The Alerting tab in the Define Characteristics dialog box provides a means of sending message prompts and/or emails when a new observation exceeds a specification value, or a new subgroup violates a control limit or applied Run Test rule in the Work Set view. Its validation feature provides a means of checking that data entered in real-time Work Sets are reasonable relative to expected values for the Characteristic.
Note: The Characteristic Alerting option is triggered when data is entered in the Work Set view. Data entered in the Explorer view, or linked to another data source, will not trigger an alert in this fashion. Instead, you can use the Process Monitor alerting options.
Enable Alerting: Select this option to turn on the alerting function for this Characteristic and allow access to the other alerting options in this dialog box.
Alert Behavior
Note:
1. If no options are selected in the Alert Behavior group and the Enable Alerting checkbox is selected, a message prompt is provided to the data entry user when a new subgroup (or an observation in the subgroup) violates any of the selected Alert Conditions.
2. When an Alert Condition generates a prompt during data entry in a Work Set, the alerting prompt must be closed to continue data entry.
3. Email messages will not be sent unless valid properties are defined for the email server in the Preferences dialog box SMTP / POP3 tab.
Prompt for Assignable Cause: Select this option to require the data entry user to enter an assignable cause when the current subgroup meets any of the selected Alert Conditions.
Notes:
1. The list of Assignable Cause and Corrective Action items (from which the user chooses) is maintained within the Explorer View's Traceability tab. The Prompt… option will not be available for Assignable Cause or Corrective Action if the Active Status checkbox is not selected.
2. The ability to add new items in either the Assignable Cause or the Corrective Action list is a user Privilege.
Prompt for Corrective Action: Select this option to require the data entry user to enter a corrective action when the current subgroup meets any of the selected Alert Conditions. See Notes for Assignable Cause field above.
Prompt for Password: Select this option to require the data entry user to enter their password to close the prompting dialog box.
Send Email: Select this option to automatically send an email when the prompting dialog box is closed (if prompting is invoked). Use the Email and Message buttons to specify the recipients and the message contents.
Run EXE: Select this option to automatically start an executable file when the prompting dialog box is closed (if prompting is invoked). Use the EXE button to browse to the specified executable file.
Email button: (Available when the Send Email option is selected) Use this button to specify each email recipient. Each address can also be labeled using the Full Name (optional) field for quick identification. Email addresses previously entered elsewhere in the database are available form the drop down list box.
Note: If not already defined within the database, you will be prompted to specify the Mail Server properties in the Preferences dialog box SMTP / POP3 tab.
Message button: : (Available when the Prompt for Assignable Cause, Prompt for Corrective Action, or Send Email options are selected) Enter an optional message (up to 100 characters) that will be included in the prompt or email. In addition to this information, the email message will indicate the following information for the subgroup:
Data entry user name
Part / Characteristic Name
Date / Time
Alert Condition Failed (subgroup Out of Control, subgroup failed Run Test, observation beyond specification limit)
Subgroup Out of Control: Select this option to provide the selected Alerts when the current subgroup violates one of the current control limits (as defined in the Define Characteristics Properties tab).
Data value out of Specification Limits: Select this option to provide the selected Alerts when the current subgroup violates one of the current specification limits (as defined in the Define Characteristics Properties tab).
Subgroup Failed Run Test: Select this option to provide the selected Alerts when the current subgroup violates one of the applied Run Test rules .
Range / Sigma Value Exceeds x: Select this option, and specify a numeric value greater than zero, to trigger an alarm when the plotted Range value (or Moving Range value or Sigma value, depending on selected chart type) is larger than the specified value.
The Its validation feature provides a means of checking that data entered in real-time Work Sets are reasonable relative to expected values for the Characteristic. When the entered data values (using either a gage or keyboard) exceed the specified validation values, a Warning message is provided, requiring the user to either accept or re-enter the data. These options are not used for Characteristics when part of an Analysis in the Explorer view .
The tab contains the following information:
None: Select this option to turn off the Validation message.
Within Spec +- n times spec range: Select this check box to use the specifications defined in the Properties tab for data validation. Enter a factor to apply to the specification limits.
For example, if the Upper Specification Limit (USL) is 10 and the Lower Specification Limit is 6:
· a factor of "0" (zero) implies that data is valid if the value is between 6 to 10 (inclusive)
· a factor of "1" (one) implies that data is valid if the value is between 2 to 14 (inclusive)
Within Values: Enter an Upper (High) and Lower (Low) value (both needed).
Validate that Count < Sample Size: (Available for P and Np Charts) Select this option to provide a warning prompt during data entry in the Work Set view if the sample count (number of items matching the criteria of interest; ex: defective) exceeds the sample size. This option is recommended.