Archive for April, 2009

Introducing CHARTrunner-m: Your SPC watchdog

April 30, 2009

Steve Daum

Software developers at PQ often get opportunities to talk to customers. This might happen during a gnarly tech support call or it might be part of a pre-sales question and answer session. It is not unusual that good ideas for improving our software surface during these calls.

Over the last several years we began to notice a pattern in many of these conversations. The customer would start by saying something like this:

I keep track of over 150 charts…

I have so many control charts…

It takes so long to review all my control charts…

These conversations and other market research lead PQ to last week’s release of a new product named CHARTrunner-m.

CHARTrunner-m takes a fresh look at the human workflow of using SPC control charts. We had the thought that software should allow you to deploy control charts more widely and for more quality metrics without significant increases in your costs or effort.

The thinking for CHARTrunner-m has incubated among our staff for a long time. It has been rewarding and interesting to be part of the team that brought this to market. Please take a moment to learn more about CHARTrunner-m by watching this short video. In the coming weeks we’ll point you to more information where you can learn the benefits of this innovative approach to SPC.

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Software short: Automatic emailing in the new GAGEpack 8.5

April 24, 2009

Scott Johnson

Last month we released GAGEpack 8.5 that includes a new software utility GAGEmail. GAGEmail is a separate application that improves the way automated emails are sent.

  • 24/7 email alerts (emails even with GAGEpack is closed)
  • IT folks can manage this as they do other applications that run as a service
  • GAGEmail can run on a separate PC, so the GAGEpack PC can be shutdown and users still get alerts
  • Automated emails will not affect the performance of GAGEpack

GAGEmail also makes email options from GAGEpack more versatile. Here are a few options that before now, were not possible:

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Control charts for monthly presentations

April 13, 2009

Matt Savage

I recently returned from training a hospital that has been using CHARTrunner for a number of months. One individual, I’ll call her Rita, presents her quality improvement charts every month in a quality meeting with her managers. She has 22 charts and wanted an easier way to automate the process of getting ready for this monthly presentation.

Her current process is to display the chart, copy it to the Windows Clipboard, go to PowerPoint, paste the chart, resize the chart, and then repeat this for all of her charts. I feel Rita’s pain. The process is time consuming and error-prone.

The good news is that there is an easier way! We automated this process to the point that Rita never needs to launch CHARTrunner. Instead she clicks on a desktop icon each month that launches a command line parameter to update her 22 charts in her PowerPoint presentation. Two clicks accomplishes what previously took her 2 full days. The custom application we developed for Rita saves her 2 days of work each month! I have set this up for many organizations, and I’d like the opportunity to do the same for you.

If you are interested in learning more about a system that automates the process of getting ready for your recurring meetings, let’s talk.

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Upcoming articles in this month’s Quality eLine

April 10, 2009

Alison Nelson

We’ve been working hard on wrapping up the latest edition of Quality eLine, our monthly e-newsletter that gives you industry news, case studies, and product tips you can use to enrich your software use. Here is what you’ll see in this month’s issue:

  • Keeping awake at the wheel: program keeps track, saves time
  • Quality Quiz: Another quiz from Professor Cleary–and last month’s winners!
  • Data in everyday life: What color is your car?
  • Six Sigma and more: David Schwinn urges you to let your Six Sigma light shine.
  • FYI: How to check current version numbers and maintenance releases.

We’ll be sending it out next Tuesday, so if you’re not a subscriber yet, subscribe now to receive your free copy.

Posted in Miscellaneous | Leave a Comment »