcometer Inc. (800)...

ENVIRONMENTAL TEST: Scanning thermometer.(Telatemp Corp.)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... The 12-Channel scanning thermometer stores and recalls up to 4,680 sets of date and time-stamped readings. The thermometer comes in benchtop 9r wall mount models. It can scan and log up to 12 thermocouple inputs from any combination of J, K, T,...

ENVIRONMENTAL TEST: Humidity and temperature recorder.(Oakton Instruments)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Recorder has a response time of 15 minutes for 45% of the reading. Rotation speed of 1, 7, 32 or 90 days is available. The tool stores strip charts with units of time, temperature and percent of relative humidity. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]...

ENVIRONMENTAL TEST: Temperature data logger.(Dickson Co.)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... HT100 and HT120 stainless steel data loggers monitor temperatures from -40 to 125 C. The data loggers are 0.688 inches wide by 3.69 inches long and come with a waterproof steel case. Data can be downloaded to a PC using DicksonWare software to...

ENVIRONMENTAL TEST: Helium leak detector.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... ASM 122D dry, portable helium leak detector has fully integrated and miniaturized hybrid turbomolecular pumps, vacuum-activated valves and multistaged diaphragm dry pumps. The detector tests process chambers, gas panels, gas lines, load lock...

MACHINE TOOLS: Piercing unit.(from S and S Machinery Corp.)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
July 1, 2001... Hydraulic-actuated, self-contained tube piercing unit punches holes in a tube from one or both sides. The unit is capable of punching a hole through one wall and can be supplied with a mandrel for nondimple tube punching. A multibend part can...

MACHINE TOOLS: Boring head.(rom Criterion Machine Works)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
July 1, 2001... The 3F-HB CNC boring and facing head has a continuous feed rate of 0.0013 inch per revolution. The head can be activated to feed forward or reverse and return to its original position. The head, which works in forward and reverse mode, can...

MACHINE TOOLS: Inspection press.(from ProEnterpriz)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
July 1, 2001... ProActive Smart Press inspects and corrects parts with micrometer accuracy. It has a versatile benchtop servo driven press that produces 7,500 pounds of controlled force. The press has a 4-inch stroke, 12-inch open height 6 1/4-inch throat...

MACHINE TOOLS: Modular system.(from Genesis Systems Group)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
July 1, 2001... Versa modular system workcell does welding of larger, heavier parts. The machine can be configured to meet a project's specific production needs. Some of the configurations available are part positioners, robot transporters, robot models, power...

SOFTWARE: Image analysis software.(from)(Media Cybernetics L.P.)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
July 1, 2001... CoolSnap-Pro digital kit uses advanced imaging technology for digital microscopy and inspection applications. It includes Image-Pro Plus or Image-Pro Express, 36-bit color digital camera or 12-bit monochrome digital camera, PCI interface card,...

SOFTWARE: Customer relations.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
July 1, 2001... Everest is software for enhancing customer relations while achieving continuous improvement. The software has customer complaint and requests tracking, corrective action tracking, comprehensive customer profile, and contact management and sales...

SOFTWARE: Calibration software.(from)(CyberMetrics Corp. )(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
July 1, 2001... GageTrak, Version 5 is calibration management software with a new Microsoft Outlook-style interface. The software has quick filter for finding records with a simple search and an advanced search for finding a particular record or groups. of...

SOFTWARE: Gage R&R software.(from Minitab Inc.)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
July 1, 2001... Release 13.3 is Windows-based software that has attribute gage R&R capability. This update can be downloaded from the Web site. The tool can be used to implement Six Sigma. Minitab Inc. (800) 448-3555 Reply 122 on Reader Action Card

SOFTWARE: Gage R&R software (SOFTWARE).(from Blue Mountain Quality Resources Inc.)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
July 1, 2001... Gage R&R software can be integrated with Calibration Manager and Calibration Manager LE, or operated as a standalone product. Gage repeatability and reproducibility studies, such as average and range, ANOVA, linearity, stability and attribute...

SOFTWARE: CMM software.(LK Metrology Systems Inc.)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Camio Studio 3-D measuring interface standard-based CMM software provides a direct link between CAD and CAM and inspection operations. The software can generate inspection programs from solid, surface or wire flame CAD data files. All functions...

CNC Machining 101, Part II.(computer numerical control)
July 1, 2001... Accessories and programming are important fundamentals of CNC machining. A well-trained programmer is key to unlocking the capabilities of a computer numerical control (CNC) machine. In addition to the basic CNC components and direction of...