Quality
Implementing Successful Quality Management
May 23, 2012 10:19 am | by Gina Butler and Donald Dobert, ATL | Articles | CommentsThere is an old saying in quality management: "If it's not written down, the event never took place." A successful QMS consists of written and controlled procedures.
Q&A: Consistency Is Key
May 16, 2012 1:51 pm | by Interview By Lindsey Coblentz, Associate Editor, Food Manufacturing | Articles | CommentsA food product’s recipe must continually be accurate and repeatable, not only to maintain high quality, but also to ensure safety.
A123 1Q Loss Deepens
May 15, 2012 1:19 pm | News | CommentsBattery maker posted a loss of $125 million due to a steep drop in sales and hefty costs related to its ongoing replacement of potentially defective batteries.
BPI Laying Off 86 After 'Pink Slime' Controversy
May 15, 2012 8:55 am | by Grant Schulte, Associated Press | News | CommentsCompany said it is laying off 86 employees, citing what it calls a misinformation campaign about a product that food-industry experts agree is safe.
The Public’s 'Right To Know'
May 14, 2012 11:37 am | by Krystal Gabert, Editor, Food Manufacturing | Blogs | CommentsNew “Right to Know” bills raise the possibility for the labeling of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) in food.
Alere Skids On Expected Recall, Federal Subpoena
May 11, 2012 2:23 pm | News | CommentsShares of the medical diagnostics company slipped after it announced that the government was concerned over its marketing and quality-control testing.
Ford Adds Virginia To Windstar Minivan Recall
May 9, 2012 12:03 pm | News | CommentsThe vans are now part of an August 2010 recall of more than 600,000 Windstars for rear axles that can crack and fail.
Gov't To Speed Tracking Of E. coli In Meat
May 2, 2012 1:06 pm | by Sam Hananel, Associated Press | News | CommentsUnder the new process, which does not wait for a confirmation, government officials could trace the source of E. coli 24 to 48 hours sooner.
Coke Plant In China Shut Down Due To Chlorinated Drinks
April 30, 2012 12:13 pm | News | CommentsCoca-Cola said recent pipeline modifications caused water for rinsing packages mixed with water for making drinks.
MSHA Orders End To Use Of Defective Air Packs
April 27, 2012 1:48 pm | by Vicki Smith, Associated Press | News | CommentsAbout 66,000 of the potentially defective air packs, manufactured by CSE Corp., did not recycle oxygen fast enough to help endangered miners.
Quick Response Averts Market Scare In Mad Cow Case
April 26, 2012 2:18 pm | by David Pitt, Associated Press | News | CommentsThe industry was just regaining its footing from a severe drought and "pink slime" worries when the word of the mad cow discovery came.
Food Safety Experts Play Down Mad Cow Risk
April 26, 2012 9:44 am | by Gosia Wozniacka and Tracie Cone, Associated Press | News | Comments"From simply a public health issue, I put it very, very low," said one Cornell professor, while others noted the dangers from E.coli and salmonella.
New J&J CEO Plans Realistic, Optimistic Future
April 26, 2012 9:23 am | by Linda A. Johnson, AP Business Writer | News | CommentsNew CEO Alex Gorsky said one of his short-term priorities is to get "reliable" consumer products back on store shelves.
On The Cutting Edge
April 23, 2012 2:00 pm | by Lindsey Coblentz, Associate Editor, Food Manufacturing | Articles | CommentsColumbus Foods was founded in 1917 in the North Beach neighborhood of San Francisco, Calif. In the days before industrial drying equipment, the Bay Area’s famous fog would roll through the open windows of the building into the curing rooms, aiding in the drying and aging process of the salami. Columbus Foods today operates three facilities and employs approximately 300 workers, along with an additional 100 employees during seasonal peaks.
Flammable Safety Cabinets Get A Redesign
April 20, 2012 4:31 pm | Products | CommentsLyon Workspace Products has introduced its newly-designed flammable safety cabinets, which allow manufacturers to store flammable liquids safely — this helps protect employees as well as the facility.
Does Giving Antibiotics To Animals Hurt Humans?
April 20, 2012 1:45 pm | by Matthew Perrone, AP Health Writer | News | CommentsAntibiotics have saved countless lives in treating a variety of diseases, but some argue their use in meat breeds antibiotic-resistant germs.
BMW Recalls 9,200 Cars Over Pump Problem
April 16, 2012 1:05 pm | News | CommentsBMW said the recall involves eight- and 12-cylinder versions of the BMW 5, 6, 7, X5 and X6 series and the Mini Cooper S.
Feds Find 16 Crashes, 5 Injuries In BMW Probe
April 16, 2012 9:23 am | News | CommentsAn eight-month investigation of transmission control problems with BMW 7-Series luxury cars, and will likely trigger a recall of 122,000 cars.
Bombardier Issues Roadster Recall For Crash Risk
April 16, 2012 9:19 am | News | CommentsBombardier Motor Corp. is recalling about 3,300 of its Can-Am Spyder roadsters because a pin securing the brake pedal connecting rod can fall off.
How Hyundai Went From Joke To Contender
April 13, 2012 9:12 am | by Tom Krisher, AP Auto Writer | News | CommentsEight years ago, Americans were laughing at Hyundai's cheap cars, but growth has ballooned so quickly that all its big competitors are paying attention.
Apply Visualization Tools To Achieve Quality — Affordably
April 10, 2012 11:57 am | by Richard Rots, New Business Development & Project Manager, Dimensional Control Systems | Articles | CommentsQuality itself is no longer a differentiator among manufacturers. Today, the focus of manufacturing quality has shifted to a discussion of "affordablility." The critical question is not how to achieve quality, but how to achieve it within cost and time constraints. Successful manufacturers achieve affordable quality by using simulation-based dimensional engineering (DE) and tolerance analysis processes to address problems before they occur.
Chrysler Recalls Small Jeeps To Fix Gas Valves
April 6, 2012 9:39 am | News | CommentsThe recall affects some 2012 all-wheel-drive Compass and Patriot SUVs for valves that can leak gasoline if the SUVs are involved in a crash.
Beyond Logging Complaints (Part 1)
April 5, 2012 12:57 pm | by John Ager, Consultant & Master Trainer, Kepner-Tregoe Inc. | Articles | CommentsMost companies do not readily welcome complaints, but if handled well, they can be a source of information to control costs and enhance customer satisfaction.
Husqvarna Recalls China-Made Yard Trimmers
April 4, 2012 1:35 pm | News | CommentsThe recall includes about 19,500 grass trimmers and 6,500 hedge trimmers, sold from May 2011 to January 2012, for fuel tank leaks.
Shares Of A123 Systems Fall On Shareholder Suit
April 3, 2012 1:55 pm | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsThe lawsuit alleges that A123 withheld information about defective batteries, which could cost $55M to replace, from shareholders.
