PQ Systems eLine

February 2005

www.pqsystems.com

Vol. 7, No. 02

Welcome to Quality eLine, a monthly newsletter from PQ Systems, Inc., developers of software products and training services that help organizations improve their processes and products and achieve compliance to standards. This newsletter gives you industry news, case studies, and information about product enhancements and tips to enhance your software use.

In this issue you will find:

DOEpack release supports multiple analyses, mixture experiments--and much more
Quality Quiz: Another quiz from Professor Cleary--and last month’s winners! Plus, watch for video to support quiz response.
Six Sigma and more: David Schwinn urges us not to give up the game
Data in everyday life: State department figures on foreign aid charted
Bytes and pieces: Cities ranked by quality of healthcare; Quality conference gets a new name; SQCpack seminar in Atlanta
FYI: How to check current version numbers and maintenance releases.

DOEpack release supports multiple analyses, mixture experiments
A forthcoming release of this popular experimental design program offers new features that enhance multiple design analysis and offer new approaches to handling analysis. Go to http://www.pqsystems.com/eline/2005/02/doepack.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 Ruth Buell (Danly IEM); Stephen Cody (American Meter Co.); Dan Frederick (Anderson Corporation); Joan Nixon (Wellstar Health System); and William A. Peters ( Delnor-Community Hospital). Congratulations! For February’s quiz question, and a chance to win a copy of both Volume 1 and Volume 2 of Practical Tools for Continuous Improvement (Jackie Graham, Ph.D., and Michael J. Cleary, Ph.D) go to http://www.pqsystems.com/eline/2005/02/Quality_Quiz.htm.

Six Sigma and More: David Schwinn urges us not to give up the game
Bringing about positive change, whether in Six Sigma efforts or community progress, involves small steps to overcome barriers. http://www.pqsystems.com/eline/2005/02/sixsigmaandmore.htm.

Data in everyday life: State department figures on foreign aid charted
With all the discussion about private donations to the tsunami relief victims, the state department figures on total governmental foreign aid are compared here using CHARTrunner. (Data source: http://usinfo.state.gov/usa/infousa/trade/files/98-916.pdf) Go to http://www.pqsystems.com/eline/2005/02/chartsyoucanuse.htm.

Bytes and pieces:

This WebMD article ranks metropolitan areas for the quality of their health care. The best? Cleveland. To read the article and see where your city ranks: http://www.webmdhealth.com/nl/nl.aspx?id=20246480&s=30433&p=liv012005

The conference formerly known as AQC:The American Society for Quality (ASQ) has renamed its annual quality conference to the World Conference on Quality and Improvement. PQ Systems will exhibit at the event (booth #506) that will take place May 16-18 in Seattle. To learn more: http://wcqi.asq.org/
“SPC Using SQCpack,” a special one-day seminar to get users up to speed on SQCpack will include control charts, capability analysis, multiple control limits, computed characteristics, and emailing charts. The seminar is scheduled March 1 in Atlanta and April 7 in Chicago. For more information: http://www.pqsystems.com/training/PublicSeminars/SPCUsingSQCpack.php

Current versions of software: To determine the most recent version of PQ Systems' primary software products, check Help/PQ on the web/check for updates on your program (for SQCpack, GAGEpack, and CHARTrunner). To review current maintenance downloads and version numbers for all PQ Systems software, go to: http://www.pqsystems.com/support/SoftwareUpdates.php