Past Programs: 2007 - 2008

Wednesday, May 14, 2008 - DOUBLE EVENT (0.6 Recertification Units)

Location: Engineers’ Society of Western Pennsylvania

Program 1 (Tutorial): “Free Tools for You from ASQ”, by Jim Creiman

Program 2: “Leadership”, by Claudio Reilsono

About Presentation 1 (tutorial):

Your ASQ membership includes access to free benefits, including some tools that you can takeaway for immediate use.

About Presenter 1:

Jim Creiman is the 2007-8 Chair of the ASQ Pittsburgh Section and an ASQ Deputy Regional Director. Jim is an ASQ-certified Manager of Quality/Operational Excellence, Quality Engineer, Quality Auditor and a Six Sigma Academy Black Belt. He applies quality and improvement tools to the supply chain of a Fortune 100 company.

About Presentation 2:

Transitioning from Assistant to Head Baseball Coach, working in the front office and as a lead scout for a professional baseball scouting company, as well as being in charge of his own enterprise, Claudio Reilsono has had plenty of opportunity to observe, develop and demonstrate leadership skills. Mr. Reilsono will share with you a different glimpse into the role of a leader: what to do; what he has seen others do; and perhaps most importantly, what NOT to do.

About Presenter 2:

In Claudio Reilsono's 25 years of baseball he has had coaching stops at Quaker Valley High School, Penn State Beaver Campus (led team to Championship), Community College of Beaver County, Duquesne University, and Carnegie Mellon University Baseball Club. Mr. Reilsono is the Director of Scouting and Lead Scout for Paramount Scouting Bureau and has signed over 50 players to professional baseball contracts since 2001. Some of his other activities include: writing for Sports Review Magazine (Rhode Island); appearances in ESPN Major League Baseball Post Season Shows; conducting instructional baseball clinics; producing an instructional hitting video; and motivational speaking.

Wednesday, April 16, 2008 - ASQ Lean-Sigma Focus Group Meeting - "Tour of Penn United Technologies"

Location: Penn United Technologies, Cabot, PA

Please note the location change for the April meeting

About the topic:

The meeting will include a tour of the Penn United LIGHT training center and the Stamping Department. In addition to the tour, Penn United employees will present an overview of their Six Sigma and Lean activities.

Cost: $25 (reservation & advanced credit card payment required via ESWP at 412-261-4300. Please provide your name, company name, title and e-mail address.)

Time: On-site sign-in will begin at 5:30 PM., and meeting start time is 6:00 PM.

Attire: Business Casual

Directions to the Penn United Technologies in Cabot:

Wednesday, APRIL 9, 2008 - DOUBLE EVENT (0.6 Recertification Units)

Location: Eaton Electrical Technology and Quality Center (near Pittsburgh International Airport – 160 Industry Drive, Findlay Township, PA, 15275)

Please note the location change for the April meeting

Program 1: Eaton Overview, Design for Six Sigma, and Business Performance Management Presentations

Program 2: Tour of Eaton Electrical Technology and Quality Center

About the Presentations:

Lennart Jonsson will give a brief overview of the Eaton Corporation, the Electrical Group of Eaton, and the Technology and Quality site. This will be a high level summary of the various businesses, capabilities and products offered by Eaton. Mr. Jonsson is the Director of Engineering at Eaton Power Quality Corporation, responsible for development of all Eaton Power Quality products globally.

Shankar Lakhavani will discuss the basics of Design for Six Sigma (DFSS) tools and their application in Eaton’s residential circuit breaker product development. Some of the tools to be discussed are: p-diagrams; FMEA; and reliability testing. Mr. Lakhavani will also discuss the experiences of a Product Development team in taking a project from initial concept to production.

Sam Faylo will discuss Eaton’s Business Performance Management (BPM) Process related to the production of these products. BPM is used to align strategic objectives to goal deployment, to promote cultural change and drive ownership and accountability for achieving excellent business results. Mr. Faylo is the Product Engineer for home generators and structured wiring solutions in Eaton’s Residential Products Division. San’s most recent assignment was the project leader role for the BPM process, which included a Business Intelligence enabling tool.

About Eaton Electrical:

Eaton is a leader in manufacturing power distribution and power protection equipment. For over a century, Eaton has provided a variety of electrical solutions from complex custom industrial and commercial assemblies to simple, yet innovative residential components.

Wednesday, March 12, 2008 - DOUBLE EVENT (0.6 Recertification Units)

Location: Engineers’ Society of Western Pennsylvania

Program 1: Coordinate Measurement Machine (CMM) Demonstration

Program 2: Workforce / Career Development High Performance Centers of Excellence

About Program 1:

Trevor Murcko of FARO Technologies will demonstrate the application of CMM measurement, 3-D metrology, and portable CMM. The demonstration will also include the use of laser scanning for 3-D inspection and fast detailed reverse-engineering.

About FARO Technologies:

FARO Technologies (Lake Mary, FL) is the world leader in portable 3-D measurement.

About Trevor Murcko:

Trevor Murcko is the FARO Account Manager managing the Pennsylvania and Ohio region, specializing in sales, training, and support of FARO Arm portable CMM systems and FARO laser-scanners for detailed inspection and reverse engineering. Trevor holds a BS in Industrial Engineering from Penn State University and has worked as an Industrial Engineer and Process Engineer prior to joining FARO in 2004.

About Program 2:

Bill Freed, President and CEO of The Freedlance Group, will present Workforce / Career Development High Performance Centers of Excellence, to overview the need for and use of High Performance Career Development (HPCD) standards for workforce/career development programs.

About William J. Freed:

William Freed is President and CEO of The Freedlance Group.

Mr. Freed, an endorsed America's Jobs Network Workforce Investment Peer Trainer, has directed workforce development programs in private sector, government and non-profit settings.

Cost: $25 (reservation & advanced credit card payment required via ESWP at 412-261-4300 or email eswp@eswp.com )

Time:
5:30pm sign in social/networking;
6:00pm Program 1;
7:00pm Dinner;
7:30-8:30pm Program 2

Wednesday, February 13, 2008 - DOUBLE EVENT (0.6 Recertification Units)

Location: Engineers’ Society of Western Pennsylvania

Program 1: Practical Approaches to Root Cause Analysis – Interactive Workshop

Program 2: The ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board (ANAB)

About Program 1:

Corrective Action Plans and Root Cause Analysis are among the leading areas of frustration in managing your Quality Management System. EAGLE Registrations will give detailed overviews on two of the most poular Root Cause Analysis processes: 5 Why’s/Fishbone (Cause and Effect) and the 8 D’s. Attendees will be broken into groups and presented with a typical audit finding that they will analyze with their team to find the root cause of the non-conformance. An EAGLE representative will finish with a recap on their approach to the findings and then open the floor to Q&A.

About EAGLE Registrations:

EAGLE Registrations provides value-added third party registration services for international quality standards. Compliance analysis and constructive feedback provided by EAGLE’s industry experienced auditors help customers maximize the investment in their quality system and improve their business performance. EAGLE was voted the # 1 registrar in Quality Digest's “Rating the Registrars” survey by satisfied and loyal customers. EAGLE Registrations is Accredited by the ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board (ANAB) and recognized by the International Automotive Task Force (IATF).

About Messers Hamilton and Bute:

As Sales Manager for EAGLE Registrations, Jack Hamilton is involved with helping companies achieve registration to ISO 9001:2000, AS 9100:2004, ISO/TS 16949:2002, ISO 14001:2004, ISO 13485, and TL9000. Jack is a IRCA certified Lead Auditor for ISO 9001:2000. Tom Bute has 30 years of experience in program management and quality and is currently an independent consultant in the quality field. Mr. Bute is a certified Lead Auditor, holds certificates for various quality standards, and is an ASQ Certified Quality Engineer and Manager of Quality/Operational Excellence.

About Program 2:

The ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board (ANAB) is the U.S. accreditation body for management systems. ANAB accredits certification bodies for: ISO 9001 quality management systems; ISO 14001 environmental management systems; ISO 27001 information security management systems; ISO 22000 food safety management systems; ANSI/AIHA Z10 occupational health and safety management systems and numerous industry-specific requirements. ANAB is a member of the International Accreditation Forum and a signatory of the IAF multilateral cooperative arrangements.

About Ms. Conboy:

Connie Conboy chairs the Board of Directors, ANAB American National Accreditation Board and is Vice President, Business Excellence at Bayer Material Science LLC, where she is responsible for driving process improvement and business optimization across all business units. Ms. Conboy also plays an influential role in standards under development and the governance of for the ISO process. She is a recipient of national awards and a recognized speaker in the field of quality and business excellence.

Wednesday, January 30, 2008 - ASQ Lean-Sigma Focus Group Meeting - Chi-Square Analysis for Informed Decision-Making

Location: Forbes Technology Center in Monroeville

Please note the location change for the January meeting

About the topic:

In today’s business, data are everywhere. Most companies have difficulty in using these data effectively to make informed decisions. It can be especially difficult to look at “soft” statistical data, such as categorical data, in an objective manner. Categorical data analysis may be important to the manager in understanding customer survey results to support market to the quality engineer to support customer satisfaction requirements of the ISO 9000 Standard. Likewise, the manufacturing engineer may need to decide on the effectiveness of an effort on improve attribute-type product defects. The speaker will review how Chi-Square statistical analysis can be used to handle these situations in a logical manner, and to reach informed decisions based on a defined confidence levels.

About the speaker:

Donald L. Hansell, has over 28 years of experience in industry and the quality field. Previous positions include Quality Manager and corporate Manager of Supplier Quality for Mine Safety Appliances Company (MSA). Currently, Don serves as President for X-Cel Quality Services, Inc., a management consulting company focusing on the quality areas of ISO-9001, Total Quality Management (TQM), Supplier Quality Development and Statistical Process Control (SPC). Don also conducts ISO 9001, QS 9000 and TS 16949 quality audits for SRI Quality System Registrar. Don is an IRCA Certified ISO 9001 Lead Auditor, an AIAG Certified QS-9000 Lead Auditor, an IATF Certified TS 16949 Lead Auditor and an ASQ Certified Quality Auditor. He holds B.S. and MBA degrees from Duquesne University. Don lives in the North Hills with his wife Janet and three children, Michael, Kathleen and David.

Cost: $25 (reservation & advanced credit card payment required via ESWP at 412-261-4300. Please provide your name, company name, title and e-mail address.)

Time: On-site sign-in will begin at 5:30 PM., and meeting start time is 6:00 PM.

Attire: Business Casual

Directions to the Forbes Technology Center in Monroeville:

Wednesday, January 09, 2008 – Respironics Manufacturing Plant Tour

Location: 1001 Murry Ridge Lane, Murrysville, PA 15668 (see directions below)

Please note the location change for the January meeting.

About Respironics:

Respironics is the leading provider of innovative solutions for the global sleep and respiratory markets. The Company’s success spans more than three decades and can be traced to a history deeply rooted in ingenuity and a passion to deliver solutions to those in need. This tradition of innovation, combined with an ability to anticipate market needs, is fundamental to the Company. It has made Respironics a name acknowledged worldwide as a pace-setter in the sleep and respiratory markets.

The Company’s diverse product lines include positive airway pressure devices to treat sleep disorders; diagnostic systems to identify sleep disorders; invasive and non-invasive ventilators for the home and hospital markets; masks and accessories; oxygen products for home therapy; monitoring and aerosol delivery systems for the management of respiratory diseases; and developmental care, monitoring and treatment products for newborns.

Respironics currently has several job openings in Quality and Manufacturing, a list of which can be accessed through its website at http://jobs.respironics.com/job_openings.asp

About the tour:

The tour will showcase RI production lines. The tour will be approximately 45 minutes long.

Due to plant policy, please do not wear open toed shoes and please do not take photographs in the facility.

Cost: $25 (reservation & advanced credit card payment required via ESWP at 412-261-4300 or email m.gaetano@eswp.com. Please provide your name, company name, title and e-mail address.)

NOTE: Registration is limited to the first 35 registrants.

Time:
5:45pm Sign in

6:00pm Dinner followed by the Company Presentation and Tour

Attire: Business Casual

Directions to Respironics:

From Parkway East/Monroeville or PA Turnpike/Monroeville exit:

• Exit onto Rte. 22 East. Follow 22 for 1.5 miles.
• Make right onto Rte. 286 East (Golden Mile Highway).
• Follow 286 for 5 miles.
• Make right onto Logan Ferry Road (Dairy Queen on corner).
• Follow Logan Ferry for 200 yards.
• Make left on Murry Ridge Lane (Respironics property).
• Make another quick left into manufacturing facility (Homecare Division) parking lot. (Visitor parking is front/left)
• Enter front door. Conference room is straight down hall on right side.

NOVEMBER ASQ-PITTSBURGH SECTION AND LEAN SIGMA FOCUS GROUP DINNER MEETING

Wednesday, November 14, 2007 - Two programs (0.6 R.U.’s Total)

Program 1: “ASQ Recertification”, by Jeanne Cotter (ASQ-Pittsburgh Certification/Recertification Chair), and

Program 2: “MEDRAD CT Deliverable based, Stage Gated, New Product Development Process: A novel way of transferring the ‘What’ to the ‘How’”, by John Tomzcak

Location: Medrad, Indianola, PA (Route 910 facility) (See Directions Below)

This is a joint meeting with the ASQ-Pittsburgh Section and ASQ-Lean Sigma Focus Group.

Please note the location change for the November meeting.

About the ASQ Recertification Presentation:

Now that you’ve earned your ASQ certification, how do you keep it?

Most ASQ certifications have 3-year recertification requirements which can be satisfied by preparing and submitting a Recertification Journal or by successfully re-taking the exam. Jeanne Cotter, ASQ-Pittsburgh’s Certification/Recertification Chair will describe the process and try to answer all your questions about recertification.

About MEDRAD CT Deliverable based, Stage Gated, New Product Development Process:

MEDRAD CT Deliverables based, Stage Gated, New Product Development Process: A novel way of transferring the "What" to the "How"

The speaker will review Medrad CT deliverables based, stage-gate development process that integrates procedures, processes and documentation output. This integration simplifies compliance to FDA QSR design control requirements and aspects of ISO 13485:2003 product realization. During development, Medrad CT found available many strategic, stage-gated processes with focus on the "What" of new product development. However, difficulty arises when product development team members, with various experience levels, backgrounds and disciplines, are required to interpret regulations and Quality System procedures and translate exactly into "How" they are to be implemented and executed. MEDRAD's CT process defines the minimum deliverables required for completion, while allowing project specific flexibility and scalability. Compliance is achieved with novel templates that define what is required and how the work should be completed, thus eliminating the guesswork for product development teams -- if you complete the process, you will be compliant. The new CT process has replaced over 89 Level 3 procedures with one Level 3 document. The presentation will also overview benefits including improved process ownership, elimination of required second party auditing, improved ability to train employees, enabled, effective outsourcing, and foundation for metric implementation. The speaker, John Tomczak, is currently a Project Manager in the CT Strategic Business Unit at Medrad Inc. John has held various roles within Medrad in disciplines ranging from Quality Assurance Engineering, Process and Productivity Development and New Product Development. Prior to Medrad, John has worked at UPMC's Artificial Heart Program, Children's Hospital's Perfusion Services, US Steel Corporation, and J&L Structural Steel. John is a former US Army Ranger and has a degree in Materials Science Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh.

About John Tomzcak:

The speaker, John Tomczak, is currently a Project Manager in the CT Strategic Business Unit at Medrad Inc. John has held various roles within Medrad in disciplines ranging from Quality Assurance Engineering, Process and Productivity Development and New Product Development. Prior to Medrad, John has worked at UPMC's Artificial Heart Program, Children's Hospital's Perfusion Services, US Steel Corporation, and J&L Structural Steel. John is a former US Army Ranger and has a degree in Materials Science Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh.

About Medrad:

For information about Medrad, please link to its website at http://www.medrad.com/about-medrad/index.html

Cost: $25 (reservation & advanced credit card payment required via ESWP at 412-261-4300. Please provide your name, company name, title and e-mail address.)

Time: On-site sign-in will begin at 5:30 PM., and meeting start time is 6:00 PM.

Attire: Business Casual

Directions to Medrad Indianola facility (Route 910):

From North / Southeast via PA Turnpike

• From I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike, take exit number 48 (old exit 5) toward PA-28 / Pittsburgh.
• Merge onto Freeport Rd., follow it for approximately 0.5 miles
• At the third stoplight, turn right onto Indianola Rd. / PA-910 / Yellow
• Follow PA-910 West to Indianola, approximately 3.5 miles
• Turn right onto MEDRAD Drive (between St. Francis Church and the Indianola Post Office)
• Follow the signs to Reception Area and Visitor Parking

• Follow PA-28 South
• Take Exit 11 toward Harmarville / Pennsylvania Turnpike Toll Road.
• Turn right onto Indianola Rd / PA-910 / Yellow. Continue to follow PA-910 West to Indianola, approximately 3.5 miles
• Turn right onto MEDRAD Drive (between St. Francis Church and the Indianola Post Office)
• Follow the signs to Reception Area and Visitor Parking

• From I-79 North, merge onto I-279 North at Exit 59A toward Pittsburgh
• Keep left at the fork in the ramp.
• Merge onto I-279 North via the ramp
• Merge onto Allegheny Valley Expressway, PA-28 North at Exit Number 7C toward Chestnut St. / East Ohio St. / Etna
• Continue on Allegheny Valley Expressway / PA-28 North for approximately 9 miles
• Take Exit 11 toward Harmarville / Pennsylvania Turnpike Toll Road.
• Turn left onto Indianola Rd / PA-910 / Yellow. Continue to follow PA-910 West to Indianola, approximately 3.5 miles
• Turn right onto MEDRAD Drive (between St. Francis Church and the Indianola Post Office)
• Follow the signs to Reception Area and Visitor Parking

• Follow signs to Pittsburgh, via PA-60 South, to PA-22/30 East and I-279 North (Parkway West)
• Continue on the Parkway, I-279 North, approximately 17 miles to the Fort Pitt Tunnels. Get into the left lane prior to entering the tunnels.
• After exiting the tunnels, move one lane to the left, follow signs for I-279 North, Fort Duquesne Bridge. Get into the right lane once you are on the bridge.
• Take exit #7C to PA-28 North
• Follow PA-28 North toward Kittanning for approximately 9 miles.
• Take Exit #11, Harmarville.
• Turn left at the exit ramp onto Route 910 West.
• Follow PA-910 West to Indianola, approximately 3.5 miles
• Turn right onto Medrad Drive (between St. Francis Church and the Indianola Post Office)
• Follow the signs to Reception Area and Visitor Parking

Thank you for continued support of the Lean Sigma Focus Group. The Lean Sigma Focus Group is an open forum, and non-members are encouraged to attend and bring others to the meetings.

Monday, November 5, 2007 - KAPE training - "Introduction to the Pursuit of Inspired Performance via the Baldrige National Quality Program"

Location: Medrad, 100 Global View Drive, Warrendale, PA 15086 (off of Warrendale-Bayne Road, 0.2 miles west of I-79 North Warrendale exit)

About the training:

The Keystone Alliance for Performance Excellence (KAPE) is offering training in Baldridge National Quality Program. This KAPE Training session is offered in partnership with MEDRAD Inc. and is designed to build personal leadership and organizational capacity for performance excellence and to improve work force satisfaction and productivity. Medrad is the 2003 Baldridge Award Recipient, and the session will include a lunch with John Friel, President & CEO MEDRAD, Inc.

The purpose of the training is to: gain a high level appreciation of how the BNQP framework has immediate actionable value providing structure, discipline, and guidance to business unit and system-wide improvement; understand what constitutes role model performance achieved by Baldrige recipients from manufacturing, service, health care, and education industries; be exposed to a new common language that will, if adopted, enrich the quality of leadership and management dialogue used in decision-making; be able to continue the dialogue on how the BNQP can be adapted for use as a roadmap to achieve sustained role model performance. Course facilitators include Joel Ettinger, Category One, and Rose Almon Martin, Vice President, MEDRAD Inc.

Participant Cost: KAPE Member- $399, Non-Member- $499, Small Organization (under 25 employees) - $299

Time: 8 AM to 4 PM

Contact: bterry@keystonealliance.com or 717-737-6470 for more information on this event.

Thursday, October 25, 2007 - Six Sigma - Measurement System Capability & Improvement

Location: Respironics, Murrysville, PA (See Directions Below)

PLEASE NOTE THE LOCATION CHANGE FOR THE OCTOBER MEETING

About the topic:

Review of measurement system analysis with a case study from a pressure decay leak test application.

The speaker will review gage R&R study methods for variable and attribute measurement systems. Specific areas to be covered are repeatability, reproducibility, linearity, bias, and discrimination. Minitab methods will be touched upon including an explanation of its various charts and printouts. In addition to the mechanics of the studies, some interpretation will be discussed as well as remediation methods for improving measurement systems. Finally the speaker will present a paper that he published in Quality Engineering journal describing a project that employed both gage studies and statistical designed experiments for gage capability improvement. The speaker, Dan Hardwick, is a quality assurance professional with over 15 years in manufacturing and quality. Dan is a supplier quality engineer for Respironics, Inc. in Murrysville, PA. Respironics builds medical devices for the sleep, respiratory, and children's medical industries

Cost: $25 (reservation & advanced credit card payment required via ESWP at 412-261-4300. Please provide your name, company name, title and e-mail address.)

Time: On-site sign-in will begin at 5:30 PM., and meeting start time is 6:00 PM.

Attire: Business Casual

Directions to Respironics:

From Parkway East/Monroeville or PA Turnpike/Monroeville exit:

• Exit onto Rte. 22 East. Follow 22 for 1.5 miles.
• Make right onto Rte. 286 East (Golden Mile Highway).
• Follow 286 for 5 miles.
• Make right onto Logan Ferry Road (Dairy Queen on corner).
• Follow Logan Ferry for 200 yards.
• Make left on Murry Ridge Lane (Respironics property).
• Make another quick left into manufacturing facility (Homecare Division) parking lot. (Visitor parking is front/left)
• Enter front door. Conference room is straight down hall on right side.

Thank you for continued support of the Lean Sigma Focus Group. The Lean Sigma Focus Group is an open forum, and non-members are encouraged to attend and bring others to the meetings.

Wednesday, October 10, 2007 - Manufacturing Plant Tour: McKesson Automation

Location: Suite 400 Pennwood Pl, Warrendale, PA 15086 (see directions below)

Please note the location change for the October meeting.
This location is different than the address origionally posted in the email notification.

About McKesson Automation:

McKesson Automation, Inc. (MAI) manufactures market-leading automation technologies that help hospitals re-engineer and improve their medication-use and supply management processes. Based on a foundation of bar-code scanning technologies, these solutions are reducing errors and bringing new levels of safety to patients nationwide. In the future, our products and services will address not only pharmacy, nursing and supply chain management, but will leverage our competencies to provide solutions to other areas of healthcare.

MAI maintains a culture of Innovation, Entrepreneurship, Differentiation and Rapid Product Development, and is the only company in the world that provides a complete and integrated solution to automate the medication-use process. MAI leads the industry in providing and supporting the use of bar-code technology to increase quality and increase accuracy. MAI is also on the cutting edge of Radio Frequency Identification technology.

About the tour:

The tour will show MAI’s product integration lab and production lines. The tour will be approximately 45 minutes long and attendees will be split into 2 groups to ensure everyone can hear.

Due to plant policy, please do not wear open toed shoes and please do not take photographs in the facility.

Cost: $25 (reservation & advanced credit card payment required via ESWP at 412-261-4300 or email m.gaetano@eswp.com )

NOTE: Registration is limited to the first 35 people.

Time:
6:00pm Dinner
6:45pm Company Presentation
7:00pm Tour Group 1 start
7:15pm Tour Group 2 start

Directions to McKesson Automation:

From the South (Pittsburgh):

• Take I-279N to I-79N.
• On I-79N take the Warrendale Exit (Exit 75).
• turn left at the end of the ramp.
• Go a short distance and make a right at the 1st stop light onto Brush Creek Road.
• Go through the Industrial Park for approximately 2 miles. Note: At the 3rd light, Brush Creek Road becomes Commonwealth Blvd.
• At the 4th stop light, turn left onto Pennwood.
• At the end of the road is McKesson Automation's parking lot (building number Suite 400).

From East/West:

• Take the turnpike to exit 28
• From the exit, Turn South onto Rt 19.
• At the 2nd stop light, turn right onto Bush Creek Rd.
• At the 1st stop light, turn right onto Commonwealth Blvd.
• At the 1st stop light, turn left onto Pennwood.
• At the end of the road is McKesson Automation's parking lot (building number Suite 400).

From the North:

• Take I-79S to exit 78
• Stay right on the exit ramp.
• The right exit ramp yeilds onto Rt 228 west which becomes Freedom road at the 1st stop light.
• At the 5th stop light (on Rt 228 / Freedom Rd) turn left onto Commonwealth Blvd.
• At the 1st stop light, turn right onto Pennwood.
• At the end of the road is McKesson Automation's parking lot (building number Suite 400).

Thursday, September 27, 2007 - Plant Tour: Ventana USA

Location: Ventana USA - Map

PLEASE NOTE THE LOCATION CHANGE FOR THE SEPTEMBER MEETING

About Ventana USA:

Ventana USA is a Vinyl Bending and Specialty Product Manufacturer. We specialize in bending and fabricating architectural and geometric shapes for Window Manufacturers as well as specialty bends for Fence and Railing Fabricators and Wholesalers. This year we are celebrating our 20th anniversary and our commitment to quality, innovation, and service has allowed us to become and maintain the leadership role in these respective industries.

About the tour:

Tour and Presentation - Tour will be of both facilities (V1 and V2)

V1 - Tour Window Facility
Start to Finish of Window bending and fabrication process - efficiency gains
Second Shift will be present

V2 - Tour Fence, Railing, and Garden Window Facility manufacturing process and changes - efficiency gains
V2 - Presentation of Before / During / After of LEAN and 5 S changes

Register early, the meeting will be limited to the first 30 registrants.

Cost: $25 (reservation & advanced credit card payment required via ESWP at 412-261-4300. Please provide your name, company name, title and e-mail address.)

Time: 5:30pm for a short networking session then a catered buffet dinner, and presentation of the topic.

Attire: Business Casual

Thank you for continued support of the Lean Sigma Focus Group. The Lean Sigma Focus Group is an open forum, and non-members are encouraged to attend and bring others to the meetings.

Wednesday, September 12, 2007 - Quality Jeopardy! by Janet Book

Location: Engineers’ Society of Western Pennsylvania

About the event:

This ...... Is ...... Jeopardy!
... Quality Jeopardy that is.

Come join us for an evening of FUN and EDUCATION with a trivia game presentation resembling the popular TV show. Janet Book, our own "Alex Trebeck," will facilitate the evening's activities challenging attendees with such topics as: "Influential People," "7 Tools of Quality," and "Quality Quotes" to name a few. Prizes will be given out to the team with the winning score.

About the speaker:

Ms. Janet Book has worked in a wide variety of industries, which includes blood banking, food processing, quality consulting, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices with such companies as Bayer Corporation, Becton Dickinson, Columbia Quality Inc., Respironics, Serono-Baker Diagnostics, and Symbiosis Corporation

Ms. Book is a senior member of the ASQ, an ASQ Certified Quality Auditor, an ASQ Certified Quality Engineer, an ASQ Certified Manager of Quality / Organizational Excellence, an RAB Quality Systems Lead Auditor and a trained Six Sigma Black Belt. In addition, Ms. Book has served as the Vice Chair of Administration and Vice Chair of Technology for the Quality Audit Division (QAD). She has also served twice as the Quality Audit Conference Chair.

Cost: $25 (reservation & advanced credit card payment required via ESWP at 412-261-4300 or email eswp@eswp.com )

Time: 6:00pm social/networking; 6:30 Dinner, 7:15-8:15pm Program