Here's this month's issue of Quality eLine, a newsletter from PQ Systems, Inc. that provides industry news, case studies, quality tips, and information about software products and training services.

In this issue you will find:

• Hospital is recognized for quality efforts with help of SQCpack
• Design experiments, predict outcomes with new DOEpack 2000
• Quality Quiz: Another quiz from Professor Cleary--and last month's winners!
• Tech tip: 1-2-3, link! With Excel, Access, and more
• Six sigma and beyond: David Schwinn asks, "Why bother?"
• Learning opportunities: Seminars in capability, New SQCpack seminar date added, and more
  

Hospital is recognized for quality efforts with help of SQCpack.
An award-winning hospital in Ohio relies on SQCpack in its data analysis efforts. Teams have made improvements that not only saved the health care organization time and money, but improved patient service at the same time. Go to hospitalqualityeffort.htm for more.

Design experiments, predict outcomes with new DOEpack 2000
Experimental design methods have become even more critical to manufacturing design processes, especially in organizations who seek compliance to standards such as ISO:9000:2000 that demand increasing attention to measurement and planning data. They also support Six Sigma methods. To learn more about this program, visit designexperiments.htm.

Quality Quiz: Another question from Professor ClearyÑand last month's winners
Winners of last month's quiz (and a copy of Quality Gamebox) are: Garry Allen (A.G. Simpson); Christin Binkert (U. Tsubaki, Inc.); Mike Browna (Penske Truck Leasing); Bruce Crile (Tusco Display); Brent J. Gillon (City of Winnepeg, Property Assessment Department); Jack Gutzdorf (Sunrise Medical); Russell Johnson (Precision Parts, Inc.); Jackie Marable (Tuscarora, Inc.); Jim Walsh (Kansas City Life Insurance Co.); and Teresa Whitacre (CTP Carrera). Congratulations!

And now for this month's question. After you have read the question, click on the response that you think is correct. As in previous quizzes, if you answer correctly, you can register for a drawing for a free copy of Quality Gamebox.

You have a process which is in control (stable), centered on 10 with UCL = 13 and LCL = 7. The output of the process is normally distributed. The sample size is 4. The process has a Cp = Cpk = 1.0. What are the specification limits?

a.	USL = 13  LSL = 7
b.	USL = 14  LSL = 6
c.	USL = 15  LSL = 5
d.	USL = 16  LSL = 4

Six sigma and beyond: Why bother?
In this month's column, David Schwinn ponders the benefits of Six Sigma to an industry user. Go to sixsigmaandbeyond.

Tech Tip: 1-2-3 Link! with Excel, Access and more
Re-entering data is a time-consuming process, fraught with possibilities for error and delay. Use data from your existing database for quick and easy charting and analysis. Read more at usedatawithchartrunner.htm.

Learning opportunities: Seminars in capability, new SQCpack seminar date added and more
Upcoming seminar schedule includes training sessions on understanding capability, using SQCpack (new date!), and managing gages with GAGEpack 2000. To register, or to see a complete listing of dates, go to http://www.pqsystems.com

Watch for PQ Systems at Booth #1024 at Quality Expo International in Novi, MI on June 14-15, 2000. For more information about the show, visit http://quality.reedexpo.com/detroit.

You may remember our feature asking "Who put the 'k' in 'Cpk'?" in the March issue of eLine. The discussion continues. John K. Payson, senior quality engineer at Tech-Ceram Corporation, writes to say that the 'k' stands for Kane, as in Victor Kane, a manufacturing manager at Ford Motor Company and author of Defect Prevention. Our eLine story suggested the name of Michael Kane. Thanks for setting us straight, John.

Copyright 2000 by PQ Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.