April 2002

Vol. 4, No. 4

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.

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In this issue you will find:

SQCpack 2000 release offers e-mail alarms, real-time charting
A new version of the popular SPC software program, SQCpack 2000, provides not only real-time charting capability, but e-mail alarms for out-of-control conditions. Real-time charting, according to PQ Systems development manager Steve Daum, "moves SPC closer to the manufacturing process and simultaneously makes information readily available beyond the plant floor." To learn more, go to sqcpack.htm

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 Barney Acre (Briggs & Stratton); Jeff Copeland (Alcan Cable); Jeff Ely (Intel); Barbara Key (Mettler-Toledo Process); and Craig Smiley (Krazy Glue). Congratulations! For April's quiz question, and a chance to win a copy of this fun, interactive teaching tool, go to Quality_Quiz.htm
Data in everyday life: 
When you pay your taxes this month, you have paid your share of the national expenses, but not all of these expenses. What are other sources of tax revenue that keep government wheels spinning? Go to chartsyoucanuse.htm 


Six Sigma and more: 
 David ruminates on Deming's responses to Six Sigma principles.Go to sixsigmaandmore.htm


Making the Transition from QS-9000 to ISO/TS 16949
According to Quality Digest's Inside Quality, ever since the first edition of ISO/TS 16949 was released, automotive suppliers have wondered if it would eventually replace the Big Three's QS-9000 requirement. Faced with the very real possibility that they might be required to register to ISO/TS 16949, automotive suppliers would be well-advised to take a serious look at how they might begin the transition from QS-9000 to ISO/TS 16949. Learn more at http://www.insidequality.wego.net/?v2_group=0&p=5228&ct=cdisplay&nt
=true&cd_eid=4546&JServSessionIdproduction=1fasjjbmi1

Books and videos:
For sources of information about Six Sigma, visit www.patonpress.com, which offers books and videos for the beginner as well as those with more advanced understanding of the approach.

Baldrige Award winners beat the S & P: News from ASQ
At the March 7 presidential ceremony honoring the recipients of the 2001 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, U.S. Commerce Secretary Don Evans announced the "Baldrige Index" had once again outperformed the Standard & Poor's 500. The Baldrige Index is a fictitious stock fund made up of publicly traded U.S. companies that received the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award between 1991 and 2000. To read more, go to http://www.asq.org/news/interest/032002baldrigestock.html

 

Copyright 2002 by PQ Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.