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SPC/SQC Statistical Process Control (SPC) and Statistical Quality Control (SQC) are the foundation of process improvement. Effectively implemented, SPC and SQC will result in higher quality at a lower cost. Key Benefits Reduced variation in product or process Reduced costs and/or better quality Increased capacity/yield Capabilities MAP has significant experience using SPC and SQC with both manufacturing and non-manufacturing clients. These skills include (1) consulting on applied SPC/SQC, (2) training in statistics, and (3) integrating SPC and SQC software systems. Consulting on Applied SPC and SQC All businesses can use SPC and SQC to better control their operation, and ultimately reduce variation and costs. MAP consultants quickly assess our clients SPC/SQC needs, recommend possible solutions, and lead the implementation. SPC / SQC Training Programs Many progressive companies have chosen to implement SPC and SQC because they know it will ultimately give them a competitive advantage and a return on their investment.  MAP Quality Engineering can assist you in designing your SPC / SQC training and implementation program. Integration of SPC and SQC Software SPC software is designed to provide fundamentally different functionality thant SQC software. MAP Quality Engineering can help you understand these differences and make sure that you are using the best software to accomplish your goals. See the table below to learn more about the differences between SPC and SQC software. SPC & SQC Summary Statistical process control (SPC) and statistical quality control (SQC) software have different, but complementary functions. SPC software enables operators to monitor their process, determine its real-time status relative to specification, and decide when an adjustment is necessary. SQC software enables engineers to analyze their process performance over time and to determine the process specifications necessary to produce product at a desired quality level. The following matrix summarizes some important differences between SPC and SQC:   SPC SQC Answers: What is happening? Why is it happening? Location Used: On-line (on the shop floor) Off-line (in an office) Used By: Operators Engineers, Managers, Statisticians Scope: Limited Variables (process conditions) Full Variables (process conditions, product characteristics) Data: Smaller Timeframe (seconds – shifts) Larger Timeframe (sub-seconds – years) Focus: Reduce Process Variability Improve Product Quality On-line SPC MAP specializes in the integration of NWA SPCx and Wonderware QI Analyst for on-line SPC. SPCx and QI Analyst are designed to provide three important shop-floor capabilities: reducing response delay, enabling predictive process control, and preventing over-control. Reducing Response Delay 75% of the dollars lost, when scrap or rework is produced, are attributable to the delay in responding to an undesirable change in the process. MAP can show you how to leverage SPCx or QI Analyst to reduce the amount of scrap and rework you produce. Enabling Predictive Process Control Manufacturers who use only event-based alarming (example: the temperature is outside of the spec limits or the tank level is too low) are always reacting to an undesirable situation that has already materialized. MAP can show you how to effectively use SPCx or QI Analyst to proactively adjust the process BEFORE scrap is produced! Preventing Over-control The classic use of on-line SPC software is to keep plant-floor operators from over-adjusting their machines. MAP can show you how SPCx and QI Analyst helps operators identify when a change in the process has taken place, decide if action is required, and document process adjustments. Off-line SQC Wonderware has complemented QI Analyst with an off-line SQC product, Quality Analyst from Northwest Analytical (NWA). This combination of tightly integrated products now allows FactorySuite users to deploy focused solutions for SPC and SQC. MAP specializes in the integration of NWA Quality Analyst for off-line SQC. NWA Quality Analyst is designed to provide four important capabilities: Querying data from external sources Quality Analyst is a data-mining tool that extracts data from ODBC compliant databases and supports dynamic data exchange. MAP can show you how to use Quality Analyst’s IndustrialSQL Server interface to query and analyze data stored in IndustrialSQL. Performing advanced statistical analysis Multi-key data sorting and a unique three-way data filter enhances the ability to perform analyses such as Pareto, distribution, process capability, correlation, regression, ANOVA, t-test, and F-tests. MAP can show you how to capture process and product data and to determine the relationship between process parameters and product characteristics, using Quality Analyst. Producing SQC charts and reports Fast, simple charting capabilities allow the production of metrics using: run, probability, EWMA, CUSUM, Weibull, Quantile, and variable and attribute control charts; Pareto and scatter diagrams; and box plots. MAP can show you how to use Quality Analyst Run Files to produce SQC charts, populated with the most current data, with the touch of a single button! Distributing Statistical Information The traditional procedure to distribute statistical information is to have the production or quality departments create monthly reports and send them to recipients in the mail. By the time these reports are received, the data is aged. MAP can show you how to use Quality Analyst Web Server to enable recipients (including customers!) to access the most currently available data, at any time, without bothering the production or quality department.