What is known as “point mentality” is a knee-jerk response to what appears to be a problem. We may learn this when we take our child’s temperature and find that it’s high; we are inclined to do something right away—give ibuprofen, orange juice, and bed rest—rather than waiting to see if this is a “trend.”

In fact, sometimes we can’t wait to evaluate patterns in data, but need to respond immediately to a situation. Emergencies require response. But most of the time, we will save time, energy, and other resources by examining data over a period of time and making decisions based on trends or other patterns in the operation of the system itself. The fact that a child fails one third-grade spelling test does not mean that he or she will be a failure in life—or even in spelling.

Every system has variation; some of this is due to the system itself, known as common cause variation; some of it is due to singular incidents or special situations; this is special cause variation. W. Edwards Deming estimated that 94% of problems (or possibilities for improvement) lie with the system as common-cause variation; 6% are special causes. [Out of the Crisis, 315]

Describing variability over a period of time helps one to understand how the system is working, and to predict how it will continue to work in the future. The alternative is a constant tampering with the system, responding to every whim it may have.

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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:

• Losing the blame with cause-and-effect charts
• Quality Quiz: Another quiz from Professor Cleary—and last month’s winners!
• Data in everyday life: Record cold temperatures
• Six Sigma and more: Celebrating Russell Ackoff

We’ll be sending the newsletter out tomorrow morning, so if you’re not a subscriber yet, subscribe now to receive your free copy.

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:

• An improved improvement chart: Minding the straight and narrow
• Quality Quiz: Another quiz from Professor Cleary—and last month’s winners!
• Data in everyday life: Christmas trees

We’ll be sending the newsletter out tomorrow morning, so if you’re not a subscriber yet, subscribe now to receive your free copy.

If you’re headed to Orlando, Florida next week (Monday, December 7th-Wednesday, December 9th) for the 21st Annual National Forum on Quality Improvement in Health Care, watch for me in the PQ Systems booth #801 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 your CQI efforts. 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!

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:

• Minding your g’s and t’s: Charting rare events effectively
• Quality Quiz: Another quiz from Professor Cleary—and last month’s winners!
• Data in everyday life: States that produce the most turkeys
• Six Sigma and more: David Schwinn advises us to lighten up

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

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:

• Little netbook takes on big job for auto supplier
• Quality Quiz: Another quiz from Professor Cleary—and last month’s winners!
• Data in everyday life: Which age group received the most flu shots last year?
• Six Sigma and more: David Schwinn’s thoughts on Ted Kennedy’s death

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

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.

If you’re headed to Grapevine, Texas next week for the National Association for Healthcare Quality’s 34^th 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!

Conference Link:

http://www.nahq.org/conference/

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.