A complete Quality Information System
Dave Woodward,
NWA Product Manager
In the last edition of TCM we announced the much anticipated addition of Northwest Analytical's real-time statistical analysis tool NWA Quality Analytics Server (QAS) to their well established portfolio of software. Six months on, Northwest Analytical (NWA) are in the spotlight once more thanks to the addition of their new suite of Database Management Utilities which make it easier than ever to implement a complete Quality Information System (QIS).
Most companies struggle with one or more of the following elements, however we frequently find that the main issue is normally with reliable and accurate data collection which is of course the principle building block upon which
data analysis and data sharing rely.
1. DATA COLLECTION
Whatever your industry you will be able to record data at various points throughout your process. For the majority of our customers currently using paper or Excel based systems we recommend the use of NWA Quality Monitor which is specifically designed to replace the paper form and ensure that the right information is collected from the shop floor or laboratory. NWA Quality Monitor sends data to central database so it can be utilised throughout your organisation.
2. DATA ANALYSIS
The process by which data from your shop floor is used to create control charts and statistics to show the efficiency of your production. With the ability to generate reports and statistics at the click of a button NWA Quality Analyst is trusted by Quality Managers world wide to show them the true meaning of their production data.
3. DATA SHARING
Using the analytical engine of NWA Quality Analyst, both NWA Quality Analytics Server and NWA Quality Analyst Webserver can be used to share process information throughout your organisation. NWA Quality Analytics Server will monitor the shop floor data in real-time and notify you as soon as a specification, control or pattern violation has taken place giving you the opportunity to record the cause of the problem and the solution which was applied. NWA Quality Analyst Webserver is the ideal tool for sharing key process information on your company intranet or internet site
Regardless of your industry the benefits of implementing a Statistical Process Control system remain the same. Costs can be cut, the product can be made more efficiently and you can collect real data relating to your process in order to make informed business decisions.
As a Quality Manager or Managing Director you may have identified the need for a quality information system and should certainly consider NWA Quality Monitor to replace your existing paper or Excel methods of data collection. However the core of any quality system is the database which houses the information as this is where the other components of your system will draw their data. By utilising Northwest Analytical’s new Database Management Utilities you not only guarantee that your database structure is correct but you also make it easier to design data entry screens in NWA Quality Monitor and create SPC analysis files for use with NWA Quality Analyst, NWA Quality Analyst Webserver and NWA Quality Analytics Server. Another important benefit of these tools is that you do not need to understand complex database theory in order to store, retrieve and analyse information from different parts of your process. This results in a faster implementation of SPC and therefore a quicker return on your software investment.
Using the new NWA Database Management Utilities makes implementation of a complete SPC data collection and analysis system as easy as:
A. Install the NWA Database Management Utilities and connect them to a new SQL or Oracle database
B. Plan and define all the data you want to record e.g. subgroups, alpha and numeric data from each part of your process
C. NWA’s Database Management Utilities create your initial NWA Quality Monitor and NWA Quality Analyst files at the click of a button
The resulting files will store your shop floor data in a robust “SPC aware” database and allow you to cherry-pick the data for analysis and sharing, regardless of which part of your process generates the information. Having used the new Database Management Utilities myself for a consultancy project in conjunction with one of our larger customers I can testify to their ease of use and long term value.
This latest addition to the NWA suite works in conjunction with all of the other NWA products and is compatible with Oracle and SQL Server. In short, the use of NWA’s Database Management Utilities makes the Quality Manager's vision of a complete quality information system an obtainable yet easy to configure reality.
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