Key features to look for in a Quality Management System

• Configurable interfaces that meet your specifications
• Integration with QC measurement devices
• Remote testing capability with RF devices
• Integration with plant automation to collect and analyze data
• Browser based entry and reporting interfaces which can be accessed via PC and PDA
• Ability to cross reference QC data with external data sources
• QC data can be integrated with product label printing
• Automatic EDI(Electronic Document Interface) capability for automatic customer reporting/certification
• Visit the Tuppas BlogSpot for more on Quality Management.
  
  
  

  Scrap Tracking Software

  
  
  Unnecessary scrap is a costly for a manufacturing plant. Usually one can not eliminate scrap completely, but understanding the sources and reason for scrap often enables managers to reduce scrap. Without this information, it is almost impossible to trace the origins of the defect components/products. Scrap Tracking Software exists to remedy this problem.
  
  When you can track scrap to non-scrap ratios (parts per million) and view visual representations of your data, you can make informed decisions. The correct plan of action can save a company thousands of dollars. Replacing or recalebrating malfunctioning machines, using better raw materials, or double checking component quality may reduce scrap.
  
  Defect Tracking Software is useful in processes where scrap may be reworked. In most cases such software is utilized by companies that produce large or expensive products. Indicating when a product can be reworked or if it should be scrapped is another valuable prognosis that software can deliniate. High perfomance software is not cheap, but the benefits outweigh the investment.
  
  
  
  

  Quality Management for Manufacturers

  
  
  Quality management is at the heart of any successful, profitable manufacturing endeavor. It encompasses several areas of the manufacturing process. Quality management includes collecting manufacturing data , interpreting the data and then presenting that information in an understandable format so that is can be understood and actionable in a timely way.
  
  Good quality management systems, such as statistical control software, need to be completely configurable to meet manufacturer's differing specifications. It also needs to be capable of connection to a variety of measurement devices as well as easily integrated with handheld devices and other plant automation.
  
  The latest quality management applications can even provide alarms via e-mail or v-mail to plant floor and management personnel when real-time production quality falls below pre-set parameters. The browser-based applications now available also allow manufacturers to create quality portals, where their customers can simply log-in through an internet connection to view certification data on the products that they purchase from the manufacturer.
  
  
  
  

  Total Quality Management and MDA

  
  
  Everyone wants a perfect quality management system, right? Quanlity management systems can really vary quite dramatically. There are many inexpensive quality control, assurance and management systems on the market that can be implemented. But theyquite often come up short when it comes to ease of use and feed back to the customer. I probably don't need to tell anyone that creating a certificate of analisys with an inexpensive QC system can be more than a challenge. Another area where inexpensive systems generally fail is on the data entry side. Most companies and plants for that matter vary so greatly that data entry and duplication of entry is generally a big problem with an outr of the box product.
  
  The down side of creating systems from scratch with a programmer is that the systems become outdated rapidly. Techchnology changes every couple of years and it seems that just as you've implemented your Total Quality Management Systems they become old and outdated. MDA is a technology that is can reduce the need to rebuild quality systems that become outdated. MDA is a technology that isolates business logic from the user interface. In other words, the custome part of the software is maintained seperately from the portion of the system that is provided by the software vendor.
  
  The ability to keep the specialized business practices seperate from the vendors software allows the user to create special features which allow the users to enter data more easily than they can with canned software. In addition, training become much easier. A highly configurable system allows it's users to implement interfaces that make sense in the culture they are placed in. There are not a bunch of options for the employees to trip over that they don't really use. The best part is that when Microsoft decides it's time for new technology an MDA total quality management system can be brought up date without a lot of reprogramming effort.