Simplifies SPC integration with enterprise applications while delivering integration and simplifying the ability to understand processes to support Six Sigma, ISO9000, and Capa
Adept Scientific announces the release of version 6 of Quality Analyst, the comprehensive statistical process control charting and analysis tool from Northwest Analytical.
The flagship product in the NWA SPC software suite, Quality Analyst helps manufacturers understand and improve their processes to increase product quality, reduce defects, waste and costs, meet customer requirements, certify vendors and comply with regulatory requirements.
Quality Analyst 6 enables manufacturers to more easily analyse their process data to identify process improvements and execute quality initiatives such as Six Sigma, Capa (corrective action/preventative action) and ISO.
The new version 6 also includes several key enhancements that further simplify the integration of SPC and process quality data with plant-level and enterprise manufacturing information systems such as ERP, MES and Lims.
Quality Analyst has always been recognised for its ease of integration, and it is even easier now than before, says Adept.
Many of the enhancements in Version 6 were developed for users engaged in corporate quality initiatives.
These include the ability to add assignable cause/corrective action (AC/CA) information to any data point on a control chart and record the identified cause of an exception (eg an out of control point or rule violation) and the corrective action that has been taken to address the problem.
Generate consolidated AC/CA reports, view Pareto analysis and transfer information to other applications via XML.
AC/CA is required in many regulated industries such as pharmaceuticals (Capa), consumer products, medical device manufacturing and food processing.
It also helps to ensure the success of inspection-based programs such as HACCP.
Better access to chart information - descriptive characteristics, rule violations, comments and AC/CA can now be viewed with a single mouse-click, delivering easier access to the relevant information needed to identify sources of variation, diagnose process problems and accelerate the implementation of corrective actions.
More powerful presentation of chart data - communicate more information within charts and present information in more revealing ways to deliver sharper insight into process performance.
A new graphics viewer includes unlimited data points on SPC charts, more flexible grouping of graphics output and reports, user-defined plotting symbols, improved call-outs, comments, direct editing of headers and footers, better font and colour control and point-and-click zoom.
Rainbow charts - configure green/yellow/red zone options on SPC charts.
More graphic output formats - create JPG, PNG, WMF, and BMP files to enable mixed text and graphics reporting.
Automatically export charts to Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and other reporting tools.
Integration of SPC and Quality Programs with plant and enterprise applications.
Other key enhancements address the growing need to integrate SPC and quality reporting with plant-level and enterprise manufacturing information systems including ERP, MES, Lims and SCM (supply chain management).
NWA Quality Analyst is supplied and supported in the UK and Ireland by Adept Scientific.
