Software tip: Automatic emailing in the new GAGEpack 8.5

Posted on April 24, 2009 by Scott Johnson

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

Posted on April 13, 2009 by Matt Savage

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.

M is for monitoring

Posted on March 31, 2009 by Steve Daum

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!

Software tip: Lloyd Nelson control limit option

Posted on March 27, 2009 by Steve Daum

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 gage calibration software release – GAGEpack 8.5!

Posted on March 19, 2009 by Scott Johnson

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!

Software tip: 9 easy steps to creating GAGEpack reports

Posted on March 16, 2009 by Scott Johnson

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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Software tip: Software pricing based on usage

Posted on February 27, 2009 by Steve Daum

Steve Daum

For 20+ years we have been selling our software based on a per-workstation license. The idea is that for each computer where the software is installed, the user must purchase one license. This has worked well and we will continue to offer this option into the future.

One of the trends we are watching is software licensing based on how much it is used. There are different usage-based pricing models but most of them tie the price to how many people use the software rather than the number of computers where it is installed. In the past, the technology for managing this type of license added complexity to the installation and deployment experience. With networks, the internet, and new license tools, the usage-based license model is becoming more appealing.

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Software tip: Direct data in SQCpack

Posted on February 16, 2009 by Scott Johnson

Scott Johnson I recently received a call from Tom who was keying gage data into SQCpack through a keyboard. Tom called because his company was interested in reducing the amount of time that it was taking to get their data into SQCpack. I learned that he was writing down the readings, walking across the plant to the PC, then typing the numbers into SQCpack. There were multiple ways to make their data entry more efficient.

First, I suggested moving the computer to the production area. This was not an option as this PC was in use by the supervisor and could not be moved. My next suggestion was to purchase another PC. This solution was also denied due to the cost. Eventually, the company agreed to move an unused PC from an old production area to the current production area. This move alone saved them a great deal of time.

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Upcoming SQCpack training

Posted on February 16, 2009 by Alison Nelson

Alison Nelson We’re holding a 75-minute webinar, Understanding your processes using SQCpack, this Thursday, February 19th at 11:00am ET. This is the final session in a three-part SQCpack webinar series that teaches tips and techniques to enhance your software use.

Participants will learn how to interpret the following SPC charts:

X-bar and range
Individual and moving range
p- and c-charts
Attributes charts
Control limit options
Special causes and notes
Chart annotation Control limits Histogram options
Cpk, Cp
Ppk, Pp
Dpm Control chart selection Out-of-control tests

We hope all of you SQCpack users can join us for this event!

Upcoming SQCpack training

Posted on February 2, 2009 by Alison Nelson

Alison Nelson We’re holding the second session in a three-part SQCpack webinar series, SQCpack Unwrapped, this Thursday, February 5th at 11:00am ET.

This 75-minute webinar delves even deeper into the SPC tools that SQCpack has to offer such as:

1) Audit trail report
2) Choice lists
3) Named control charts with filters
4) Cpk report
5) Chart titles
6) Control chart annotation
7) Chart workspaces

We hope all of you SQCpack users can join us for this event!

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Category Archives: Software

Software tip: Automatic emailing in the new GAGEpack 8.5

Control charts for monthly presentations

M is for monitoring

Software tip: Lloyd Nelson control limit option

New gage calibration software release – GAGEpack 8.5!

Software tip: 9 easy steps to creating GAGEpack reports

Software tip: Software pricing based on usage

Software tip: Direct data in SQCpack

Upcoming SQCpack training

Upcoming SQCpack training