Archive for March, 2009

M is for monitoring

March 31, 2009

Steve Daum

Over the past several months, I’ve been part of a team working on a new product that will rev up your SPC. CHARTrunner-m is a companion to CHARTrunner, our existing SPC charting software. CHARTrunner-m provides control chart monitoring and sends email and text message notifications when something out of the ordinary occurs.

I’m working with several customers who have installed a pre-release version of CHARTrunner-m. The official release is just a few weeks away. In my nearly 25 years at PQ Systems, I’ve worked on many exciting projects, but this is the most innovative project I’ve been a part of.

This technology will boost our customers’ ability to monitor control charts without significant cost increases–something I know will help our customers in these tough economic times! That’s why I wanted to spill the beans here on the blog a little early. The marketing department will put out the official release info soon, so stay tuned to this space!

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Software short: Lloyd Nelson control limit option

March 27, 2009

Steve Daum

Customers often request that we add very specific statistical features to our software products. Before we decide to implement new features, we consider several questions. Is the feature within our realm of core competency? Is the feature related to the types of analysis we already do? Will the feature appeal to a narrow or wide swath of our customers? Is the feature aligned with our mission of providing the simplest solutions that apply practical statistics to improve our customers’ quality?

If the feature makes it though this gauntlet, we study the specifics of the new feature. What algorithms are required? What formulae will be used? How will the feature be tested? Where will the feature be visible in the user interface? This process takes time. We are continuously improving our turn around on feature requests, but many steps exist between getting the idea from the customer into a working product.

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New! 7 Document control inefficiencies solved

March 23, 2009

Alison Nelson

You’re invited to a brand new webinar called “7 Inefficiencies of document control and how to solve them.” The event will be held on Wednesday, April 1st at 11:00am ET, but it’s no April Fool’s day joke. You will learn 7 tips to make your document control more efficient, including:

  • How to dramatically reduce paper and printing costs;
  • A simple method for tracking document reviews and approvals;
  • An organized way of tracking document change requests;
  • A foolproof method for keeping an audit trail for ISO 9000;
  • An effortless way of keeping training records current;
  • An easy way to avoid the costly mistake of having multiple copies of a master document;
  • How to generate a variety of reports with just a few mouse clicks.

I hope you can join us for this event!

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New gage calibration software release – GAGEpack 8.5!

March 19, 2009

Scott Johnson

We are excited to announce the newest release of GAGEpack EZ, the most complete and affordable software for gage calibration tracking, is now available! GAGEpack EZ 8.5 now comes with two free utilities. These will make your gage management easier than ever before:

  • GAGEpack Remote is a new utility that can be installed on a laptop to take with you to the shop floor, or wherever your gages are maintained.
  • GAGEmail is a utility to help manage email alerts 24/7, such as reminders to calibrate gages or friendly warnings of overdue calibrations.

Check out the GAGEpack ‘What’s new?’ page to learn more and to download a 30-day trial!

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Software short: 9 easy steps to creating GAGEpack reports

March 16, 2009

Scott Johnson

Each week I get calls from GAGEpack users who need to create new reports. It just so happens that we have an easy way to create new reports without having to know a single line of SQL coding. Creating your own report allows you to pick all the columns and design it just the way you like. I’ll outline how to make a report in 9 easy steps.

1. Open the Reports List.
2. Click on the ‘New’ button.

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Stats tip: What everyone ought to know about Cpk vs. Ppk

March 13, 2009

Matt Savage

In a class on capability analysis that I recently taught, several participants asked: “What is the difference between Cpk & Ppk?”

The quick answer is… ‘1 letter’. The mathematical answer is that each statistic uses a different calculation for the standard deviation.

The practical answer is…’it depends’. Now I know, some of you are saying statistics (math) isn’t subjective. I mean, we’re dealing with numbers here! Yes, the numbers are real and yes, you should trust the results. (Unless, of course, someone like Bernard Madoff is gathering the data for you.)

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Upcoming articles in this month’s Quality eLine

March 5, 2009

Alison Nelson

Quality eLine is our monthly newsletter that gives you industry news, case studies, and information about product enhancement and tips to enrich your software use. Here is what you’ll find in this month’s issue:

  • A quarter century of quality: PQ Systems celebrates 25 years of outstanding quality.
  • Quality Quiz: Another quiz from Professor Cleary—and last month’s winners!
  • Data in everyday life: Top life spans of animals charted.
  • Six Sigma and more: David Schwinn on listening, kindness, and pragmatism.

Not a subscriber yet? Subscribe now to receive your free copy.

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