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:

• Fall Festival of Training: Focused learning, choice of options
• Health care update: Joint Commission will assess performance data
• Data from everyday life: Are gas prices really out of control?
• Quality Quiz: Another quiz from Professor Cleary--and last month's winners!
• Six sigma and more: David Schwinn discusses what's really important to top managers
  

Fall Festival of Training: Focused learning, choice of options
With options for learning about capability analysis, GAGEpack, DOEpack, CHARTrunner, and SQCpack, three-day marathon gives hands-on, focused learning opportunities. For more, go to fallfestival.htm.

Health care update: Joint Commission will assess performance data
Control charts and other data analysis tools will assume an even higher profile in health care, as the Joint Commission begins looking at the way performance measurement data is analyzed. For more, go to healthcare.htm.

Data from everyday life: Are gas prices really out of control?
When you go to the gas pump and fill your tank, you are convinced that the system is out of control. Is this consistent with statistical analysis, or just an expression of sticker shock? See how CHARTrunner sorts out gas price data for the last year. The first chart (64K) shows gas prices over the last decade. The second chart (58K) provides a closer looks at gas prices over the last 24 months. 

Quality Quiz: Another quiz from Professor Cleary--and last month's winners!
Winners of last month's quiz (and a copy of Quality Gamebox) are: Anita Alexander (B.F.I.); Carol Alford (Cambridge Stampings, Inc.); Kevin Baird (Suspa, Inc.); Sylvie Doyon (H.B. Fuller); Jim Kenyon (Bristol-Myers Squibb); Scott Lasater (General Electric Industrial Systems); Christine Lawson (Bergstrom, Inc.); Chris Sharp (Lithonia Lighting); Butch Wilhoit (Boston Scientific Corp.); and D.L. Winegar (Flowserve Corp.). Congratulations!

And now for August'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 to win a free copy of Quality Gamebox.

Last month, your quality manager was exulting about a chart with seven ranges below R-bar. This month, undaunted by the fact that he was wrong about resetting the control limits, he's excited about a printout that shows a Cpk of 2.0. He says that there have been some problems maintaining control on line #5, but assures you that there's nothing to worry about, and that line #5 should be rewarded with jelly donuts the same way line #6 was rewarded last month.

Should you have confidence in your quality manager's assessment about the Cpk value? Should you invest in donuts?

Six sigma and more: David Schwinn discusses what's really important to top managers
Making a profit is, of course, critical to a company's management. What other factors are close to your boss's heart? These may be the key to committing to Six Sigma efforts. Find this month's column at Six sigma and more.htm.

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