Document control and management software will be the third most often purchased software in 2007, according to Quality Magazine’s 7th Annual Capital Spending Survey. Experts explain the importance of this software.

ISO may have driven manufacturers into document control, but today’s systems have a lot more going for them than 10 years ago. After customers see the extent of what document control can accomplish today, “A lot of light bulbs go off,” says Roger Shugart, chief operating officer of Cebos Ltd. (Brighton, MI).

Experts say that document control is almost a given in today’s manufacturing plants. Whether it is as basic as Excel spreadsheets or a full-blown document control system, most companies have some type of document control system in place. What they may not realize is how much more document control has to offer. VIEW STORY

 

GOSHEN, IN -- Hertzler Systems Inc., a provider of real-time data acquisition and analytics software for Six Sigma has released a new white paper describing the contribution that data systems and technology can make to transforming business culture.

According to Evan Miller, President of Hertzler Systems and author of the paper, many of the top challenges facing Lean Six Sigma implementations are cultural. "Recent research by the Aberdeen Group," he said, "identified cultural transformation as the top concern of business leaders who are trying to implement fact-based management systems such as Lean Six Sigma."

"When asked to name the top challenges they face, 68% of the business leaders interviewed identified 'Significant culture change required' as the top issue. Issues such as 'Resistance from knowledge workers and middle management', and 'Continued commitment from top management' rated third and fourth in the list. These are all cultural issues."

The problem, Miller points out, is that the responses to cultural challenges have largely neglected to focus on making data more accessible. "According to the research, leaders have relied mostly on increased training, increased discipline and using outsiders to help them transform culture. There is nothing wrong with any of those things, but they overlook the fact that if you want a data driven culture, your people need ready access to real-time, actionable data.”

A complete copy of the white paper "Leveraging Technology to Transform Culture" is available by download from the company's web site at www.hertzler.com.

BELLEVUE, WA -- PACCAR is donating $2 million to Gonzaga University for the construction of the new PACCAR Center for Applied Science.  During the past three years, PACCAR has provided over $14 million in educational grants and donations. PACCAR was honored by the Independent Colleges of Washington (ICW) for being a leading contributor for 50 years.

PACCAR is a global technology leader in the design, manufacture and customer support of high-quality light-, medium- and heavy-duty trucks under the Kenworth, Peterbilt and DAF nameplates. It also provides financial services and information technology and distributes truck parts related to its principal business. Kenworth Truck Company, a division of PACCAR Inc, manufactures heavy and medium duty trucks. Kenworth’s plant in Chillicothe, Ohio, was named Quality's 2006 “Plant of the Year” in the large plant category of more than 250 employees. www.paccar.com.