Quality back issues from June 2006:
Total quality commitment.(FROM THE PUBLISHER)
Jun 01, 2006; ... Is quality something dedicated to one department in your company? Does it have its own budget, separate from other equipment and software purchases? Do you have employees specifically trained in quality, apart from manufacturing operations? This traditional approach to quality, ...
Coming events.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
Jun 01, 2006 ... JULY 2006 9-14 25TH CONFERENCE ON PRECISION ELECTROMAGNETIC MEASUREMENTS, Torino, Italy. CPEM, www.cpem2006.polito.it 18-20 FUNDAMENTALS OF RANDOM VIBRATION AND SHOCK TESTING. Hillsboro, OR. Equipment Reliability Institute, (805) 564-1260. ...
Mahr Group acquires Helios Messtechnik.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Brief article)
Jun 01, 2006 ... PROVIDENCE, RI -- With the acquisition of Helios, the Mahr Group enhances its existing product range in horizontal length measurement with the brands SIP and Helios, as well as in the field of optical and tactile shaft measurement with the brands Helio-Pan and Helio-Scope. Top management ...
Metris earns 2006 Frost & Sullivan Growth Strategy Leadership Award.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
Jun 01, 2006 ... LEUVEN, BELGIUM -- Metris has been selected by Frost & Sullivan as the recipient of the 2006 Frost & Sullivan Growth Strategy Leadership of the Year Award for its strategies toward growth and outstanding contribution to the dimensional metrology industry. Metris is best known for its ...
Society of Manufacturing Engineers.(appointment of William J. Geary)(Brief article)
Jun 01, 2006 ... William J. Geary of The Boeing Co. has been elected president of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME, Dearborn, Ml) for 2006. He is chief engineer, aircraft interiors, 737 program at The Boeing Co. in Seattle. Geary has served on the SME board of directors since 2001 and as ...
The Association for Manufacturing Technology.(ASSOCIATION NEWS)(Brief article)
Jun 01, 2006 ... The Association for Manufacturing Technology (AMT, McLean, VA) announces that beginning in 2008, it will adjust the schedule of the International Manufacturing Technology ...
Beverly Manufacturing.(BUSINESS NEWS)(Brief article)
Jun 01, 2006 ... Beverly Manufacturing (Tinley Park, IL) achieves ISO 9001 compliance and has been registered by Intertek Automotive Systems Certification, an accredited third-party ...
Geotest-Marvin Test Systems Inc.(contract with TestMart)(Brief article)
Jun 01, 2006 ... Geotest-Marvin Test Systems Inc. (Irvine, CA), a Marvin Group company, signs an exclusive agreement with TestMart (San Bruno, CA) to provide the government, military and authorized federal contractors access ...
Enertron Inc.(BUSINESS NEWS)(Brief article)
Jun 01, 2006 ... Enertron Inc. (Chandler, AZ) moves into its 12,000 square-foot headquarters. The custom designed facility has warehouse space, executive offices and thermal management ...
lGrafx.(Brief article)
Jun 01, 2006 ... iGrafx (Tualatin, OR) announces that the number of consulting and training companies in the iGrafx partner program doubled since ...
Palisade Corp.(partnership with Hitachi East Japan Solutions Ltd.)(Brief article)
Jun 01, 2006 ... Palisade Corp. (Ithaca, NY) forms a partnership with Hitachi East Japan Solutions Ltd. to initiate an intensive marketing effort in Japan. Hitachi East ...
Landrex Technologies Inc.(Ascentech)(Brief article)
Jun 01, 2006 ... Landrex Technologies Inc. (Santa Clara, CA), the manufacturer of the Optima series, PCB assembly automated ...
BiODE Inc. (Westbrook, ME) and Vectron International enter into a partnership agreement wherein both companies will share and coordinate acoustic wave viscosity sensor design and technology expertise.(Brief article)
Jun 01, 2006 ... BiODE Inc. (Westbrook, ME) and Vectron International enter into a partnership agreement wherein both companies will share and coordinate acoustic wave viscosity ...
Veris Manufacturing.(acquires CYR Industrial)(Brief article)
Jun 01, 2006 ... Veris Manufacturing (Fullerton, CA) acquires CYR Industrial in Rosarito, Mexico. The 60,000 square-foot ...
Metalforming business conditions report for April 2006.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
Jun 01, 2006 ... CLEVELAND -- Metalforming companies experienced a spike in shipping levels and expect business conditions to remain steady during the next three months, according to the April 1, 2006, Precision Metalforming Association (PMA) business conditions report. Conducted monthly, the report is an ...
Mitutoyo America Corp. attains Gold status.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Brief article)
Jun 01, 2006 ... AURORA, IL -- Mitutoyo America Corp., developer of the MeasurLink suite of manufacturing quality management software that integrates enterprise metrology functionalities with real-time, on-line data collection, status indication, analysis and archiving, announces it has attained Gold ...
ASI delivers robotic arm for NASA'S Mars Phoenix.(Alliance Spacesystems Inc)
Jun 01, 2006 ... PASADENA, CA -- A new robotic arm destined to dig deep into Mars' polar crust has been completed by Alliance Spacesystems Inc. (ASI), and delivered--one month early--to NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory for integration onto the Mars Phoenix lander, due for launch to the Red Planet next ...
H.E. Morse Co.(appointment of Michael Hop )(Brief article)
Jun 01, 2006 ... The H.E. Morse Co. (Holland, Ml) promotes Michael Hop to vice president and general manager of Hemco Gages. Hop's career with Hemco spans ...
Tunnell Consulting Inc.(PEOPLE NEWS)(Brief article)
Jun 01, 2006 ... Tunnell Consulting Inc. (King of Prussia, PA) announces that Dr. Ronald D. Snee has been named program leader for the company's Lean Six Sigma practice. The co-author of three books on Six Sigma and the ...
Carl Zeiss SMT.(appointment of Jeffrey Streger )(Brief article)
Jun 01, 2006 ... The U.S. subsidiary of Carl Zeiss SMT (Thornwood, NY) names Jeffrey Streger national director of sales for Carl Zeiss SMT's nanotechnoiogy systems in the United States and Canada. His responsibilities ...
Janos Technology Inc.(appointment of Harvey Clough )(Brief article)
Jun 01, 2006 ... Janos Technology Inc. (Keene, NH) appoints Harvey Clough as president. Clough earned his ...
Alga Plastics.(PEOPLE NEWS)(Brief article)
Jun 01, 2006 ... Alga Plastics (Cranston, RI) announces William Masterson as business development manager. In this position, Masterson is responsible for implementing strategy ...
Schneider Electric North American Operating Division.(appointment of Andy Gravitt)(Brief article)
Jun 01, 2006 ... The Schneider Electric North American Operating Division (Palatine, IL) names Andy Gravitt as vice president of ...
Pelion Systems: Kevin Fallon.(appointment of Kevin Fallen)(Brief article)
Jun 01, 2006 ... Pelion Systems (Boulder, CO) appoints Kevin Fallen president and CEO of the company. Fallen brings more than 20 years of engineering, marketing, operations and executive ...
Pelion Systems: Ed Frey.(appointments)(Brief article)
Jun 01, 2006 ... Ed Frey joins Pelion Systems on the board of directors. Frey joins board members Dave Alcala, Skip Maner and Paul DiBella. Having ...
Incomplete story.(Letter to the editor)
Jun 01, 2006; ... Dear Editor, I can agree with the point you make in your April 2006 editorial ("Adding Up the Losses," Quality Magazine, April 2006. p. 6). The bare bones statistics the federal government uses doesn't tell the complete story. There was one "suggestion," not yours, that really ...
Made their own problems.(Letter to the editor)
Jun 01, 2006; ... Dear Editor, Your April 2006 editorial ("Adding Up the Losses," Quality Magazine, April 2006, p. 6) is interesting. As far as the automotive companies go, I think part of the answer to your question, "What's the answer to stemming the flow of job cuts?" is contained in the ...
Strong misperceptions.(Letter to the editor)
Jun 01, 2006; ... Dear Editor, I just read "Adding Up the Losses" (Quality Magazine, April 2006, p. 6). I strongly agree that losses at General Motors, Ford and DaimlerChrysler will negatively affect the economy. The reality of the fact is that GM's plant quality, as well as long-term ...
Persistence is a fundamental quality skill: persistence can give an organization a competitive advantage.
Jun 01, 2006; ... Persistence is just as important as any quality assurance skill when it comes to making quality as good as it can be. I've always considered persistence to be a fundamental quality skill. Persistence may not be part of the quality assurance body of knowledge, but ...
Acceptance criteria: acceptance criteria, like purchasing criteria, begin with workpiece tolerance.
Jun 01, 2006; ... One of the major problems facing dimensional gage and measuring instrument operators is how to determine acceptance criteria for the instruments. When they are new, it's the specification to which they were made. But when it comes to how far you let them wear before you replace them, the ...
Microscopy use will grow: three types of microscopes cover a variety of applications.
Jun 01, 2006; ... The optical microscope has evolved dramatically since its origins in the seventeenth century. Despite numerous refinements, however, the capabilities of the optical microscope have been limited by manufacturability constraints and, ultimately, by the physics of light itself. ...
Understanding first pass yield.
Jun 01, 2006; ... 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 environments. The brain teasers have three ...
Gage system measures in real time: rugged OD gages working with robotic grippers provide real-time measurement of part diameters during machine load and unload.(QUALITY INNOVATIONS)
Jun 01, 2006; ... Take a bench gage, flip it over and send it through the factory at 3 meters per second. Can this be done and and still provide useful measurements from a tight tolerance part such a crankshaft or a camshaft? The answer is yes according to gage manufacturer Control Gaging Inc. (Ann Arbor, ...
A map to better surface and form measurement: technology leads ultimately to better products.
Jun 01, 2006; ... What does a contract manufacturer do with 700,000 complex fuel-injector components when it discovers that a small fraction of the machined, heat-treated and precision-lapped parts are too soft? Annealing them and then repeating the heat-treating and lapping operations seemed to be the most ...
The pulse of tightening: simple in concept, correctly tightening the ubiquitous threaded fastener turns out to be a complex process.(QUALITY TEST & INSPECTION)
Jun 01, 2006; ... Assembly with threaded fasteners is an essential element of modern industrial production, and bolts are among the most common used types of threaded fasteners. Bolts, like all threaded fasteners, are ideal for recycling and conform to standard safety practices. Because bolted joints are ...
Gage R&R: improves quality and profitability: a gage repeatability and reproducibility study can determine if a measurement system is acceptable for the required measurement.(QUALITY SOFTWARE & ANALYSIS)
Jun 01, 2006; ... Gage repeatability and reproducibility (GR&R) studies provide information on measurement system performance by analyzing measurement error from various sources. If a large amount of variability is present in a measurement system, this can lead to poor quality product being shipped to ...
The quality is in the process: Accurate Gauge and Mfg. Inc., this year's Quality Plant of the Year recipient in the small plant division, puts the responsibility for quality on its operators--and yields winning results.(Company overview)
Jun 01, 2006; ... Accurate Gauge and Manufacturing Inc. (AG, Rochester Hills, MI), does not make gages anymore. In fact, almost since the day it was founded in 1966, says Greg Mann, operations manager at AG, the company was making other products based on customer need. Last year, AG, manufacturer of ...
Quality drives Kenworth: Kenworth Truck Co.'s Chillicothe, OH, manufacturing facility is Quality Magazine's 2006 Large Plant of the Year Award Winner.(QUALITY MANAGEMENT)(Company overview)
Jun 01, 2006; ... Truckers the world over have come to recognize the red and white KW logo on Kenworth's trucks as an emblem of quality. Now, Kenworth's plant in Chillicothe, OH, symbolizes quality as it receives Quality Magazine's 2006 Large Plant of the Year Award. Kenworth Truck Co., a ...
Bore gage.(QUALITY EXPO DETROIT PRODUCT showcase)
Jun 01, 2006 ... The M1 Star EBG electronic bore gaging line is ideal for precision measuring of inside diameter, ovality and taper. The gage provides 0.5-micron repeatability over a measuring range from 3 to 300 millimeters. The unit incorporates a wear-free measuring transducer that provides metrological ...
Thickness gages.(QUALITY EXPO DETROIT PRODUCT showcase)
Jun 01, 2006 ... The Panametrics-NDT Models 35, 35HP, 35D and 35DLHP ultrasonic precision thickness gages make accurate and repeatable thickness measurements on parts where access to the opposite surface is difficult. They also can calculate and display material sound velocity or time-of-flight to ...
High-temperature probe.(QUALITY EXPO DETROIT PRODUCT showcase)
Jun 01, 2006 ... The 456 high-temperature Plug-In Integral Probe (PINIP), designed for use with the 456 coating thickness gage, can measure coating thickness on surfaces up to 450 F. The PINIP screws into the base of any 456 separate gage to transform it into an integral unit for single-handed operations ....
Inspection system.(QUALITY EXPO DETROIT PRODUCT showcase)
Jun 01, 2006 ... The inspection system digitizes an entire part, creating a point cloud containing millions of points, which captures all hidden features for analysis. The more complex the parts, the trickier the internal geometry, the more likely the inspection service could quickly and accurately measure ...
Torque testers.(QUALITY EXPO DETROIT PRODUCT showcase)
Jun 01, 2006 ... The Series CT closure torque testers have a solid aluminum housing and rugged construction for use in laboratory or production environments. Adjustable posts effectively grip a broad range of container shapes and sizes, while a set of optional jaws are available as an alternative gripping ...
Bore scan.(QUALITY EXPO DETROIT PRODUCT SHOWCASE)
Jun 01, 2006 ... The Bore Scan II inspects 4- and 6-cylinder engine blocks after finish honing operation. The gage can accommodate 3 different bore sizes, with a tool-less changeover of less than 5 minutes. A part pallet system uses slide rails to move parts into and out of measurement position. The part ...
Leak detectors.(QUALITY EXPO DETROIT PRODUCT SHOWCASE)
Jun 01, 2006 ... The VS Series provide advanced system intelligence at the push of a button. With an intuitive touch screen and color display, multiple language capability, fully automatic quick start-up and calibration, and programmable ...
Microhardness tester.(QUALITY EXPO DETROIT PRODUCT SHOWCASE)
Jun 01, 2006 ... The multi-specimen microhardness testing system. Model CAMS-MSO, can handle up to six mounted samples with a 1.25-inch diameter and up to 24 traverse sequences in a single test routine. A sample fixture, motorized positioning tables, focusing capabilities and software provide the ...
Measurement tool.(QUALITY EXPO DETROIT PRODUCT SHOWCASE)
Jun 01, 2006 ... The laser-based Labmaster Universal can measure length, outside diameter, inside diameter, pitch diameter, linear displacement and thickness. It measures gage blocks, end standards, plain rings, threaded rings and plugs, pin and plug gages, tapered plugs, cylindrical setting gages, ball ...
Universal CMM.(QUALITY EXPO DETROIT PRODUCT SHOWCASE)
Jun 01, 2006 ... The Universal CMM consists of a laser tracker combined with the T-Scan or the T-Probe II. The LTD840 laser tracker enables manufacturers to perform wireless probing and scanning of large parts in one setup within a volume of 30 meters. Used in conjunction with a laser tracker, the handheld ...
CMM fixturing.(QUALITY EXPO DETROIT PRODUCT SHOWCASE)
Jun 01, 2006 ... Soft-touch clamps provide a light pressure clamping solution for CMM fixturing applications. After operators have elevated and positioned the part using standoffs or other locating components, they should arrange the clamps to apply pressure over points ...
Bench-type CMM.(QUALITY EXPO DETROIT PRODUCT SHOWCASE)
Jun 01, 2006 ... The ScopeCheck bench-type CMM has a heavy-duty granite base that provides increased stability and improved accuracy. The measuring capacity of this economical range of products extends up to 400 ...
Air comparators.(QUALITY EXPO DETROIT PRODUCT SHOWCASE)
Jun 01, 2006 ... The Universal Dimensionair offers either single- or dual-master air tooling. It is part of a series of adjustable magnification air comparators that combines the stability, accuracy and fast response of differential air systems with the ability to work both as a single-master or ...
SPC solution.(QUALITY EXPO DETROIT PRODUCT SHOWCASE)
Jun 01, 2006 ... SPC delivers hosted SPC applications using a shared, secure database to enable enterprise-wide and supply chain quality control. Operating on a Web-based platform, eSPC allows manufacturers to implement a real-time SPC solution for process improvement, scrap reduction and overall cost ...
Confocal microscope.(QUALITY EXPO DETROIT PRODUCT SHOWCASE)
Jun 01, 2006 ... The LEXT laser confocal scanning microscope does not require a vacuum pump down. Samples can be placed directly on the microscope stage with no preparation. Both 3-D observation and measurement are possible in real ...
Air gage.(QUALITY EXPO DETROIT PRODUCT SHOWCASE)
Jun 01, 2006 ... The Micro II Air Gage Readout measures tapered internal and external diameters. The air gage instrument has a built-in microprocessor, digital and analog displays, RS-232 serial data outputs and auto calibration with master gages. Taper angles and datum diameters are displayed with ...
Gage computer.(QUALITY EXPO DETROIT PRODUCT SHOWCASE)
Jun 01, 2006 ... The VE-820 gage computer uses a Pentium-based industrial panel with a large hard drive and color touch screen LCD display mounted in an industrial enclosure. The base plate mounted adjusting arm allows angular and radial positioning best viewing results. The unit is equipped with a CD-RW ...
Wireless system.(QUALITY EXPO DETROIT PRODUCT SHOWCASE)
Jun 01, 2006 ... The GageWay Wireless System has a mobile module that attaches directly to a caliper or other gage. The system's mobile module measures 1.97 inches by 1.36 inches by 0.61 inch. It automatically turns off after each reading to conserve battery life. One base station will support dozens of ...
Quality management.(QUALITY EXPO DETROIT PRODUCT SHOWCASE)
Jun 01, 2006 ... Quality Plus Version 4.0 allows the operator to automatically generate a complete set of fully integrated and customized advanced product quality planning documentation (APQP) in minutes. The system uses a proprietary APQP documentation generation engine that writes the documents for the ...
Particle analysis.(QUALITY EXPO DETROIT PRODUCT SHOWCASE)
Jun 01, 2006 ... The microscope-based particle analysis system analyzes and documents surfaces, cleaning liquids, gels and powders in industrial quality assessment. The system is ideal for inspection of the technical cleanliness of round filter membranes in the automotive industry, contamination in ...
Hardness tester.(QUALITY EXPO DETROIT PRODUCT SHOWCASE)
Jun 01, 2006 ... The hardness tester can test large and small components easily, positively and quickly. The technology combines a system to perform the Rockwell test with full automatic action in only one single start input. ...
Videoscope system.(QUALITY EXPO DETROIT PRODUCT SHOWCASE)
Jun 01, 2006 ... The V5 Videoscope System for tote video remote viewing is easy to use. durable and portable for inspections at any site. The V5 System includes an industrial videoscope with four-way articulation, patented ProTecht over-torque protection system, ...
Shaft measuring.(QUALITY EXPO DETROIT PRODUCT SHOWCASE)
Jun 01, 2006 ... The Opticline noncontact CNC shaft gaging system measures form, dimensional and positional tolerances of shaft-type parts in submicron detail, recording results instantly. The flexible shaft gaging systems accommodate shaft sizes from 0.2 millimeter to 480 millimeters diameter, 1 ...
Eddy current.(QUALITY EXPO DETROIT PRODUCT SHOWCASE)
Jun 01, 2006 ... Eddyvisor is an eddy current instrument line aimed at both production and laboratory applications, particularly for automotive-related components. Two models are available. A switch panel version, the eddyvisor HMI (human machine interface), may be installed near the operator for instant ...
Borescope system.(QUALITY EXPO DETROIT PRODUCT SHOWCASE)
Jun 01, 2006 ... The small diameter modular borescope system works for internal visual inspection of hard-to-reach areas. This design is constructed of three main detachable and easily replaceable elements: an eyepiece ocular, a light guide cable and a flexible or ...
Inspection software.(QUALITY EXPO DETROIT PRODUCT SHOWCASE)
Jun 01, 2006 ... A hardware-independent inspection software, PowerINSPECT, incorporates collision detection, an enhanced Geometric Explorer, additional best-fit options for analyzing the results, and improvements to the software's graphics and report generation. The new collision detection functionality in ...
Imaging software.(QUALITY EXPO DETROIT PRODUCT SHOWCASE)
Jun 01, 2006 ... The NIS-Elements imaging software suite documentation package supports color documentation requirements for industrial applications with basic measuring and reporting capabilities, and can capture up to 3-D images. The ...