Namars

A Control System Perspective Software can be a real pain. But before your tear the rest of your hair out or call your software vendor in frustration you might want to think about some of the nasty little details that can cause the pain to begin with. The concepts below are not necessarily life changing. Yet many manufacturing specialists have ignored them and have needlessly suffered as a consequence. First, let me be clear that software programmers and providers are NOT evil people. In fact, I am amazed and quite proud of how dedicated they are and how much progress has been made during the last three decades. Unfortunately, like any automated system, there are inherent limitations to what these...

Researchers in the US have shown that there is a direct correlation between customer satisfaction and future success of a business. They found that companies with increasing satisfaction scores faired significantly better in the downturn last year than those with declining scores. Companies with increasing satisfaction scores only lost 30% of their market value, against companies with decreasing customer satisfaction which lost 57% value on average. That's a huge discrepancy completely outweighing the investment needed to boost satisfaction scores, and is an important reminder we need to all focus on delighting our customers, even in the tough times of a recession. Here is the article: *Retail Stock...

We all want our businesses to be efficient and lean. Software as a service is an ever growing business solution that enables small, medium and large companies to take advantage of enterprise class applications in a controlled way. Software as a service allows companies to tightly manage risk, gain business efficiency and at the same time leave itself open to choices as their company grows. If you have read the newspapers lately they are full of various plays on the words tough times, inspiring companies to re-evaluate costs and business efficiency. It is fair to say that this process of review and risk has been going on for many years, and that for astute business this is a never ending process...

The facilitators have to have good sense of timing, listening and observation skills and a sensitivity to overall group dynamics. Facilitation is not just about sorting out problems, but enabling groups or teams to workout solutions to various issues for the successful implementation of the projects. Role of Change Agent Commonly, Certified Six Sigma teams have to take on the role of change agents at various points. They are change agents who have to communicate to people about the changes taking place. These skills are necessary for facilitating overall group activities. Change agents need to have communication skills, meeting management skills, presentation skills and presentation preparation...

The concepts of lean originated from Japanese culture where balance, harmony, discipline and group organisation are central themes – it is not enough to use one element, they are more effective when used all together. Similarly, in manufacturing the use of lean manufacturing beyond one department such as the plant floor that make a lean initiative more effective.  Having an organisation wide lean initiative can be viewed as using all the different elements of lean. There are three different elements, these include: 1. The business value stream layer 2. The business environment layer; and the 3. Business strategies and tools layer   The Business Value Stream Layer According to Womack and Jones...

Lean Manufacturing Principles Lean manufacturing is one of the most widely utilized business improvement methodologies. There are hundreds of consultants and schools teaching lean manufacturing principles. The problem with many courses teaching lean manufacturing is the lack of real world experience of the instructor. Many have limited experience applying the principles, nor the interpersonal skills to influence change. Lean manufacturing is not nearly as structured as six sigma or other continuous improvement initiatives. There is no standard approach to implementation or third party certifying body such as ISO. Lean manufacturing consists of many different “tools”. The best courses...

A high end audio system has a very essential integral part which is the crossover. This is used for maximum audio clarity. It can be done by filtering all audio signal by frequency and then they are directed to the correct amplifier and then to the speaker. There are two types of cross over. One is the active cross overs which gives a better clarity sound by proper adjustment and filtration of the audio signals. And the other is the passive cross over which is low adjustable and also produces low quality sounds. But how to set up active cross overs? There are few steps with which the question can be answered. These active cross overs are generally used in a car audio system. These also find...

Undergoing an enterprise resource planning (ERP) implementation deployment can be full of highs and lows as your company anticipates the changes that will occur in your existing workflow. The key to handling your staffs' expectations is effective planning, precise job related training, timely mock live experience, anticipation management and scheduled follow-ups. Effective ERP Implementation Planning Your upcoming implementation should include customized ERP templates catered to your industry and staff skill level. Utilize these templates to understand how your workflow will be impacted and how to be proactive with the impending changes. Work on customized feasible solutions instead of dwelling on...

Bumpers are one of the most essential auto parts. They serve both an aesthetic and practical function. They are also important safety features. Bumpers are made of heavy sheet metal and are mounted on the front and rear of the car. Bumpers are bent and formed into specific shapes in order to absorb and deliver momentum during a collision. In the event of a collision, the bumper absorbs some of the impact, which decreases damage to the car and its occupants. It also protects the front of the car by diverting all of the car's momentum to the object with which it has collided. The bumper is mounted to the car's chassis with special impact absorbers. These shock absorbers are often spring loaded. In...

Any system invented or developed for improving a process or product is not foolproof. A new principle or system is like a trickling stream which, in the course of its evolutionary journey, is either joined by a number of other contributories or it itself ends up contributing to a bigger stream of thought and system. The synergy produced by this phenomenon benefits innumerable individuals and organizations. The integration of Lean management tools and Six Sigma produces a synergy that can work wonders for many companies. In order to achieve the integration with Six Sigma it is imperative that Lean management tools are incorporated with caution and wisdom. If not done properly, it can cause...

Some of my colleagues and fellow managers are strong technical expertise as working in the advance technology industry; but they are weak in people management or managerial skills.  They found hard time to start building relationship effectively with their subordinates from the first day in position.  Remember your first day in your current position as a boss, you need to get acquaintance with your subordinates; to understand their names, their routines, their strengths, their weaknesses, and equally important, is their attitudes.  How will they build working relationship with you?  How do you understand the dimensions behind the relationship?  In the following paragraph, I will show you the...

As surely as our joints grow sore with age, so too, do our vehicles become more noisy as they grow older. It’s part of the automotive aging process. Unfortunately, tracking down the source of the squeaks and vibrations is often more difficult than mere part failures. If your catalytic converter or alternator fails, you’ll know within minutes. If your transmission or engine overheats, the smoke billowing from under the hood is a clear sign. When you hear an occasional rattle that becomes persistent with time, identifying the cause can be problematic. In this article, we’ll describe a few reasons why your car, truck, or SUV begins to groan as it ages. What Causes Rattling And Squeaking? Rattling...

HISTORY Saab have had a representation in this market niche right back to the days of the 900 Convertible and the announcement of the Saab 9-3 Sport Saloon in 2002 marked a new direction. Whereas many previous Saab convertibles were modified versions of existing platforms, the drop top version of the 9-3 Sport Saloon was engineered in a more thorough manner to combat the torsional rigidity problems that had serious drivers avoiding the car. Three turbocharged petrol engines were available at the 2003 launch, starting with a 150bhp 1.8t powerplant, moving through to the 175bhp 2.0t and the range topping 210bhp 2.0T engine found in the Aero variants. In the early part of 2006, a 150bhp TiD diesel...

If you are driving a car then it is inevitable that you are taking it to the local garage for regular check-ups. It is necessary because it's not that only humans get fatigued but cars do. After regular-check ups your car-mechanic must be suggesting some of the replacements. You must be careful while choosing for any car accessories because sometimes they may sell out-dated parts to you for the low prices. And as far as bushes are concerned then without any second thought you must choose poly suspension bushes. So many materials have been tried for making of car suspension bushes like nylon and ordinary rubber. But the most suitable material to be used till date is polyurethane and this is because...

Modern cars are built somewhat different compared to cars thirty or forty years ago. Back then cars were built so strong, that if you ever back up and hit something, like a wall or a pole, the car would hardly had any scratch on it. Nowadays car manufacturers make use of controlled deformable zones around your car’s chassis that are meant to break up first when your car is hit so that the impact energies will be dissipated and they will not reach the car’s passengers. In fact, a recent survey conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety revealed that the most expensive SUV repairing for a 5mph crash was around $3,300. Why was the repairing so expensive you may ask, for a back-up hit...

There are several noise sources in a car audio setup. In this article, I'll talk about one where your car speakers produce noise that seems to increase when you "rev" the engine. You'll get to learn how to eliminate that annoying noise and enjoy your music. First, you must understand that this is simply interference or induced noise. Induced noise can sound like clicking, popping, whirring, buzzing, whistling, or whining. This noise always has a source such as the alternator, car power wiring, amplifier, etc. So this means that the problem can be tackled at the source. Now, you just have to find it. Power line noise problems (such as those from alternators) can be fixed by adding a capacitor or...

-- End Ad Box ---> Camber is probably the most useful and popular alignment adjustment that can be made to a street car. The other alignment adjustments are toe and caster, which I have covered in accompanying articles. Camber is the angle of the wheel from the vertical as viewed from the front or the back of the car. Negative camber means that the top of the wheel is leaned in towards the car, and positive camber means that the top of the wheel is leaned out away from the car. Maximum cornering force is achieved when the camber of the outside wheels relative to the ground is about -0.5 degrees. A slight negative camber in a turn maximizes the tire contact patch due to the way the tire deforms under...

If you have ridden in an old horse-drawn wagon, you know how rough and bumpy of a ride it can be and maybe you have pity on the old pioneers and their mode of travel. Today, in our modes of travel, we have vehicles with what is called ‘suspension’. Car suspension helps our travels become smooth and comfortable. Suspension also protects our vehicles from the jolts and bumps of the road. Without suspension, our cars might vibrate into pieces. Car suspension is usually comprised of two basic components. They are springs and shock absorbers. There are also a number of different types of suspension available for both front and rear axles. The main groupings are dependent and independent...

Do you drive a fast car? Have you ever gotten your pride stolen from you in a race because you can't stop spinning tires and fish tailing out of the hole. Maybe you want to lower your car for a more aggressive look, don't just sit there sad because you still have factory suspension and chassis parts, do something about it!. A quality road handling suspension and chassis setup is essential when you need above average performance and reliability. There are allot of suspension and chassis manufacturers that make quality bolt on parts that will make most rear wheel drive, coil spring equipped vehicles accelerate, brake, and corner like it is on rails. The factory equipment works well for grandma and...

Contrary to popular belief, stocks are not just pieces of paper. When you own a portfolio of stocks, you really own tiny fractions of several companies. If you think that this isn't the case, just ask the lucky owners of Petco or Reebok stocks. In each company's case, a larger company wanted to buy them. The only way to take over a company with publicly traded stocks is to buy all of the shares. If you had Petco and Reebok stocks at $20 and $35 apiece, would you sell them to a larger company for less than that? Of course not. For $20 and $35? Probably not, since if you wanted those prices, you could have sold your stocks in the open market. The only way for larger companies to take over smaller ones...

Due to current economic crises people are getting afraid of buying shares and are moving towards less risky investments such as government bonds and gold. Although investing in the stock market is risky but you can take the risk when the stock market is making new peaks. However, to survive in the current market situation, I would like to discuss some tips that will elaborate the appropriate ways of buying shares in these tough market conditions. You cannot earn profit all the time with all the shares. The reason of fall in prices of stocks can be global economic recession, company failures and many more. Many times a stock price falls and never recovers fast. If this happens one should wait for the...

CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION Are you bored with the 9 to 5 job? Want something in your life to change instantly? Want your dreams come true. Your dream of relaxing in a big house and there is a flow of money in the form of dividend cheque. Imagine yourself an owner of a business and watch your company grow. All of this and much more is now possible by owning STOCKS. In today’s fast moving world , stocks which was always the ball game of the rich and wealthy people , with the trading technologies expanding itself , the market has opened its doors to each and all who wish to own stock. If you wish to multiply your money and want build wealth then owning stock is the thing for you .But before you take the...

Capital and investment are two sides of the same coin when it comes to starting a business venture. When funds are less, you can still go ahead and invest; starting the small way you can turn big! This is where shares trading holds importance. You do not need big money to start trading in stocks and shares. Considered as one of the most productive methods of making money, shares trading has in its sway people from all segments. As a beginner, if you are acquainted with the share market basics, you can carve a niche almost immediately. With the Internet being home to an incalculable number of resource treasures on stocks and shares, you can now be a part of the stock share market. It is no more the...

The faster an object travels the higher is its momentum and the greater is its kinetic energy. That may sound very much out of a school science book but it is true nevertheless. And one doesn't need to know that the greater the energy the greater is the need to control the energy so that a mishap doesn't occur. Yet at the same time from experience one will know that if there is a lot of energy concentrated in a single entity it can be hard to control. Take for example a horse that is bucking or one those bulls that cowboys ride. But speed and high energy needn't always go against the ability to control an object. Elegant products such as a car spoiler turn speed to your advantage and the faster it...

Hybrid vehicles continue to be the latest trend in the car buying industry. The Toyota Camry continues to be one the popular hybrids on the market. Check out some the exterior and interior features of the Toyota Camry. No doubt, in line with its popularity, the sales of the Toyota Camry Hybrid topped the over all sales of Toyota Camry sedan in the United States by 15%. Since its launch in May 2006, the annual sales of this vehicle have reportedly reached a remarkable average of 60,000 units per year. This figure is not at all surprising since the hybrid model has become highly popular not only due to its offer of effective fuel consumption, but also exudes exquisite interior and interior design...

> The Toyota Camry is one of the best selling cars on the road, thanks to the Camry’s blend of reliability, value, and comfort. While the Toyota Camry does offer plenty of unique features, Camry owners may feel the need to make their vehicle a bit more personalized. Below are some of the most common Toyota accessories used for customizing the Camry Exhaust Tip Although the Toyota Camry offers plenty of power, many drivers will admit that it isn’t the sportiest vehicle on the road. Perhaps one of the best accessories to add a touch of sportiness to your vehicle’s exterior is a polished stainless steel exhaust tip. They’re easy to install thanks to a single bolt, and doesn...

Given the unreliable and dynamic nature of fuel prices, automobile users simply can’t depend on the transitory dips in the prices of gas. Perhaps, adopting simple fuel saving tips is the key to prevent the prices from burning a hole in your pocket. The following tips should help you achieve fuel economy as well as help protect the environment. 1. To begin with, choose the right car for your needs, if just driving around the town is what your needs entail, procure a lighter vehicle (hybrid or gas driven) instead of a big gas-guzzler. 2.Considered as one of the most important factors affecting fuel economy, the need to ensure the right tire pressure for your automobile can’t be overemphasized...

I saw the photographs of the cars for this year's Formula One racing season and one thing I can say, is that the cars look more of those wacky for drag racing machines only and not exactly your sleek F1 car. The first race of the season doesn't begin until March but with the implementation of the new rules, which was designed to decrease a team's operational costs as evidenced by Honda's recent decision to put its team up for sale due to the prevailing ills in the economy worldwide, it is estimated that the teams shall be saving a lot of money. These rules were agreed upon by Federation International Automobile chairperson Max Mosely and the rest of the team representives during a meeting in...

Body kits are the most common ways to mod cars by serious auto enthusiasts. They are customized parts of a car's exterior that can be fitted to improve the car's working while giving it the killer looks. Ever wanted a sports car? Surely, you would've thought it was impossible for you to afford one. But the good news is - all you need is a good custom body kit! Almost all aspects of a car's external appearance can be modified with body kits. They can be separate parts or whole packages for a complete makeover. Body kits are of special interest to racing enthusiasts. Every part of a car's exterior can be modified to give it an edge. While the individual improvements are not very big, it is the...

t report in the Financial Times predicted that the average price for a gallon of gasoline in the United States may soon reach $3.00 . . . that's the bad news! The good news is, skyrocketing gasoline prices have caused many Americans to start looking for ways to either cut back on the miles they drive or find ways to make their cars more fuel efficient. That's good news because these fuel-saving attempts and attitudes will help reduce the fuel emissions that regularly foul our atmosphere. The question remains, just what do we need to do to spend less on gas and reap the reward of cleaner air; a few tips follow: Get your car in shape A well maintained car will burn less gas than one that has been...

Every time you see a car so nice passing you by, it leaves you wanting it. If you want your vehicle to be the talk of the town and be known for its appealing style, then we are talking about body kits. Body kits can customize your Lexus IS350 in a way that you can take away Lexus involvement and make the style completely your own signature style. Body kits can greatly help you in modifying you car. Body kits are perfect for any kind of vehicle. Just make sure to think carefully which type of IS350 body kit you would want for your Lexus IS350. As a way to improve his car’s aerodynamics, Jim Hall invented body kits in 1961. Aerodynamics pertains to how the wind travel your car’s perimeter...