In this issue you will find:

• Case study: School district builds on PDSA cycle with 'Can do' kids

• Quality Quiz: Another quiz from Professor Cleary--and last month's winners!

• Data in everyday life: What WILL protect you against mosquitoes? This chart could keep you healthy.

• Six Sigma and more: David Schwinn writes about a new process.

• Bytes and pieces: Information you can use: DATAjogger is your Ôelectronic whiteboard;' a luxury hospital in your city?

• FYI: Software releases updated: Do you have the most current release?

Case study: School district builds on PDSA cycle with ÔCan do' kids This Illinois school district finds that it's not “quick fixes” but permanent improvement efforts using process and tools that bring about positive change for students, teachers, and administrators. Go to pekin.htm

Quality Quiz: Another quiz from Professor ClearyÑand last month's winners! Winners of last month's quiz (and a copy of Quality Gamebox) are James Brown (Steel Summit Tennessee); Adam Bryer (Chicago Tribune); Tom Goodman (A.J. Antunes & Co.); Debbie Meeks (Sentara Healthcare); and Barbara Partain (Los Alamos National Laboratory). Congratulations! For August'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: What WILL protect you against mosquitoes? This chart could keep you healthy. Mosquitoes transmit disease to more than 700 million persons each year worldwide. In the United States, thousands are falling victim to eastern and western equine encephalitis and West Nile virus, also transmitted by mosquitoes. This chart, adapted from Mark S. Fradin and John F. Day, “Comparative Efficacy of Insect Repellents,” New England Journal of Medicine, July 4, 2002, pp.

13-18, shows which repellants are most effective against mosquitoes. For a Pareto diagram reflecting this data, go to chartsyoucanuse.htm

Six Sigma and more: David Schwinn writes about a New Process Six Sigma and other approaches to improvement are enhanced by dialogue that fosters greater understanding of others and of the improvement itself. To read more, go to sixsigmaandmore.htm

Bytes and pieces: Information you can use:

• Your whiteboard may become obsolete! DATAjogger, a software program that will be the 'electronic whiteboard' for your team projects, will be available soon from PQ Systems. DATAjogger offers easy-to-use templates for the tools you need, and is so easy to use that anyone can start creating charts, recording brainstorms, or charting process flow without any preparation. In the coming weeks, you'll be able to download a copy to use for 30 days without charge, at http://www.datajogger.com Ask about our unbelievable introductory offer: nearly 75% off the already-low price!
  
  

• When you think of hospitals, does gourmet food come to mind? Here's a list of top luxury hospitals across the country, complete with gourmet meals and lots of out-of-pocket expense. http://forbes.com/lifestyle/2003/07/08/cx_ns_0708healthintro.html

FYI: Current software releases: Do you have the most current release?

• SQCpack 4.6.74

• CHARTrunner 1.6.71

• GAGEpack 5.5.7

• DOEpack 3.0.20

• PORTspy 4.6.8

• MEASUREspy 4.6.8

To check current version numbers, go to http://www.pqsystems.com/support/Maintenance_release_downloads.htm