Continuous improvement statistical measures

Statistical quality control is used to first measure and then continuously improve product quality. For example, The Dow Chemical Company s average 1989 performance compared to the typical sales specification were purity, = 99.65 wt % color, APHA = 4 acid (as HCl) = 7.3 ppm and water = 26 ppm. Averages of properties were based on rail car and tank tmck shipment samples during 1989. 

The role of quality in reliability would seem obvious, and yet at times has been rather elusive. While it seems intuitively correct, it is difficult to measure. Since much of the equipment discussed in this book is built as a custom engineered product, the classic statistical methods do not readily apply. Even for the smaller, more standardized rotary units discussed in Chapter 4, the production runs are not high, keeping the sample size too small for a classical statistical analysis. Run adjustments are difficult if the run is complete before the data can be analyzed. However, modified methods have been developed that do provide useful statistical information. These data can be used to determine a machine tool s capability, which must be known for proper machine selection to match the required precision of a part. The information can also be used to test for continuous improvement in the work process. 

Failure modes analysis Statistical process control Measurement systems analysis Employee motivation On-the-job training Efficiency will increase through common application of requirements for Continuous improvement in cost Continuous improvement in productivity Employee motivation On-the-job training... 

The PAT guidance facilitates introduction of new measurement and control tools in conjunction with well-established statistical methods such as design of experiments and statistical process control. It, therefore, can provide more effective means for product and process design and control, alternate efficient approaches for quality assurance, and a means for moving away from the corrective action to a continuous improvement paradigm. 

The management reviews are conducted with a planned agenda to provide direction for the company s quality operations. Input from outside and inside sources are welcome to ensure continuous improvement. The audit findings and areas of quality concern are discussed. It is ensured that corrective and preventive measures are taken on time. The review input includes statistical evaluation of process performance and product conformity. 

Obviously, the quality of intensity measurements in powder diffraction is inversely proportional to the statistical measurement errors and, therefore, it is directly proportional to the square root of the total number of registered photon counts. Assuming constant brightness of the x-ray source, the most certain way to improve the quality of the diffraction data is to use a lower scanning rate or longer counting time in continuous and step scan experiments, respectively. 

Numerous problems remain to be solved before it will be possible to quantify the sensitivity of explosives to impact and friction in terms that express an intrinsic property of the chemical substances. The need for more refined tests, a better understanding of the phenomena that occur during the test procedures, and improved statistical approaches to the treatment of low-probability events are paramount requirements for more meaningful data. Even then it will continue to be difficult to relate measurements in laboratory apparatus to the conditions encountered in the industrial handling and field utilization of azides. 

A quasi steady-state solution for the tracer distribution in a soilpolutnn has been developed for the inlet boundary concentration being a constant plus a Sinusoidal component. Then an unsteady state solution for tracer distribution a soil column was developed for the same inlet boundary condition as above. The unsteady-state tracer concentration distribution applies to the section of a soil column that still remembers the initial condition. The two solutions may be applicable to those planning experiments to measure parameters such as the dispersion coefficient from tracer tests. A sinusoidal loading of tracer at the inlet boundary may enable one to obtain repeated data traces at the column outlet as part of an extended experiment. Continued collection of tracer concentration vs. time data at the column outlet over a number of periods would enable one to collect data from repeated experiments, for each period of the sine wave would represent another experiment. This should enable one to obtain more replicates of data to improve statistical estimates of the dispersion coefficient than could be obtained by experimental methods that use a slug loading or a step change of concentration at the column inleL"... 

Teamwork with employees, suppliers, and customers Employee involvement and satisfaction Continuing training for all Statistical measurement of progress Continuous quality improvement Benchmarking against the best in class... 

TQM utilizes statistics to monitor variation and deviation from specification limits. Statistical data is the basis for measuring nonconformance incidents, problem solving, and continuous improvement initiatives. 

To summarize, TPM is a factory-wide continuous improvement programme with particular emphasis on changing the culture of the shop floor through improved attitudes and skills. TPM progress is measured by the stages of autonomous maintenance completed, and visible progress is also seen in the higher rehabihty of equipment, reduction of waste and improvements in safety statistics. 

Consider technology and the human interface when designing processes. Study history to ensure that patient safety continues to improve over time. Statistics can help measure the impact of interventions or innovations. Continuous improvement processes shift focus from an individual to a team. 

Electronic dial gage measurements of recession were made on the samples of Tables III and IV in an attempt to verify the results of the relatively new laser-moire method. Although the values found were somewhat lower than those from laser-moire, the statistics of the latter are far more voluminous and the sample area surveyed much more comprehensive. Efforts to improve verification are continuing. 

Drake et al. [122], using a validated quality-of-life (QOL) measurement instrument, assessed changes in QOL for all three U.S. phase 3 studies mentioned above. In that assessment, tacrolimus ointment therapy with either 0.1% or 0.03% was associated with a statistically significantly greater QOL improvement than placebo treatment in adults, children, and toddlers. As illustrated in Fig. 6, the patients preference for continuing on the study therapy supports the QOL benefits of tacrolimus ointment for atopic dermatitis from the patients perspectives. 

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