Integration of SPC into Q-Pulse Quality Management System Software - Quality News - Gael Community
Quality News » Integration of SPC into Q-Pulse Quality Management System Software
Integration of SPC into Q-Pulse Quality Management System Software
Written by PaulKeller on Mon, Jan 25 2010 9:00

In the third quarter of 2009, Quality America released the latest versions of our SPC-PC IV Explorer and SPC Explorer RT software packages. These incorporate an easy to use interface for control charting of CA/PA (Corrective Action / Preventive Action) records stored in Q-Pulse. 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

Statistical process control (SPC) is an analytical statistical method (i.e. applied to processes rather than populations) of using past experience to predict how a process will vary in the future. An SPC control chart provides a means of differentiating between common causes of variation that are systemic in nature and those special causes of process variation that require immediate action to prevent process instabiliy. SPC has broad application to all processes and industries:

  • To Monitor Processes:
    • To verify process stability;
    • To verify customer requirements met;
  • To Estimate Process Potential:
    • To baseline before Six Sigma project improvements / CAPA analysis;
    • To estimate/verify results of improvement effort;
  • To Predict Performance:
    • To budget resources to maintain commitments
    • To Improve Processes
    • To identify & remove special causes
    • To identify & reduce common cause (DOE)

As such, our SPC software provides a critical link between operational data and functions and the reaction and support of these data and functions through the Q-Pulse QMS.

In the coming weeks and months I will provide details and examples of how this interface is designed and used by our customer base. I will also share our development plans for this interface, most notably the ability to create Q-Pulse CAPA records from within the SPC software as a result of a process anomoly (such as out of spec or out of control condition).

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About the author, PaulKeller

Paul Keller, Vice President, is a Senior Consultant with Quality America, Inc. Paul has developed and implemented successful Six Sigma and Quality Improvement programs in service and manufacturing environments. Paul has been with Quality America since 1992, where he has:
  • Developed and managed systems for overall operations, including quality improvement, product development, partner relations, marketing, sales, order fulfillment and technical support.
  • Provided primary statistical expertise to our customer base, as well as internal Software Development, Sales and Technical Support teams.
  • Developed and implemented Six Sigma related courses, including Quality Management, Statistical Process Control (SPC), and Designed Experiments, to hundreds of our companies in a wide variety of industries including Roche Pharmaceuticals, Core3 Inc. Business Process Outsourcing, US Army, MacDermid Printing Solutions, Boeing Satellite, Dow Corning, Antec, Pfizer, Warner Lambert, and many others.

Paul has authored a number of well-received publications, including:

  • 2009: Co-authored 3rd edition Six Sigma Handbook, New York: McGraw Hill.
  • 2005: Author Six Sigma Demystified, New York: McGraw Hill. (Over 35,000 copies sold to date).
  • 2003: Technical Editor Quality Engineering Handbook, Tucson: QA Publishing, LLC.
  • 2002: Contributing Author Manufacturing Handbook of Best Practices, Boca Raton: St. Lucie Press.
  • 2001: Author Six Sigma Deployment, Tucson: QA Publishing, LLC.
  • 2001: Co-author Six Sigma Study Guide, Tucson: QA Publishing, LLC.
  • 2000: Contributing Author Handbook for Quality Technicians and Mechanical Inspectors, Tucson: QA Publishing, LLC.
  • 2000: Contributing Author Handbook for Quality Management, Tucson: QA Publishing, LLC.
  • 1992-present: Numerous articles in professional trade magazines,conference proceedings, and Quality America's Knowledge Center.

    Before launching Quality America's training and consulting business in 1992, Paul specialized in Quality Engineering in the Masters Program at the University of Arizona. He applied these techniques as a Quality Manager for a consumer goods manufacturer (1990-1992), and an SPC Director at an industrial products manufacturer (1987-1990). In these roles, he developed company-wide Quality Systems to meet the demands of a diverse customer base, including the automotive and aerospace industries.

    Paul is currently active in Six Sigma training and consulting through Quality America and Gatlin Education. Paul may be reached via e-mail

2 responses to Integration of SPC into Q-Pulse Quality Management System Software

Kevin Price wrote re: Integration of SPC into Q-Pulse Quality Management System Software
on Thu, Mar 18 2010 17:43

Paul - we would like to use Q-Pulse as a system to collect on going process defects.   Allowing operator to access system an log in defect type and cause codes.  Does Q-Pulse work as an operational process improvement tool?

Duane Dorman wrote re: Integration of SPC into Q-Pulse Quality Management System Software
on Tue, Mar 23 2010 18:05

Dear Kevin,

The product and process as described in the above article by our V.P. Paul Keller on Q-Pulse-SPC integration was based on requirements from inquiries very much like yours.

The requirement to methodically capture, track, and report NC defects from various sources such as internal and supplier inspections, and other areas  critical to quality and ongoing process improvement was a very common requirement and thread that ran through many online meetings discussing Q-Pulse with Quality teams.

Many times we found clients who had in depth NC inspection process's including multiple custom forms (Paper Forms, Excel, Access DB) that created difficulties in obtaining real time critical analysis data, and increased  time and labor costs in capturing and consolidating data. The challenge was to centralize data input, as well as provide flexible analysis and reporting capabilities for management

Our SPC software integration with the Q-Pulse CAPA module provided the necessary component for easy to use data input via keyboard, or 3rd party data sources as well as powerful output via custom reports, real time process monitoring, and other critical management tools.

Our most complete QMS solution includes the new Q-Pulse IMS edition, which provides the means for clients to create custom forms without restrictions to capture various  NC occurrences as well as expanded safety and risk management features. Our phase II integration includes a configurable interface to capture data within the Occurrence module (custom forms) providing key analysis and reporting capabilities as outlined previously

Please advise if we can be of further assistance, or answer any other questions.

Thank you,

Duane

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