Quality tools

Process operators use a number of analytical quality tools to perform their jobs, including Flowcharts 

Pareto charts Run charts Control charts Planned experimentation Histograms or frequency plots Forms for collecting data Scatter plots 

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A recent survey of companies in the automotive and aerospace industry found that many companies are unaware of the benefits that can be gained from the utilization of quality tools and techniques. The adoption of BS EN ISO 9000 (1994) and Total Quality Management (TQM) strategies might be expected to increase the utilization of methods. However, the extent to which companies utilize methods is more strongly related to annual turnover than employee count, therefore the use of tools and techniques is dominated by large companies (Araujo et al., 1996). 

McQuater, R. and Dale, B. 1995 Using Quality Tools and Techniques Successfully. UMIST and TQM International Ltd. 

In collecting the data care should be taken to avoid data paralysis (see Part 2 Chapter 14). The various quality tools can be used to prioritize the identified problems and corresponding decisions. As with all data collection tasks, you should show a direct correlation between what you are collecting and the goals to be achieved and all conclusions should lead to positive action, otherwise the effort has been futile. 

The nonconformity data should be collected and quantified using one of the seven quality tools (see Part 2 Chapter 14), preferably the Pareto analysis. You can then devise a plan to reduce the 20% of causes that account for 80% of the nonconformities. However, take care not to degrade other processes by your actions (see Theorg ofcon-staints in Part 2 Chapter 2). The plan should detail the action to be taken to eliminate the cause and the date by which a specified reduction is to be achieved. You should also monitor the reduction. The appropriate data collection measures therefore need to be in place to gather the data at a rate commensurate with the production schedule. Monthly analysis may be too infrequent analysis by shift may be more appropriate. 

Check-sheets - used to tabulate results through routine checks of a situation The further seven quality tools for use when not all data is available are ... 

Quality tools. During the integration project you will make use of a number of different Quality Management tools. Most of these will be used during the design phases of the project. Tools you are most likely to use are ... 

Input status of existing processes status of existing programs and elements need for local customization specialized knowledge and expertise from technical staff, operators, etc. quality tool experience and facilitation skills... 

If laboratory personnel are expected to perform repairs and maintenance, the proper tools must be available. This is particularly true in an educational laboratory, where stockroom personnel have a multitude of repair and maintenance jobs to perform. Only the highest quality tools should be purchased, as they will cost less in the long run. A cheap screwdriver, for instance, will soon begin to wear and damage screws that are hard to replace. It may even slip and cause injury. An almost right wrench will damage nuts beyond use. A cheap wire cutter may leave a few strands of wire uncut, an annoying and possibly hazardous condition. 

Where are quality tools available Laboratory supply houses sell handy tool kits for normal repair and maintenance jobs. They may come in compaifmented boxes or pouches that are easy to carry to where they are to be used. Such organization also makes it simple to spot a tool left behind on a job. Unfortunately, kits are often quite expensive and may contain some tools that will never be needed, or they may lack tools required in a certain laboratory. In such cases, tools are best obtained separately from hardware... 

Of these, the academic environment seems to concentrate on the first two, technical and business. To be sure, for students in technical curricula, exposure to business concepts and training often is minimal. The other two areas, quality tools and people skills, are seldom formally addressed. 

This chapter explains how to use some of the standard quality tools, including ways to describe your present system and methods and ongoing statistical methods to chart progress to quality. 

Other resources include the National Quality Measures Clearinghouse (NQMC). NQMC provides information on health care quality measures and measure sets and includes a glossary of terms and information on how to select, use, apply, and interpret a measure. Available at www.qualitymeasures.ahrq.gov. Ready-to-use quality tools can be accessed via www. qua I itytools.ahrq. gov/. 

As stated earlier, an APR system is a regulatory requirement and a useful quality tool. Knowing how to develop a comprehensive APR system is just the beginning of having the APR consistently support quality activities. APR information must be used routinely in order to adequately monitor product performance. 

The diverse synthetic routes developed to make benzhydrylpiperazines have provided complementary tools to aid in the construction of a variety of analogues. The current routes have also provided high quality tools for the development of efficient manufacturing routes to benzhydrylpiperazines. 

Communautaire. Accreditation aims at the reliability of measurement results and enables laboratories to demonstrate technical competence to their customers. Metrological concepts in food science have become a widely discussed topic over the last few years. Representing the top of the international measurement infrastructure, the National Metrology Institutes (NMIs) have the mandate to disseminate the best practice and measurement capabilities to the beld laboratories (FLs) in their countries. The European and international measurement infrastructure needs high-quality tools to assess the reliability and comparability of measurements results in view of the implementation of EU and international policies regarding internal market activities as well as health and consumer protection issues. 

QC and QA are prerequisites to provide reliable analytical results to customers. Reliability is the key word in view of compliance of laboratories with the ISO/ IEC 17025 Standard. Particularly in the held of trace elements analysis, the IMEP process results in a representative picture of the measurement capabilities at a certain point in time on trace elements endorsed in respective EU and international legislation. The general observation is that the majority of laboratories perform very well or satisfactorily in IMEP, but some have serious problems and their claims do not correspond to their actual measurement capability, regardless of whether they are reference, authorized, or accredited laboratories. This emphasizes the fact that the use of IMEP as metrological quality tool is primarily to the benebt of laboratories. The correct application of metrological concepts such as traceability and uncertainty is the basis of providing high-quality and reliable... 

The introduction of the alloy bronze around 3000 bce led to the production of better-quality tools and weapons. 

In the construction of molds for RIM processing, it must be kept in mind that part quality and finish are roughly equivalent to the quality and finish of the mold surface itself. A common misconception is that because the clamp tonnage for a RIM setup is relatively low, low-quality tools can be used. This, however, is true only insofar as the pressure requirements for the mold are concerned. 

As the mini-extruder must be suitable for many different kinds of plastics, including abrasive and corrosive grades, it is made of high-quality tool steel that has been subjected to a special heat treatment and then coated to make it abrasion resistant and easy to clean. 

Barium XA [Barium]. TM for a product used by manufacturers of high quality tool steels. Eliminates chain-type occlusions and degasifies the steel. 

For quality checks on colour or graphics, controlled lighting conditions are virtually obligatory. Eyeball colour comparison, by trained inspectors, is still a valid quality tool, although colour comparators or densitometers will provide recordable measurements. 

J. Cawse, Application of six sigma quality tools to high throughput and combinatorial materials development. Presented at AIChE National Meeting, November 15, 2000. 

The blade should be fabricated from high-quality tool steel or tungsten and regularly sharpened. Skiving speed should be low and the chuck speed should be in the range of 20-30 rpm. 

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