March 2008
EVENTS  

AMN: Explore the Floor @ MEDRAD
MEDRAD, a world-leader in the production of medical devices, relished in 2007 revenues of $525 million. This Pittsburgh-born global manufacturer is the recipient of the 2003 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award and with more than 1,700 global employees (1,200 in the Pittsburgh region), they have to be doing something right. Join us to learn how the Heilman Center manufacturing facility was chosen as one of IndustryWeek's 2007 "Best Plant" winners. This recognition is given to only ten North American plants that have shown exemplary practices in efforts to increase competitiveness, enhance customer satisfaction and create stimulating and rewarding work environments.

Sponsored by Catalyst Connection, Microsoft, Pennsylvania International Business Development, Pepper Hamilton LLP and PNC.

Unlocking the Utility Meter from the Institute of Electrical & Electronic Engineers
Join us on Friday, March 28, to learn from a panel of industry experts about what other parts of the country are doing to give energy consumers control of their utility power and how renewable energy becomes more cost effective because of it!  Topics of discussion will include: Spinning the meter backwards, Renewable Energy Credits, Real Time Pricing, Windmills, Solar Power, Geothermal and Adaptive Reuse.

Breakfast Briefing:
Mastering the Rockefeller Habits featuring Verne Harnish
If you are looking for a way to break the entrepreneurial glass ceiling and move up as a professionally managed company while retaining an entrepreneurial spirit, then join us for an informative and enlightening presentation by Verne Harnish, an expert in the field of entrepreneurship. Harnish will discuss ways to master the "Rockefeller Habits" so that your organization can multiply its cash flow and profits, while driving to the next level to leave the competition far behind. Rockefeller Habits provides easy-to-use tools for making strategically smart decisions and for keeping everyone aligned and accountable to those decisions.

Known as the "Growth Guy" columnist for several publications and contributing editor for Fortune Small Business magazine in addition to being named one of the "Top 10 Minds in Small Business," Harnish is the author of Mastering the Rockefeller Habits: What You Must Do to Increase the Value of Your Fast-Growth Firm, released in April 2002. Harnish is founder and CEO of Gazelles, Inc., a premier executive coaching program for leaders of mid-size firms with 30 to 2,000 employees.

Presented by the Pittsburgh Technology Council and Catalyst Connection.



Great Lakes Manufacturing Council Forum 2008 Collaboration
The Great Lakes Manufacturing Advantage will be held July 9-11, 2008, at the Cleveland Marriott Key Center promoting the message that manufacturing is high-tech and is a mainstay of the knowledge economy. Invited Plenary Sessions Speakers include: Governor Ted Strickland, Ohio, Lt. Governor Lee Fisher, James Ziemer of Harley Davidson, Scott Davis of UPS, the Great Lakes Congressional Delegation, the Ontario Members of Parliament and many more.



INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS GROWTH 

Pennsylvania Center for Trade Development
The 2008 schedule of trade shows and other events has been released. 



Grants Available to Explore International Markets
Your company can receive up to $5,000 annually to explore new markets in other countries through Market Access Grants (MAG) made possible by Pennsylvania International Business Development. To find out how to apply, contact Connie Palucka, Senior Market Development Consultant, Catalyst Connection at 412.918.4259.
GO GREEN 

Do You Manufacture a "Green" Product?
Are you are looking for tools and services to better leverage green market opportunities? The Green Building Products Initiative may be able to help you grow your share of the green building market.

The Green Building Alliance is a non-profit organization that advances economic prosperity and human well-being in Western Pennsylvania by driving market demand and facilitating green building practices and products that have minimal impact on the natural environment.
CAREER CENTER  

The Pittsburgh Technology Council’s Career Center currently boasts more than 1,400 open positions. For many students and recent graduates, this tool provides invaluable connections to internship and job openings within southwestern Pennsylvania. Council member companies use this resource to find basic entry-level candidates, seasoned C-level professionals and everyone in between. Candidates are encouraged to apply for positions through the Career Center and to post their resumes in our online resume database for recruiter viewing.

Sign up to receive our weekly Hot Jobs e-mail delivered to your inbox every Monday. E-mail the Career Center team to subscribe.

Assembly Technician
at Angstrom Sciences, Inc.

Industrial Engineering Intern
at Catalyst Connection

Mechanical Engineer
at RedZone Robotics, Inc.

Test Engineer
at LaBarge, Inc.
BUSINESS ESSENTIALS 

The Pittsburgh Technology Council is proud to provide you the latest cost-saving opportunities in our Business Essentials line-up. We hope our collaborations with these and other nationally-recognized affiliates help your organization achieve its goals.

For more information, please contact Dave Schuerholz, 
Member Relations Manager, at 412.918.4236.
CONTACT US  

Jennifer Young
Managing Director, Advanced Manufacturing Network
phone: 412.918.4224
CATALYST CORNER 

Lean Sigma:  The Best of Both Worlds
Lean and Six Sigma are widely recognized today as the most effective business improvement tools for manufacturers. “Lean Sigma” is the revolutionary fusion of these two tools.

More precisely, Lean Sigma is a business improvement methodology that maximizes shareholder value by achieving the fastest rate of improvement in customer satisfaction, cost, quality, process speed and invested capital. The fusion of Lean and Six Sigma improvement methods is required because:

  • Lean alone cannot bring a process under statistical control
  • Six Sigma alone cannot dramatically improve process speed or reduce invested capital
  • Both enable the reduction of the cost of complexity

Ironically, Six Sigma and Lean have often been regarded as rival initiatives. Lean enthusiasts note that Six Sigma pays little attention to anything related to speed and flow, while Six Sigma supporters point out that Lean fails to address key concepts like customer delight and variation. Both sides are right. Yet these arguments are used more often to advocate choosing one over the other, rather than to support the more logical conclusion that we blend Lean and Six Sigma.

In a typical Lean Sigma engagement, both Lean and Six Sigma tools are used within the DMAIC (define, measure, analyze, improve and control) methodology.  For example, during the “Define” phase, tools such as value stream mapping, Pareto charts and descriptive statistics are used to identify areas for improvement in lieu of more typical Six Sigma problem definition tools such as Voice of the Customer, Rolled Throughput Yield and CpK.  Six Sigma also demands that estimated project metrics and financial impacts be determined at this point.   Similar integration tools are used in the “Measure” and “Analyze” phases such as CpK, Cause & Effect diagrams and XY matrices. However, in the “Improve” and “Control” phases, lean tools such as 5S, SMED and Cellular manufacturing are emphasized in Lean Sigma.

Probably the most significant distinction of Lean Sigma is that it strives to bring about focused improvements in less than one month. The results of these focused improvements usually fall into these areas:

  • Low scrap rates (high yields)
  • Increases on-time deliveries
  • Lower labor costs
  • Shortened delivery cycles or lead times.
  • Lowered inventory levels
  • And… excellent customer satisfaction ratings

If you would like to learn more about how Lean Sigma can help you achieve your business goals, click here to read about Catalyst Connection’s upcoming Lean Sigma Green Belt Certification course.  As part of the program, participants must complete two kaizen events within 3 months, so ROI on this training is very high.
NEWS  

Top 50: Manufacturing Our Future
You might be surprised to learn what actually is the largest economic sector in our region. One of the most counterproductive myths in the Pittsburgh region is that manufacturing is dead and gone, or at best on life support, waiting for the last job to move overseas. Nothing could be further from the truth.



Manufacturing CEOs Push Cap-and-Trade System
Business leaders claim a cap on greenhouse gas emissions will power innovation.

EPA Questioned on Industry Conflicts
A House committee opened an investigation into potential conflicts of interest in scientific panels that advise the Environmental Protection Agency.

Depleted U.S. Printed Circuit Board Industry to Become Part of DOD's 'Trusted' Production Program
The Department of Defense has developed a strategy to deal with the erosion of the U.S. printed circuit board industry and its growing inability to make parts that can be "trusted" for systems used in national security and military weapons systems.
TEQ NEWS 


TEQ Newsmagazine Launches
New Interactive Format

Technology is TEQ magazine’s first name.

The Pittsburgh Technology Council is excited to bring you its award-winning newsmagazine TEQ in a new and improved interactive format. Through the latest publishing technology, the pages of TEQ have been brought to life online for your reading convenience.

Take TEQ for a spin, and don't forget to check out its sleek new look!



WHO'S WHO 
Who's New to the Advanced Manufacturing Network: 

- Evans Machining
  Precision manufacturing company
  that produces spare parts for the
  Department Of Defense.

- IngMar Medical
  Products are used to develop
  new respiratory therapy products
  and treatments; test for quality
  and safety; and train healthcare
  professionals to achieve the
  highest level of patient care.

- Jeannette Specialty Glass
  Pressed Glass Products Customized
  for Commercial, Industrial &
  Mechanical Needs.
PUBLIC INTEREST 
Pennsylvanians for
Reliable Power
A diverse coalition dedicated to expand and improve the electric infrastructure – a critical component to the economic success of the businesses in Pennsylvania.  To learn more about the coalition or to join, visit www.forreliablepower.com or call 888.444.3596.
 

AMN
Sponsors 



 

 

 

 
 



 

bbdigital
eNewsletter Designed By:
<bbdigital>
 
Copyright © 2008
Pittsburgh Technology Council.
All rights reserved.

Pittsburgh Technology Council
2000 Technology Drive
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
phone: 412.687.2700
fax: 412.687.5232

Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions of Use