Efficiently managing processes is key to the success of a business. That is all the more true in this tiring economy. An early step in process management is identifying and documenting the main processes. A powerful visual tool, process mapping has been in use for many years.

Requirements for product testing vary widely within the market. Clearly, a variety of means can accomplish this task, from simple photoelectric sensors to expensive custom vision systems.

Douglas Woods, president of the Association for Manufacturing Technology, testified in front of the U.S. House Committee on Small Business. He discusses his time in front of the committee, as well as what specific government plans are helping, and can help, the manufacturing industry.

Quality Magazine's 2009 Professional of the Year recipient, H. James Harrington, discusses his view of the role of the quality professional today, quality improvement and poor quality costs. Harrington has more than 50 years of experience in the quality field.

Bob Hewell, director of quality and missions success at Lockheed Martin's MS2 Tactical Systems - Clearwater, FL, Operations discusses the success this 2009 Quality Plant of the Year winner has achieved by driving a culture of continuous improvement.

Manufacturing Quality Engineer Melissa Bailey discusses the challenges many manufacturers face and the some of the solutions Personna American Safety Razor (Knoxville, TN) has implemented to succeed in order to become the 2009 Quality Plant of the Year recipient in the Small Plant Division.

On February 6, 2009, President Obama invited business executives, including manufacturers, to the launch of his new Economic Recovery Advisory Board. Drew Greenblatt, owner of Marlin Steel Wire of Baltimore, MD, attended the event. Listen to our interview as Greenblatt discusses the event, as well as his thoughts on the current economic conditions and the importance of real-world perspective in Washington.

Nuclear Filter Technology of Golden, CO, earned Quality Magazine's top ranking in the Quality Leadership 100 for 2009. See why the manufacturer of nuclear waste containers is a leader in the quality field. We spoke with Curtis Marks, quality control manager, at the company, to learn more.

American IV Products Inc., Harmans, MD, manufactures patient monitoring devices, including fetal monitor transducers, ECG cables and temperature probes. The company filled the number two spot on this year's Quality Leadership 100 list. Listen to our interview with Bob Rogers, director of quality operations at AIV, to learn why.

Imagine this situation: You are standing in the power tools section of your local hardware store gazing longingly at the dazzling array of equipment with which you could transform your home into something worthy of a Bob Vila masterpiece.