Check out our new CHARTrunner ad currently running on page 49 of this month’s issue of Quality Progress.
Thank you to those who served on our advisory panel as we designed this ad. Your input was greatly appreciated.
Archive for September, 2009
Check out our new CHARTrunner ad
September 14, 2009Meet me in Grapevine: PQ Systems at NAHQ 34th Annual Educational Conference
September 11, 2009
If you’re headed to Grapevine, Texas next week for the National Association for Healthcare Quality’s 34th Annual Educational Conference, watch for me in the PQ Systems booth #200 in the exhibit area. I look forward to greeting you myself, showing you some of our newest products, and hearing about what you’re up to with quality and process improvement. I’ll also have demos of our process behavior charting software available.
Seeing familiar faces and making new friends in the quality world are highlights of the conference experience for me. See you there!
http://www.nahq.org/conference/
How much did your SPC software cost?
September 10, 2009
Your first response to this question might be to quote the retail price paid for your SPC software. This would be a factual answer. Fast forward and imagine answering the question after using the software for six months or a year. Would your answer be different?
When evaluating SPC software there are many considerations; price is just one of these. Many other factors will contribute to the full cost of ownership. For example, the software will have to be installed, maintained, and supported. Users will have to be trained. Questions about the software will have to be answered – not just how to use it – but how to apply it in your system.
One of the largest costs might be described as the “make it work in my world” cost. Software designers often have a vision of how work progresses through a system. This vision might or might not align with the way work flows through your organization. I have seen software with impressive feature lists fail to be used – because the workflows just can’t be wedged into the way a firm actually gets work done. A good relationship with an experienced vendor support group can make a big difference – but if the workflows are misaligned – this can prove to be expensive.
Consider also the “manageability” cost. For example, you install the software for several users. They like it, they find it easy use, and they begin using it. However, they each take their own implementation journey. After a few months, important data, and analysis might be strewn about across your network somewhat haphazardly. How will this be managed? Once again, the feature list and price might look impressive – but the long term manageability might increase the real cost of ownership way beyond your initial impression.
It can be difficult to select any software and SPC software is no exception. If you find yourself in this situation, look beyond the initial price and feature list. Take a holistic view. Think about work flows and the long term feasibility of deploying the software and continuing to get knowledgeable support from a reputable vendor. In the end, the retail price might be the least of your worries.
Upcoming articles in this month’s Quality eLine
September 8, 2009
We’ve just wrapped 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:
- Filling the learning void: ‘The more you learn, the more you earn’
- Quality Quiz: Another quiz from Professor Cleary—and last month’s winners!
- Data in everyday life: Most-visited national parks
- Six Sigma and more: Pete Seeger at 90: His example still rings true
We’ll be sending it out later today, so if you’re not a subscriber yet, subscribe now to receive your free copy.
How can I be “in control” if I don’t know what it is?
September 2, 2009
I recently received the following question:
‘The process certification program at my company says that in order to certify a process it must be in control, be capable and be centered. Capability is measured by the process Cp and centering is measured by the Cpk. What measurement is used to determine if a process is “in control”? Is there a crisp definition of “in control”?’
“In control” is a term used to describe a process that is predictable and does not contain any special causes of variation. A special cause is something you did not expect to occur. I often refer to these as hiccups because, like a hiccup, you do not get them often.
There are many out-of-control or special cause tests you can use to help identify if the system you are evaluating appears to have special causes of variation. In general, if one of the out-of-control test rules is broken, you have license to investigate the hiccup or out-of-control point. Upon investigation, you will make a determination if the anomaly is a special cause. Then, if it is a special cause, you will determine what action to take.
In short, if you look at a control chart and it shows only common cause variation, it is said to be in-control and you should be comfortable predicting the future based on the past (“in control”) process.
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