InfinityQS Real-time SPC Software: Frequently Asked Questions

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Frequently Asked Questions

Note and Comment Fields
Q:	Does InfinityQS allow for comment fields to any data entered?
A:	Yes. You may enter Assignable Cause Codes (ACCS) and Corrective Action Codes (CACs) as well as enter free-form comment fields for any subgroup of data. Once entered, these comments show up in real time right on the control chart. You do not have to double-click a subgroup or go to another window to see the comments. Instead, InfinityQS displays displays the comments, ACCs and CACs on the control chart in plain view of the user.

Creating SPC Projects
Q:	Can I create an SPC project that can be used for multiple machines and products?
A:	Yes, if the same number test features are being monitored for each part and process.

Q:	Should I save my project to the local drive on my computer or to a drive on the server?
A:	You can save to either location. But, by saving the project to the server it can be used by more then one computer. InfinityQS allows you to open the same project on multiple computers.

Custom Screens
Q:	Does InfinityQS allow users ability to build custom screens?
A:	Yes. Users can specify headers, reports, and other graphical/data display options for each and every chart.

Time/Date Stamping
Q:	Does your application automatically time/date stamp all data?
A:	Yes. We can optionally allow users to enter their own time/date stamp. This is useful when entering historical data and when InfinityQS is not used to gather data from the shop floor in real time.

Q:	Does InfinityQS have the ability to alter the time/date fields on entered data?
A:	Yes. Subgroup time can be manually input or based off of the system clock. This option is user definable.

Automatic Updating in Real time
Q:	How often do control charts update?
A:	All charts used within InfinityQS are updated in Real-time.

Q:	Are capability statistics (Cpk, Cp) available real time?
A:	Supported process capability and performance indices are update in Real-time.

Recalculating Control Limits
Q:	Does InfinityQS allow recalculation of control limits when a process changes?
A:	Control limits are specified for each unique part/process/test feature combination and include an effective date/time. As process changes new control limits can be established with an effective date and time.

DDE Setup
Q:	I'm running a background DDE for data entry with no operator intervention; can more than one data entry configuration be open at once?
A:	Yes/No. You can create two data entry configurations and link them both to the background DDE (Dynamic Data Exchange) application. Once a DDE value is sent, the appropriate data entry sequence begins and MUST be completed before the other sequence can kick in. The DDE value sent for the second configuration while the first is still active are not lost, however. The software maintains them in an internal buffer, and once the first data entry sequence concludes, the second one automatically kicks and is populated with these buffered values. (For more Information please see your Knowledge Base)

Security Features
Q:	How are different levels of access to the SPC data controlled?
A:	InfinityQS has system-specific security features as well as security features that are unigue to the application. Security groups are specified with the same privileges. Employees are granted the particular group of privileges, or privileges can be specified as unique to the individual.

Software Maintenance
Q:	Is downtime required for periodic maintenance to InfinityQS?
A:	No. The only reason downtime would be required is if you, as administrator of the system, wanted to upgrade your InfinityQS software to a newer version.

Relational Database
Q:	Does InfinityQS utilize a relational database?
A:	Yes, InfinityQS will use any ODBC compliant database you wish to use.

Input From Gages
Q:	Will InfinityQS accept input from various gages (caliper, scale, etc...) as well as other devices such as CMMs?
A:	Any and all gages, scales, even custom test stands, comparators and unigue collection devices. By using out Installable Equipment Driver. InfinityQS can even collect data from devices that write their data to files residing on a shared drive.

Q:	Does InfinityQS have an intergrated gauge interface feature?
A:	Yes. Built-in, not an add-in with additional cost.

Attribute and Variable Data
Q:	Does InfinityQS retrieve attribute and variable data on same screen?
A:	Yes. We can display multiple charts, graphs, report, etc. on the same screen. We can even enter both variables and attributes data in a single data entry and, of course, do it in real-time.

Foreign Languages
Q:	What foreign languages are support by InfinityQS and can I use multiple languages?
A:	Yes, InfinityQS supports Spanish, German, French, Portuguese. Note: All languages are database, user configurable and extendable. It is not only possible but actually simple for a user to develop a company specific language.

Automatic Notification
Q:	Does InfinityQS software provide automatic notification features?
A:	Any alarm violation can trigger Process Event records to be recorded. These events can cause email notification to be sent to a user specified list based on Part+Process+Test options.

Q:	Does InfinityQS display alarms in real-time?
A:	Yes. InfinityQS can alarm on all Western Electric statistical alarms, as well as non-statistical alarms such as: Disabled subgroup, out of specification and bad subgroup size. Additionally, you edit the default alarm rules as well as create your own custom alarms rules. All alarm rules are customizable. Up to 32 unique rules can be enabled.

Q:	Does InfinityQS notify operators in real-time when checks are required to be done?
A:	Yes, If the operator is supposed to take data at a certain time, InfinityQS can remind them with a "sampling period" requirement. But, if the operator does not enter data within the specified time window, then InfinityQS can optionally send a sampling period violation (process action) to the database, send an email(s), and optionally lock out the operator from further data collection until an ACC and a CAC have been identified.

Supporting Six Sigma
Q:	Can InfinityQS software support an organization through "SIX SIGMA"
A:	Yes, InfinityQS can support a 6 Sigma implementation. Listed below are some supported 6 Sigma requirements: Control charts for both variable, defects and defectives data. Advanced Pareto Analysis to support defect management, analysis, defect weighting analysis, cumulative defect counts through several process operations. Million-way sorting of defects (by part, by process, by operator, by operation, by supplier, by anything tagged to the data. Easy import and export between 3rd party applications (e.g. Excel, Minitab, StatGraphics, JMP, Statisticia). InfinityQS is a widely used by major corporations that have adopted the 6 Sigma philosophy - Honeywell (formally AlliedSignal), Johnson & Johnson (Ethicon Endo Surgery, Cordis), Solectron

Report Manipulation
Q:	Does your application allow easy manipulation of weekly, monthly and yearly reports?
A:	Yes. Each of our charts/graphs/reports can be set up for a particular time/date. So, if you have a Cpk report that you need to have made monthly, simply check the time/date window option of Previous Month (or Current Month, etc.). This will create a Cpk report for all data from the previous month without and additional interaction from the user.

Entering UCL, LCL and CL
Q:	Does InfinityQS allow me to enter in my own Upper and Lower Control Limits.
A:	InfinityQS is absolutely committed to the accurate and correct application of statistical process control. We are so committed to statistical accuracy that we employ several degreed Industrial Statisticians to work closely with our clients and developers to ensure statistical validity and accuracy. Our commitment to statistical methods and their correct use is why our control limits are created by specifying a mean and a standard deviation (sigma). Why? Because Shewhart Control Chart limits are ONLY supposed to be based on the correct mean and standard deviation for a given subgroup size, n. By requiring users to type in a mean and standard deviation, InfinityQS ensures that the control limits are actually based on this extremely important statistical requirement: control limits must be based on the MEAN, and the STANDARD DEVIATION for a specific subgroup size. A serious statistical flaw of all of our competitors is that they actually allow users to type in control limits without regard to standard deviation, and without regard even to subgroup size. Therefore, these supposed "control limits" represent what? A "best guess" on the part of the user, or maybe they represent the engineering specification limits. Either way, typing in control limits without considering the standard deviation and subgroup size is simply erroneous. It is a violation of everything that statistical process control is about. It might be simple, but typing in control limits is not statistically sound. Those typed-in "control limits" most likely do not represent the actual process variation (as evidenced by the standard deviation), unless the user actually knows what the standard deviation, mean and subgroup size are. And if the user actually knows the mean, standard deviation and n, why would they ever want to type in control limits? If they already know the mean, standard deviation and subgroup size, why not just type them in at one time? In fact, doing this is far more efficient. Think about it. If the user must type in an upper and lower control limit and mean for the xbar chart, they must do the same thing for the associated range or sigma chart. InfinityQS needs, for variables charts, only a mean, standard deviation and n. This is a far more correct, even efficient way of handling the creation of control limits. Related control limits are back-calculated automatically given the mean, sigma and n--even if the subgroup size varies. How could our competitors have made the incredibly serious error of allowing users to type in control limits? Because most of our competitors do not have the depth of knowledge in statistical methods that InfinityQS possesses. In fact, few if any competitors actually employ a statistician--much less several Industrial statisticians. It may be different compared to our competition, but InfinityQS uses a statistically valid and mathematically correct method of allowing users to specify control limits.

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