Reviewer #1

I recommend Mettler-Toledo equipment for your mass measuring needs.

Strengths: Mettler makes highly accurate and very sophisticated digital balances to measure mass.

Needs to improve: They are pretty expensive, but you are paying for high quality and accurate products. You also need to make sure it stays calibrated annually.

LCR will work with you to make a custom temperature measuring device.

Strengths: LCR makes temperature triggered measuring devices. You can get them with adhesive to stick on your beer bottles or your testing device. They are very accurate and fairly inexpensive for what they can do.

Needs to improve: None that I can think of.

If you don't mind paying the price, Apple makes great products.

Strengths: Apple has some of the best designed products on the market. The Mac is well designed, but may not be the best for business use unless you run Windows in a separate boot set up. The iPad and iPhone are becoming very popular for business apps.

Needs to improve: You have to pay for such great designs. Many business and data acquisition software are not supported on the Mac.

If you are looking for a PC, Dell is up there with HP and Gateways.

Strengths: Dell offers a variety of customizable desktop and laptop computers. They are great for business, data acquisition and personal use.

Needs to improve: Dell is not quite a price competitive as it used to. If you order a custom built computer, some times it takes a while for it to be delivered.

Digi-key is good for finding electrical parts.

Strengths: Digi-key carries a wide variety of electrical parts and ships them quickly and fairly cheaply.

Needs to improve: The website isn't the easiest to find what you need. It could use more pictures to make things easier.

I would recommend them because of the price and helpfulness of the company.

Strengths: Apple Rubber has all sorts of o-rings of different sizes and materials. Their customer service is friendly, helpful and knowledgeable.

Needs to improve: Their product consistency needs some work. Over the years, some of the o-ring seem to have slightly changed in dimension/fit in our products. But the company was responsive is fixing any changes for us.

Mc Master Carr is a great place to get what metal stock and fasteners you might need.

Strengths: Mc Master Carr carries a huge catalog of metal rod stock, threaded stock, screws, nuts, bolts, etc. They are very fast with delivery and the pricing is good.

Needs to improve: With so many items, it can be hard to find what you want. The website probably doesn't have enough figures to show you what you are ordering.

They will definitely give you free samples to try out at first.

Strengths: They have a huge variety of connectors (luer fittings, stop cocks, etc.). When bought in large volumes, their pricing is good. Easy to work with company.

Needs to improve: They are not easy to work with if you need a custom party. If they don't carry what you want on the shelf, then you might be out of luck. Also if they stop carrying what you use, sometimes the replacement part is a little off.

You can probably get a Shimadzu for cheaper than Instron or MTS, so if you only need to do basic tension and compression testing Shimadzu might be your best choice.

Strengths: Shimadzu makes basic testing frames for mechanical/materials testing. The software is pretty intuitive to use. Their service people are very good.

Needs to improve: The machines are not as sophisticated as say Instron and MTS, but can do basic tests fine.

Probably the industry standard and most R&D/manufacturing engineers should learn how to use it.

Strengths: CAD software that has lots of features. Does everything you need for design, modeling and prototyping work.

Needs to improve: Licenses can be pricey and there is a pretty steep learning curve. It does seem to crash at times too.

Costco's customer service is second to none and they have great return policies.

Strengths: Costco offers a variety of items for your company, including office supplies, food, computers, etc. Their prices are very good, especially if you don't mind buying in bulk.

Needs to improve: There is usually a membership fee that will eat a little into your cost savings you might find, but it is very reasonable if you purchase a lot of things.

There are many competitors in this market (Office Depot, Staples, Costco, etc.) so shop around and see which is best for you.

Strengths: Office Max pretty much has everything you need to stock your office supplies. It's prices are competitive.

Needs to improve: No clear weaknesses.

There are many competitors in this market (Staples, Office Max, Costco, etc.) so shop around and see which is best for you.

Strengths: Office Depot pretty much has everything you need to stock your office supplies. It's prices are competitive.

Needs to improve: No clear weaknesses.

There are many competitors in this market (Office Depot, Office Max, Costco, etc.) so shop around and see which is best for you.

Strengths: Staples pretty much has everything you need to stock your office supplies. It's prices are competitive.

Needs to improve: No clear weaknesses.

RitePro software is an improvement over a traditional paper based doc control system, but be very careful with the original implementation as it is very difficult and costly to make changes later.

Strengths: RitePro is a fairly sophisticated software package that you can use to organize your company's document control system. It allows for tracking online the status of your documents and allows you to access your doc control system outside of work for documents, DCO approvals and trainings.

Needs to improve: It is fairly customizable but at a cost. Some of the implementation is a little clunky but that may be b/c of our company's doc control system and not just the software's fault.

SAS is highly recommended if you need to do statistics.

Strengths: SAS is an expert in the field of statistics. Their software is easy to use, they offer and range of classes, and they can help all levels of stats knowledge (from beginner to experts). We used their software packages and traveled to their home office to take some classes that were very helpful.

Needs to improve: Some of their packages can be pricey.

I recommend Sigma-Aldrich

Strengths: Sigma-Aldrich can provide any type of lab supply, chemical or measuring instrument you can use. They are a great alternative if Fisher Scientific is out of stock or more expensive.

Needs to improve: Sometimes unwieldy listing their chemicals.

I highly recommend Sawbones from Pacific Research Laboratories.

Strengths: Sawbones are the most popular simulated bone material. They are the perfect tool to demonstrate you medical device, be it spine, femur, shoulder, etc. They have a model for almost every bone and if not they are great at custom products. They are a little pricey but they are the best at what they do.

Needs to improve: The items are a little expensive.

I highly recommend Fisher for your lab supply needs.

Strengths: Fisher Scientific can provide any type of lab supply, chemical or measuring instrument you can use. They are quick to deliver and well priced.

Needs to improve: The website can be a little difficult to navigate. Sometimes they have so many choices of chemicals, you are not sure if you are using the right one.

Highly recommended!

Strengths: Lab Pro has a wide variety of lab supplies, measuring equipment, and pretty much anything you can find at Fisher Sci or VWR. Their prices are reasonable and their customer service is fantastic. You can pick your items same day which is great for companies in Silicon Valley!

Needs to improve: Some of their items are a little dated. Basically, non-popular items will sit on the shelf until it sells.