Quality articles from November 2004

Quality archives from November 2004

Tell us of your quality.(From The Editor)(Editorial)
November 1, 2004... "If it were a snake, it would have bit you." Usually my dad would use that one on me when something was so obviously near me it was impossible to miss it. Likewise, are you performing at such an accomplished level of quality that it's amazing...

Coming events.(Industry News)(Brief Article)(Calendar)
November 1, 2004... NOVEMBER * Understanding and Applying Machine Vision Sensors, Auburn, AL, Dec. 1. Cognex, (800) 677-2646. * Understanding and Applying Machine Vision Sensors, Indianapolis, Dec. 1. Cognex, (800) 677-2646. * Six Sigma Concepts,...

IMTS sees manufacturing revival.(Industry News)(International Manufacturing Technology Show)(Emerging Technology Center)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... CHICAGO -- The 2004 International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) is all but a distant memory for many, but for others, it signals a revival of sorts. Contrary to the past few years when many manufacturers have all but kept their...

NAM elects new leaders.(Industry News)(National Association of Manufacturers )
November 1, 2004... WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) elected new leadership to champion U.S. manufacturing and advocate pro-growth policies. The NAM Board of Directors elected MeadWestvaco Corp. Chairman and CEO John A. Luke Jr....

Cole-Parmer's InnoCal Metrology Laboratory.(Business News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Cole-Parmer's InnoCal Metrology Laboratory (Vernon Hills, IL) has upgraded its flow capabilities to include calibration and service for gravimetric and mass flow equipment up to 60,000 sccm.

Indigo Systems.(Business News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Indigo Systems, a division of FLIR Systems (Goleta, CA), changed the name of its miniature, uncooled camera to ThermoVision Micron.

United Grinding Technologies Inc.(Business News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... United Grinding Technologies Inc. (UGT, Miamisburg, OH) achieved Ford Q1 certification for excellence in the following areas: quality operating system, capable systems, ongoing performance, satisfied customers and continuous improvement.

Columbia Marking Tools Inc.(Business News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Columbia Marking Tools Inc. (Chesterfield Township, MI) achieved ISO 9001: 2000 certification. The company designs and manufactures metal and plastic identification equipment.

Merillat's.(Business News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Merillat's manufacturing facility in Ocala, FL, has received ISO 14001 certification. The company's Jackson, OH, factory received certification in March 2004, and the remaining six facilities are on target to complete certification by mid-2005,...

Polytec Inc.(Business News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Polytec PI Inc., a provider of laser-based measurement systems, has become Polytec Inc. (Tustin, CA).

AW Co.(Business News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... The AW Co. (Franksville, WI) has achieved ISO 9001: 2000 certification. The company manufactures positive displacement, turbine, vortex, coriolis flow meters, controllers and sensors.

Control Instruments Corp.(Business News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Control Instruments Corp. (Fairfield, NJ), a manufacturer of gas detection and solvent vapor monitoring equipment, is celebrating 35 years in business.

Nonprofits aim to apply for Baldrige Award.(Industry News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Nonprofit organizations, including charities and government agencies, will be eligible to apply for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award as a result of legislation signed into law by President George W. Bush on...

Dresser Instruments.(People News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Philip Martin has joined Dresser Instruments (Stratford, CT) as vice president, marketing. Martin and his team will work to identify new markets, new products and potential acquisitions.

Tosoh SMD.(People News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... In addition to his responsibilities as chief operating officer of Tosoh SMD (Grove City, OH), Mark Gore has been named chief executive officer of the company. His added responsibilities include sales, marketing and technology, and he will serve...

Selerity Technologies Inc.(People News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Richard Rachal has been appointed manufacturing manager of Selerity Technologies Inc. (Salt Lake City). Rachal will work with the manufacturing division to implement a detailed quality program and oversee all manufacturing functions in the...

Informance International.(People News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Sean McGowan has been hired as president of Informance International (Northbrook, IL), a provider of manufacturing performance management solutions, and George Roberts has been appointed to the company's board of directors.

Testbed to link metrology tools, software.(Industry News)(Manufacturing Engineering Laboratory)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... GAITHERSBURG, MD -- The Manufacturing Engineering Laboratory at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has established a testbed to help manufacturers improve the interoperability of their dimensional measurement systems. The...

QMI acquires QCB.(Industry News)(Quality Certification Bureau Inc)(Edmunds Manufacturing Co)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... CLEVELAND -- Registrar QMI acquired Quality Certification Bureau Inc. (QCB, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada). With the acquisition of QCB Inc., QCB World Corp. and QCB Organic, QMI has more than 10,700 certificates serviced by more than 400...

Support the arts: creative classes support essential problem-solving skills in quality.(Probing The Limits)
November 1, 2004... There is a trend to cut arts education programs in schools. This is going to affect the ability of Americans to be innovative leaders and, thus, the health of the American economy. As leaders and champions of continual improvement, quality...

Build your own cal lab: controlling the environment is critical to successful in-house calibration.(Other Dimensions)(Editorial)
November 1, 2004... Editor's note: This installment in a multipart series focuses on manufacturers doing their own calibration. The series looks at the reasons why a manufacturer might make this choice, as well as some of the considerations that must be taken into...

Ten questions to ask when buying ring gages: to determine whether the ring gages you're considering will meet the requirements, you need to ask the right questions.(Quality 101)
November 1, 2004... While the quality of cylindrical ring gages can vary depending on the manufacturer, customers often treat these gages as commodity items. As a result, the primary question that customers ask is, "What is your price and delivery?" In reality,...

Bandage machine jams.(Quality Brain Teasers)
November 1, 2004... 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 that are encountered by workers in...

Is your employee certified? New software ensures employee training and certification, which is critical to a company's success.(Quality Innovations)
November 1, 2004... Developing an effective document control system is an important step in ensuring quality and compliance to industry standards. After policies, processes, procedures and work instructions are documented, organizations must ensure the employees...

Be precise with optical measurement: ensuring accurate and repeatable measurement of critical dimensions requires strict equipment characteristics.(Quality Measurement)
November 1, 2004... Many modern manufacturing operations require dimensional or positioning accuracies in the microinch range. Because the components being measured are usually small and delicate, noncontact measuring techniques are often required, in these...

GE inspection buys hocking NDT.(NDT News)(GE Inspection Technologies)(Hocking NDT Ltd)
November 1, 2004... COLOGNE, GERMANY -- GE Inspection Technologies, a division of GE Transportation, has completed its acquisition of Hocking NDT Ltd. (Hocking, St. Albans, England), an internationally recognized designer of high-quality eddy current products,...

NDT wins big in Vegas.(NDT News)
November 1, 2004... LAS VEGAS -- "What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas." However, the organizers of the ASNT Fall Conference and Quality Conference Testing Show, held Nov. 15 to 19 at the Riviera Hotel in Las Vegas, hope that the information and experiences at...

Lab celebrates 20.(NDT News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... HATFIELD, PA -- Laboratory Testing Inc. (LTI) is wrapping up its 20th birthday celebration. LTI began doing business in 1976 as Carson NDT, and switched its name to Laboratory Testing Inc. in 1984. In the process, the company expanded the...

Lockheed 'edges' up to envision.(NDT News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... ANCHORAGE, AK -- Lockheed Martin (Dallas) is responsible for ensuring the integrity of the space shuttle wings, which failed when foam insulation struck them in the 2003 destruction of Columbia as it re-entered the Earth's atmosphere. To ensure...

Training 'gels' in Northeast.(NDT News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... AMHERST, MA -- Interest in gel permeation chromatography (GPC) is increasing. Polymer Labs Inc. is holding a second GPC training course and lab practical from Nov. 30 to Dec. 3 at its facility in Amherst, MA. The lecture portion of the...

Software firm helps conform space flight.(NDT News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... MORGAN HILL, CA -- United Space Alliance (USA, Houston) is the prime contractor for NASA's space shuttle program. The company must manage nonconformances and corrective actions for the shuttle to return to safer operations. To meet that need,...

DoD group meets on NDT.(NDT News)(Nondestructive testing)(Defense Working Group)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... ROMULUS, MI -- The Defense Working Group on Nondestructive Testing is the only forum for U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, DLA and DCMA representatives to exchange information pertaining to nondestructive testing (NDT) methods, equipment and...

Moscow hosts International NDT show.(NDT News)(Russian Society for Non-Destructive Testing and Technical Diagnostics)(Nondestructive test)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... MOSCOW -- Spring time in the capital of Russia will bring more than blossoms and the shedding of heavy winter coats. ITE Group PLC and the Russian Society for Non-Destructive Testing and Technical Diagnostics are hosting the 3rd Annual NDT:...

Lab services plentiful, but go unused: NDT laboratories offer a wide range of services, but a gap persists between what is offered and what is used.
November 1, 2004... Nondestructive testing (NDT) is hardly a spring chicken. As observers point out, the various NDT methods are mature--fluorescent penetrant inspection, for example, was developed in the 19th century. But while NDT includes many varied and...

Hydrogen gas lightens leak testing: hydrogen, the lightest element, can be an effective leak detection method.
November 1, 2004... Leak testing is an essential element in product quality testing with an assortment of methods that are appropriate for various applications. From the automotive industry to HVAC manufacturers, countless products and parts have to be tested for...

Ultrasonics 'rings' true for flaw detection: advanced technology moves ultrasonic testers to new applications.
November 1, 2004... They can be used to find cracks, flaws or thickness. They are used for inspecting paintings and coatings, and materials themselves. Ultrasonic test systems find their way into the automotive, aerospace, energy, medical and metalworking...

Eddy current magnets.(New Products)
November 1, 2004... Eddy current separators are made using Erium 3000 rare earth magnetics. These magnets are used in the rotor element to reduce the energy needed in eddy current applications, and generate a 5X increase in separation force. The separators are...

X-ray ion analysis.(New Products)
November 1, 2004... The Fischerscope X-ray and WinFTM software tests metal ion concentration in electrolytes of electrolyte baths. Using the new control system, the Fischerscope X-ray analyzes electrolyte baths for the ion content of one or two metals, eliminating...

New software version.(New Products)
November 1, 2004... Genesis 3.5 microanalysis software allows for as many as 36 images to be displayed in a mapping view mode. A stub view mode permits review of multi-field maps. The new software specifically supports advanced digital pulse processing hardware,...

At the center of quality: spotlighting the ideas, solutions, products and companies that impact our industry.
November 1, 2004... ideas While the name GE Inspection Technologies may be new to you, GE has a strong legacy of non-destructive testing (NDT) technology development and applications knowledge in aerospace, energy, automotive, rail and other industries. For...

Beyond the basic bench top: today's bench-top gages sport top-end electronics and multipurpose measuring capabilities.(Quality Test & Inspection)
November 1, 2004... Bench-top gages sure have changed! The effects of the electronics revolution on them were on full display at the recent International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) held in Chicago, Sept. 8 to 15. Twenty years ago, bench-top gages...

Make data work for you: data collection software can provide measurable and sustainable improvements in both quality and performance.(Quality Software & Analysis)
November 1, 2004... Manufacturers who wish to remain competitive in a global economy must overcome many challenges. Customers demand faster lead times, greater product customization, and certifiable quality and collaborative information sharing, as well as lower...

Six Sigma and management: business performance improvement programs, such as Six Sigma, require a significant commitment from the top of the organization on down.(Quality Management)(Interview)
November 1, 2004... In a question and answer interview, Peter J. Robustelli, executive vice president, managing partner of Six Sigma Qualtec (Tempe, AZ), shares his perspective on Six Sigma. Question: Organizations are facing ever-increasing challenges, and...

Portable CMM keeps up with production.(Case Studies)
November 1, 2004... At Lucas Industries (Springfield, VT), a producer of tooling and fixtures for the aircraft industry, portable coordinate measuring machines (PCMMs) have become an integral part of the production process. Inspection and documentation, which the...

Machine shop gets ISO help.(Case Studies)
November 1, 2004... Treblig Inc. (Greenville, SC) is a computer numeric control (CNC) precision machine shop that provides precision turning and milling services to companies like Michelin, Ross Controls, Stone Air, Lockheed and WABCO. Treblig was formed in 1983...

In-Sight Explorer free trial offer.(Literature Review)(Advertisement)
November 1, 2004... The Industry's most powerful vision sensor just became the easiest to use. Experience now the new In-Sight" Explorer from Cognex Corporation can make development of your vision applications and management of vision sensor networks easy. Ask...

New PosiTest DFT coating thickness gage.(Literature Review)(Advertisement)
November 1, 2004... DeFelsko Corporation, a U.S. manufacturer, is pleased to announce the NEW PosiTest DFT coating thickness gage. Available in two models. Ferrous for steel or Combo for all metals, the PesiTest DFT is the economical choice that provides the...

Legend XE.(Literature Review)(Advertisement)
November 1, 2004... For washdown applications and other harsh environments, the Legend XE series of machine vision systems from DVT provides the ultimate in performance. versatility and reliability. The Legend XE features: stainless steel housing, IP 68 rating,...

Excel Partnership.(Literature Review)(Advertisement)
November 1, 2004... Achieve optimal performance today by accessing EXCEL Partnership's extensive network of business resources. We provide practical skills and techniques to maximize the effectiveness of your business operations. See now we can combine our...

CyberMetrics introduces GAGEtrak 5.5.(Literature Review)(Advertisement)
November 1, 2004... CyberMetrics, the company that pioneered calibration software for Windows in 1992, is pleased to introduce our updated version of the world's best selling calibration software -GAGEtrak 5.5. Significant new features include Electronic...

Plug, ring, snap, and thread gages.(Literature Review)(Advertisement)
November 1, 2004... Dundick product guide offers excellent opportunity for making significant savings in gauging costs. Descriptive 20-page catalog illustrates and provides complete information on toe comprehensive no of plug gauges, gauge sets. and thread, ring...

Extensometers.(Literature Review)(Advertisement)
November 1, 2004... Compatible with nearly any brand of tester. High-accuracy strain measurement for all types of materials testing. Catalog covers tensile, compression and cyclic models, plus many others for specific test. Large variety covers gage lengths from...

Precision gages for quality assurance.(Literature Review)(Advertisement)
November 1, 2004... Call or go online to order your next Thread Ring or Thread Plug gage. Gage Assembly Company offers a 50-year heritage of manufacturing excellence, value and matchless customer service. Thread gages are made with me finest fabrication and tool...

Handheld and test-stand mounted force and torque gauges.(Literature Review)(Advertisement)
November 1, 2004... A complete line of gauges measure any friction force or pressure for quality control and vital standardization. Accurately calibrates gush / pull, twist, peel forces, or rotational torque required on bottle caps and a myriad of tools. Tests 0.5...

NSI X-View.(Literature Review)(Advertisement)
November 1, 2004... The NSI X-View Series X-ray Equipment is a five-axis universal x-ray imaging system designed for the inspection of small objects. The small footprint of the 50 Series makes it ideal for space sensitive environments. It is ideally suited for...

About Pi Tape.(Literature Review)(Advertisement)
November 1, 2004... Originally introduced in 1944 Pi Tape precision measurement gages are manufactured in the U.S. using state of the art engraving and manufacturing techniques. Available in either inches or radiometers. the Pi Tape brand product line...

Statistica.(Literature Review)(Advertisement)
November 1, 2004... Even the most advanced Data Analysis/Mining, QC/Six Sigma. and Web-based Analytics are user-friendly in the STATISTICA environment. StatSoft--one of the world's largest data analysis companies--brings cutting-edge, desktop and enterprise-wide...

Quick Vision Apex.(Literature Review)(Advertisement)
November 1, 2004... The new Quick Vision Apex[R] Series CNC vision measuring systems from Mitutoyo provide the highest levels of accuracy (1.5+3L/1000) and speed (1000mm/[s.sup.2]) in their class. As a result, they offer significant productivity improvements for...

SmartScope Flash from OGP.(Literature Review)(Advertisement)
November 1, 2004... OGP announces a technical data sheet describing the new SmartScope[R] Flash[TM] 1500 dimensional measurement system for general purpose applications is generous XYZ travel of 900 x 1500 x 200mm 36" x 60" x 8") accommodates large parts such as...

New "3700" series 14" horizontal beam comparator.(Literature Review)(Advertisement)
November 1, 2004... The new "3700" series S-T 14" horizontal beam comparator features a 5"X20" nickel plated stage with 100 pounds load capacity, 12" X-axis and 6" Y-axis. erect image, duplex fiber optics surface illumination, digital screen protractor and NEW...

Summit--high performance large travel metrology system.(Literature Review)(Advertisement)
November 1, 2004... Summit[TM] high-performance vision measurement systems nave the throughput required for quantitative measurement of critical dimensions, angles and surface contours for large footprint parts and nested groups of smaller parts. Integrated linear...

Looking for total solutions: Hexagon CEO wants to provide across-the-board metrology solutions.(View From The Top)(Chief executive officers)(Interview)
November 1, 2004... Hexagon Metrology has made headlines and embarked on one of the most aggressive acquisition strategies the quality industry has seen in a long time. There is no sign that Hexagon Metrology is finished with its acquisitions of leading edge,...

Quality from front to back.(buyers guide)(Brief Article)
November 15, 2004... Quality's 2005 Buyers Guide is the industry's most comprehensive source for the products and services needed to improve manufacturing processes. Whether looking for measurement, test or inspection equipment, or quality software and services...

At the center of quality.(Quality Calibration Service, Inc.)(Company Profile)(Advertisement)
November 15, 2004... The quality industry is driven by innovated technology and on-going change. Since its inception twenty years ago, Quality Calibration Service has striven to be at the forefront in the field of calibration. To that end, QCS was one of the first...

Product Index.(Temperature Indicators-X-Ray Tubes)
November 15, 2004... RATURE INDICATORS Telatemp Corp. Thermographic Measurements Inc. TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT, INFRARED Exergen Corp. Flir Systems Pyrometer Instrument Co. Inc. Raytek Wahl Instruments Inc. Williamson...

Suppliers/Sources.(AAF International-FullMetrics)(Directory)
November 15, 2004... Companies providing products included in the Product Index appear alphabetically here. AAF International American Air Filter P.O. Box 35690 Louisville, KY 40232-5690 (888) 223 2003 (502) 637 0011 Fax: (888) 223...