For many electronic engineering and assembly industries, most of their work is practical hence the need for an electronic test, measurement and diagnostic equipment. The equipment usually varies from the most basic inexpensive ones like test lights that only has a bulb and a test lead to more sophisticated and costly machines. A good example of such complex equipment is Automatic Test Equipment (ATE) that is a combination of real test and measurement equipment and in simulated form.

For the development of circuits and systems, the industries involved use more advanced test gear. They use less advanced equipment when testing during production and diagnosing units that are already in the field. Due to the availability of a wide range of test and measuring equipment in the market, one should ensure to work with professionals and experts with actual experience. These people would know what equipment to use for a specific purpose.

Since this equipment are used for quality control and product effectiveness, there is a need to regularly deal with equipment calibration as recommended by auditors from within the organization, accreditation body, or a government department like the FDA. Most of the regulators have rules and regulations that must be followed and consequences when instruments are not up to code during an inspection.

How to Select Test and Measurement Equipment for the users need

1. Cost

For a big institution, the price of the equipment may be justified by the downtime reduced by the equipment. For smaller institutions and individuals, it would be a mistake to invest in expensive machines when the output is low.

     2. Test all equipment over time

It is common for measuring equipment to drift after a while, therefore, prompting the need to recalibrate to ensure the same recommended specifications every time the equipment is in use. Ensure the intervals of review follow the manufacturer’s recommendations, process requirement, history of the equipment and risk requirements within appropriate limits.

      3. The longevity of the equipment

With much emphasis being placed on the manufacturer’s specifications, how an equipment performs, in the long run, is overlooked many times. The accuracy of the equipment can be short term until the next calibration. One should consider the drift of the instrument over a period of time, say one year. The equipment can also be suited for small operations otherwise, it breaks down.

      4. Determining the right tool for the job

Depending on the manufacturer’s specification on the manual, some equipment comes with a clear set of instructions on their purpose, specifications and calibration instructions. An example is a digital multimeter that is a measurement and diagnostic tool for maintenance crews, electricians on the move, laboratory technicians to mention a few. In contrast, tools such as a relative humidity meter don’t have a specified operating environment. The conditions for use vary thus making it hard for the manufacturer to specify the specific tool to use for different applications.

How To Use Test And Measurement Equipment Safely

Test and measuring equipment backed by a solid brand name is safe to use since they consider safety, reliability, and accuracy when manufacturing this equipment. Because of that, one should remember that any equipment using electricity can be dangerous thus the emphasis on safety.

The manual for all electric equipment contains all safety instructions and should be read before using the said equipment. Big manufacturers also offer training classes to users and impart skills that can improve productivity and also safety recommendations.

Whether the test and manufacturing equipment is contact or non-contact, there are certain risks that come with using both types. Think of a thermographic camera which is non-contact. To handle the camera, the user needs to remove the covers of energized equipment. The infrared can cause harm to the user thus the need to install infrared ports on the equipment. Another way to make it even safer is to fix it on the wall eliminating the need to touch or move it. That is with proper guidance from the manufacturer of course.

The uses of test and measuring equipment cannot be ignored which makes the selection and safety considerations very important for the end user. For a person that is considering buying the equipment, they can look into used test and measuring equipment information online to find reputable dealers.

You’ve got a lot of work to do, especially if you own your own business, or you’ve just established a startup. The last thing you want to do is feel like you’re wasting time that could be spent increasing the success of your company.

Unfortunately, that’s exactly how emails are likely to make you feel.

Emails have made staying in touch easier, and in some ways, faster. It means you no longer have to reach someone on the phone or send them a letter. But, most inboxes are out of hand, which means you might spend hours combing through emails, when your time would be better spent doing something else.

Email doesn’t have to rule your life. Not with these four tips.

Reduce the Busy Work Associated with Sending Emails

Sending emails feels like busy work, and in some ways, it is. If you want your emails to get read, and you want the people reading them to respond, they need to be personalized. After all, personalized emails can improve click-through rates by 14-percent and conversions by 10-percent!

You just have to know how to reduce the busy work associated with sending those personalized emails.

Google Sheets can make personalization easy. It does require some work upfront, but once in place, you’ll be personalizing emails like a pro. Especially when you use a companion program, like GMass, to send those emails.

Limit the Times You Check Your Email

A recent study done in 2014 revealed that the average person checked their email 15 times. That’s a lot of time spent in your inbox! It also translates to a lot of stress, and it means there are lots of other things you aren’t getting done because you’re hounding your email.

Instead of checking your email multiple times throughout the day, strive to check your email just three times. That might mean checking for the first time in the morning, once before lunch, and again before you leave for the day. Pick a schedule that works for you, and do your best to stick to it.

Take Action as Soon as You Read Each Message

Many people check their email incessantly throughout the day, looking for a specific message to turn up in their inbox. That usually means reading messages that you make it a point to deal with later.

That’s a huge waste of time!

Instead of dealing with each message twice, only check your email when you can respond as soon as you read each message.

Taking action on each email right away has some additional benefits that include:

• It shows others that you respond reliably
• It gets the ball rolling sooner rather than later
• It can help you keep the messages in your inbox under control

Don’t waste your days drowning in a sea of emails. Prevent email from taking over your day with the tips on this list and you can get back to doing whatever it is you do best.

Mastercard has partnered DPO Group to enable  more than 40,000 African merchants to accept Mastercard payments, connecting more people and businesses to the global economy.

The collaboration will enable DPO to act as a Pan-African switch by using the Mastercard Payments Gateway Services (MPGS). DPO will now be able to independently authorise transactions without any bank integration required.

According to Raghav Prasad, Division President for Sub-Saharan Africa, “Mastercard’s partnership with DPO is an important milestone in our vision to financially include every African. Our partnerships with DPO and other key FinTechs across Africa, allows Mastercard to speed up building of the acceptance railroads that will drive the growth of secure and convenient electronic payments. This in turn acts as the engine that drives faster economic growth across the continent for the benefit of millions of Africans.” 

Through the solution, Mastercard enables payment partners like DPO to easily and securely accept a wide range of digital payment methods from all over the world and for numerous industries online, in-person and via mobile.

The collaboration seeks to enable both small and medium enterprises (SMEs), which are critical to the growth of the African economy and global enterprises, to better process payments across Africa via a simple integration to a single platform. The collaboration between Mastercard and DPO will improve merchant benefits like seamless, secure digital payment acceptance; access to cutting-edge technologies; fraud management, and global connectivity through recognised payment methods.

Eran Feinstein DPO Group CEO agrees. “By enabling both customers and merchants to transact securely online and offline we’re able to facilitate the growth of businesses across Africa. With the right pan-African technology partners, we’ve managed to turn online transactions to a preferred choice of conducting business across all industries.”

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Transfering money is easy when it is about local transaction but transfering money accross countries is never hassle free. Not only do you need to spend more bucks as fee of the transfer but it is about stress of mind as there is a possibility your money is never received. For this reason, you must find a company where you can rely on safe money transfer. No matter where the location is, you can get money transfer service safely and quickly done. This is the reason why more and more people call for easy and safe money transfering service provided by a reliable company.

Azimo is a company for money transfering no matter where you want to. Just by visiting the official website and signing up to be a member, you can find easy way on transfering money worldwide. Type a country for destination of your transfer and the company will show the availability. Then, you only need to determine a range of specifications of your money transfer ranging from the currency to amount of the transfer.

What make Azimo worth counting on is the company gives you best rate of currency. Not to mention, there will be a system giving you allert about current rate of currency. This way will let you get the best rate so the receiver will gain more bucks.The common question on whether your transfer is safe or not should be faded away as Azimo guarantees safe transfer system. When transfering money, knowing status of the transfer is firmly what you want. Azimo understands this aspect, so the company provides you with a system by which you can trace status of your money transfer.

Azimo does not only offer digital money transfer but also cash delivery, so determine where to pick up cash and let staff of Azimo deal with other things necessary to deliver cash to the receiver. With lower fee of transfer and cash delivery, you will get an advantage with no doubt. Coupled with another benefit that this company optimizes security system, it is time for you to benefit from what Azimo has to offer.

Now it is obvious that dealing with any aspect on money transfering accross countries is never easy, so you need to find a way that brings a range of benefit. Many companies are available for money transfer service but not all fit to your need. So, take enough time for researching is not optional as your money is not worth to put a risk. As mentioned above, Azimo comes with some kinds of plus point you can count on for hassle-free money transfering and cash delivery.

When the company guarantees you to get optimal security system, you off course do not need to find others. Azimo is here to give all the things required to transfer money abroad easily. Make sure you check out what Azimo has to offer by visiting the official website and then make a decision when you are about to be part of transfering service provided by Azimo.

Okapi Finance, a Swedish money remittance and payment services firm with operations in Africa has partnered Ecobank, to enable customers of the two institutions transfer cash from Okapi wallet to Ecobank account and vice-versa at no cost.

The partnership will also enable customers move cash to local banks in Kenya through their Okapi wallet or Ecobank’s Xpress account, a virtual account hosted on the Okapi wallet. 

The deal will see Okapi customers be able to have a bank account and save and have access to a bank account through the Okapi app. All they have to do is to join Okapi to have their Ecobank Xpress account activated.

According to Gisele Mwepu, Chief Executive Officer of Okapi Finance, ‘We are pleased to enter a partnership with Ecobank. Ecobank, being the Pan Africa bank with operations in 33 countries across Africa, is a great partner for Okapi towards achieving its twin goals of promoting financial inclusion across Africa and creating a connected financial sector. I believe that interoperability between solutions in Africa is the key to achieving financial inclusion and to facilitate transactions between different countries in Africa.’’

Okapi customers are able to do transfers, payments, pay their insurance premium. Customers can also move money between Okapi and Visa as well as Visa card to card in real-time.Okapi services are accessible through authorized agents, Okapi website or Okapi Mobile Apps.

Ecobank Kenya’s Managing Director and Regional Executive for Central, Eastern and Southern Africa Sam Adjei said, “Partnering with Okapi will enable us scale up business touch points in addition to engendering financial inclusion which is a key proposition under our digitisation agenda. This partnership is already bearing some positive impact where people in some informal settlements in Nairobi are able to transfer money and make payments conveniently, and at a reduced cost, in order to access basic hygiene services among other things.”

Did you know you can use technology to improve your love life?

It sounds odd, but in a day and age where people are incredibly busy but have the access to tech, it’s easier to use technology. Tech doesn’t have to be the reason you and your partner are distant, you can simply use it to get closer to each other. Of course, there are those romantic things you should still do for your partner but how about trying these ways to also get you closer?

1. Have a shared online document where you share ideas

It sounds weird, right? But having a shared document can help you guys keep tabs of what is going on in your relationship. All you need is to have a document where you share ideas for example: if there’s a date that you have been wanting to go to you just write it there that way you can hold each other accountable.

2. Learn to send photos and video call

The one way to make each other feel closer is to actually see each other. You can send photos, do video calls just to keep each other in the loop. At the same time, it keeps interesting especially if you’re in a long distance relationship.

3. Use a digital notepad

This is perfect for someone who ha a bad memory. For example: if your partner tells you that they love perfumes for their birthday then you should jot it down. It shows that you’re attentive and a digital notepad will even give you reminders if you need any.

4. Text each other 

Use Whatsapp, it’s instant and it doesn’t cost a lot. Texts may cost a lot more so subscribe to a good data plan to be able to send texts. In this day and age, you really have no excuse to not communicate effectively. You can send pictures of your environment, food, yourself or even screenshots of what you would like to do with your partner.

When women take opportunities they take them and turn them into greatness.

It’s not a hidden factor or a myth that when a woman makes it in any industry it is usually a very big achievement. A woman who turned her passion into reality is Catherine Mahugu, the founder of an e-commerce platform which allows Kenyan jewellers to sell their products to customers directly. The company currently offers jewellery to over 450 retailers worldwide including Nordstrom, Espirit, and Fossil.

Catherine also has her own site known as catherinemahugu.com.

She describes herself as a seasoned techpreneur, changemaker, youth empowerment champion among other things. She didn’t just stop at creating one platform, she is a woman who wears many hats. She is also the founder of another e-commerce platform that provides premium Kenyan coffee to the international market. Her determination and ambition did not let her stop her there. She is also the founder of Wazidata, an innovative company that advances human experience by creating innovative offerings using design thinking methods and counts UNHCR and Safaricom among their clients.  A software engineer by profession, Catherine Mahugu has been recognized locally and globally for her entrepreneurial work, including Forbes 30 Under 30 2016, BBC 100 Women, A Leader of Tomorrow at the St.Gallen’s 44th Symposium in Switzerland 2014 among others.

It is women like Catherine that prove society wrong in so many ways.

Women are capable of being part of the tech world and actually be successful in that field. Catherine’s approach seems to be taking over the e-commerce platform and through her hard work, she proves that a woman can wear many hats and do anything she wants.