Abstract: Compliance with regulatory requirements is a business-critical need you must maintain. But meeting this need is more challenging with the creation of new regulations, such as 21 CFR Part 11, governing the use of software for secure data processing. But compliance is possible: an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system can help with audits, document and digital signatures, validation scripts, and other security needs.

Abstract: After testing procedures have been created and the type of test data has been determined, link or string testing, and system testing must be executed to ensure the job stream is correct and to locate errors before production. Backup and restart testing must be also be conducted to ensure that the restart points within the system are accurately defined. Finally, to demonstrate the benefits and functionality of the system, management and user approval should be received.

Abstract: Unfortunately, the portfolio management processes that experts have advocated for years—and that many organizations have implemented—often take the form of semi-annual or even annual meetings. However, this often raises balance or alignment issues only after millions of dollars have been spent. What’s needed is real-time information that can be used to conduct continuous, automated assessment of portfolio status.

Abstract: Since our research-driven beginnings, Johnson & Johnson Advanced Sterilization Products (ASP) has continually improved the new product development (NPD) process. Detailed process mapping has revealed three tiers of business metrics, starting with drivers and moving up through execution metrics to business performance metrics. When driver metrics improves, so does business performance. Six Sigma tools helps identify specific metrics at all tiers and the causality linkages among them. Each NPD process step at ASP results in a deliverable, and each deliverable relates to a trade-off triangle (cost-time-resources) and, ultimately, to investment dollars. To track performance, ASP calculates how actual NPD decisions and what-if scenarios affect deliverables, alter investment triangles, and thereby influence business results. ASP uses similar process and tools, including the investment triangles and Six Sigma QFD, to make idea management decisions. The IDweb real-time software environment enables both the NPD and idea management processes at ASP. By deploying the strategic planning, idea management, portfolio and pipeline management, process management, and resource management modules of IDweb, ASP has increased throughput by 20 percent and reduced cycle time by 40 percent.

Abstract: Six Sigma Quality is a popular approach to process improvement, particularly among technology driven companies such as Allied Signal, General Electric, Kodak and Texas Instruments. Its objective is to reduce output variability through process improvement, and/or to increase customer specification limits through design for producibility. I don't like the Six Sigma metric. As you'll see, it fails to pass many of the empirical tests for

Abstract: In PLM, there is no single vendor that can meet all of the requirements, and the market is still immature, so almost every product can be the right solution provided a certain set of requirements. In this part of the article we review 3 vendors who offer products to the PLM market - IDe, Thetis, and PDMware - as a demonstration that selecting the appropriate solution is highly dependant on the prioritized needs of the business.

Abstract: Integrated Development Enterprise (IDe)'s IDeWeb 5.3 is a product portfolio management best-of-breed solution for new product development. It is tailored to discrete and process manufacturers in the electronics, food and beverage, specialty chemicals, and telecommunications sectors.

Abstract: You may already know what disk defragmentation software does and what the benefits are. Take a closer look at the benefits in performance, cost, time-to-complete, wattage consumed for each test, and overall kilowatt hours (KWHs) consumed with Diskeeper defragmentation software. All tests, including methodology, format, and protocols, were performed with a focus of determining power and cost savings. Learn more.

Abstract: Gen-Probe Incorporated is a global leader in the development, manufacture, and marketing of nucleic acid tests, used primarily to diagnose diseases and screen donated blood. In 2004, thanks to rapid growth, it needed applications to support its customers’ ever-rising performance demands. In addition, it required advanced business applications for continued focus on product innovation and expansion into new geographic markets.

Abstract: The evolution of test automation towards data-driven and key/action word frameworks reflects the realization that the process becomes more efficient if there is less code to develop and maintain. Instead of taking twenty years to evolve towards efficiency, you can take a revolutionary leap with a code-free approach that makes it easier to implement, manage, and maintain automated tests.