My Weblog: Integration of SPC into Q-Pulse Quality Management System Software

Friday, November 20th

Integration of SPC into Q-Pulse Quality Management System Software

Quality America is releasing today (November 20, 2009) the latest versions of our SPC-PC IV Explorer and SPC Explorer RT software packages. This latest version incorporates an easy to use interface for control charting of CAPA (Corrective Action / Preventive Action) records stored in the Q-Pulse Quality Management System Software. This integration will facilitate the on-going management and improvement of your Quality Systems through the following key benefits:

Analysis of key system response metrics, such as Response Time and Cost;

Dashboard display of key system parameters, with drill-down to process level data;

SPC analysis of Supplier batch records stored in Q-Pulse;

Reporting of internal and supplier data in standardized, customizable MS Word documents for internal or external use, such as Certificates of Analysis

pak on 11.20.09 @ 03:31 PM MST [link]

Thursday, July 3rd

Sample sigma vs. process sigma

Is it possible to use sample sigma instead of process sigma to determine control limits?
Ed S.
pak on 07.03.08 @ 12:40 PM MST [link]

Thursday, June 12th

OEE Calculations

In calculating the Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) for a process, should the Performance ratio calculation use all the parts, or only the good or non-scrapped parts for the ideal time calculation (numerator)? If only the good parts, wouldn't this mean that the yield affect on this process is being counted twice, once in performance and once in quality? I realize it probably doesn't matter practically if you keep the calculations consistent, but I think it could cloud the analysis a bit. For example, in a situation where the quality of a process is due entirely or almost entirely to material i.e. the performance of the process may be (close to) perfect. It is also reasonable to assume most or all of the unit cycle time was used on these scrapped parts. What do you think?
Greg D.

pak on 06.12.08 @ 01:59 PM MST [link]

Wednesday, May 28th

Sample Size Considerations

How do you choose a sample size? is there a definite number or does it always depend on the population (# of parts being manufactured)?
In the real world, my boss always told me to get at least 30 pieces, and his reasoning was because it makes statistical sense. I think the reasoning doesn't have much weight. However, it seems that everywhere I worked the magic number is 30
Freddy B., Quality Assurance Engineer III
pak on 05.28.08 @ 12:02 PM MST [link]

Wednesday, April 16th

Fitting Non-Normal Curves to Data

I have a column of 300 numbers that I would like to do a histogram, johnson bounded curve fit, but the chart that’s generated is a normal curve and the program states “the selected region could not be fit into a johnson curve fit” What do I have to do to make it fit? I reduced the number of rows to 100 and it worked, but I need all the data if possible.
Thanks,
Wendell W.
Manufacturing Engineer

pak on 04.16.08 @ 03:37 PM MST [link]

Thursday, March 13th

Analyzing Data bounded at zero

I would like to know how to analyze surface finish in your SPC IV Excel software. I am attaching a sample of data. The Upper Specification Limit for the finish is 63.
Cheryl D.
pak on 03.13.08 @ 12:57 PM MST [link]

Wednesday, March 5th

What does the term "Six Sigma" stand for?

I was just wondering what does the word "Six Sigma" stand for?
Carol K.
pak on 03.05.08 @ 11:27 AM MST [link]

Wednesday, February 8th

Six Sigma in Staffing and Employee Relations

I've always heard about Six Sigma and how important it is for a large business.
As a Human Resources Manager, what benefits can I expect in learning the Greenbelt Certification?
I deal with Staffing and Employee Relations and I guess I cannot see the "bigger picture" from this vantage point in pursuing this.
I would appreciate your embellishing some on this philosophy.
Renee A.
pak on 02.08.08 @ 04:03 PM MST [link]

Wednesday, January 25th

Six Sigma in Informations Systems

I would appreciate your help in directing me towards the literature on the uses of Six Sigma in Informations Systems.
MK
pak on 01.25.08 @ 03:55 PM MST [link]

Wednesday, January 11th

Is documentation muda (waste)?

After studying Lean Method, I found that CMMI is somewhat conflicting with it.
There is a lot of processes that CMMI requires and don't contribute to any value
to customers, especially documentation. That is also the area that a lot of SW
engineers complaint about. To work on documentation, it really increase the cycle
time or the project completion time. But from CMMI's point of view, it is very necessary
because if there is no documentation, it would become nightmare for maintenance.
May be this is not a direct value to customers. Instead, it is indirect value. Or
can I say it is type 1 Muda?
Ed C.

pak on 01.11.08 @ 03:52 PM MST [link]

Wednesday, December 20th

Six Sigma's 1.5 Sigma Shift

I am still puzzled by the 1.5 sigma shift.
Are you saying that the field survey, field data, field statistics are all different from internal survey,
internal data and internal statistics? And that difference is about 1.5 sigma shift. Are there
reasons for this shift? Is this the reason that process improvement has to base on customer's
input, i.e. the receiver of the output of a process so the 1.5 sigma shift can be covered?
Ed C.
pak on 12.20.07 @ 03:47 PM MST [link]

Wednesday, November 27th

Difference between TQM & Six Sigma

I taught TQM for 3 years. How is this different? It looks very similar to me.
Sandy S.
pak on 11.27.07 @ 01:56 PM MST [link]

Wednesday, November 09th

Example Sigma Levels

We are working to implement Six Sigma, and would like to use your diagram to better explain it to upper management. We just want to fully understand what the sigma levels represent. I have attached a copy of the diagram.

My specific questions are 1) is this actual data or illustrative? 2) what does the bogey golf number represent? 3) what about the airline fatality (is that plane crashes, individual fatalities, etc.)
pak on 11.09.07 @ 11:14 AM MST [link]

Wednesday, October 27th

6 Sigma vs. Control Charts based on 3 Sigma Limits

The regular quality control chart usually uses 3 sigma for upper and lower limits.
The chances that the defect falls outside the limits are 0.26%, i.e. 99.74% of the
output falls inside the limits. But if we look at the theory of six sigma, the defect
rate at 3 sigma is 6.68% assuming normal distribution with upper and lower limits.

Why such a big discrepancy?

Ed C.
pak on 10.27.07 @ 01:56 PM MST [link]

Wednesday, October 13th

Example Sigma Levels

Friday, September 28th

Six Sigma in Healthcare

Is this Six Sigma philosophy something that could be translated over to the mental health field?
Margaret J.
pak on 09.28.07 @ 04:14 PM MST [link]

Friday, September 7th

Fixed or Varying Subgroup Sizes for X-Bar charts

We have series of individual voltage measurements taken on our sensors during testing. The sensors can be grouped into batches with varying batch size. How best can we monitor batch to batch variations across batches with varying batch size? All SPC software we find are restricted by fixed sub-group sizes which prohibit the calculation of our batch means.
Richard T., Product Assurance Engineer

pak on 09.07.07 @ 04:11 PM MST [link]

Friday, August 17th

Process Capability for Non-Normal Data Cp, Cpk

How is process capability (Cp, Cpk) estimated for non-normal data?
Andy
pak on 08.17.07 @ 04:08 PM MST [link]

Wednesday, July 27th

Converting DPMO & Sigma Level

How do you covert DPMO to sigma level and sigma level to DPMO?

Al F.
pak on 07.27.07 @ 01:56 PM MST [link]

Wednesday, July 13th

6 Sigma and Software CMM

I am working as CMM/CMMI consultant and find that six sigma may complement CMMI
level 4 and level 5 implementations. Would you agree?

Ed C.
pak on 07.13.07 @ 01:56 PM MST [link]

Quality America Weblog

Integration of SPC into Q-Pulse Quality Management System Software

Sample sigma vs. process sigma

OEE Calculations

Sample Size Considerations

Fitting Non-Normal Curves to Data

Analyzing Data bounded at zero

What does the term "Six Sigma" stand for?

Six Sigma in Staffing and Employee Relations

Six Sigma in Informations Systems

Is documentation muda (waste)?

Six Sigma's 1.5 Sigma Shift

Difference between TQM & Six Sigma

Example Sigma Levels

6 Sigma vs. Control Charts based on 3 Sigma Limits

Example Sigma Levels

Six Sigma in Healthcare

Fixed or Varying Subgroup Sizes for X-Bar charts

Process Capability for Non-Normal Data Cp, Cpk

Converting DPMO & Sigma Level

6 Sigma and Software CMM