Best Of

Introducing myself

I am a first time visitor, helped aboard by Beth and Eric Gasper. I am digging my way backwards through time to the sale of the first gauge set to Cadillac around 1908 and then forward to the AIAG and their method. This is where Don Wheeler says that he first learned it around 1980 or so. I'm wondering what happened in the 70 years between those two points? Also, I recently came across an interesting article by Jody Muelander that says that we should unify Gauge R&R, SPC and the GUM to support future world wide manufacturing measurement demands. Check it out. Glad to be here!

Stephen Puryear

5

Re: What is the best practice when you have zero defects?

I recently attended an SPC seminar put on by Dr. Wheeler, and one of his personal experiences involved using SPC to monitor a process that infrequently had "spills" of varying amounts. From his book Understanding SPC, "When events become rare, the counts will be inherently insensitive to changes in the process". So rather than attempting to chart something based on a count of your rare events, you may find more success by charting the amount of time, or number of conforming products that pass between defects. These can be done with a t-chart, or g-chart respectively.

Ryan D

5

Re: What is the best practice when you have zero defects?

Thanks, Matt, On what to chart, if I was the employee, I would ask management for their guidance or offer suggestions based on the training I was provided to include identifying the theory as to the "why." If management wants a chart showing zero, then keep providing the chart. I would hope someone in management could answer the question regarding the economics and priorities.

Tim

5

What is the best practice when you have zero defects?

I recently had a conversation with a customer who was collecting defect data each shift and charting it as a percent. The “problem” was that for this chart, she had ten consecutive days with zero defects. The thirty samples (10 days x 3 shifts/day), shows a flat line and no control limits. Since there is no variability in the data, the standard deviation is 0, therefore control limits can’t be calculated. She further explained that they are “required” to chart this data. What would you recommend she do in this case?

I can think of a few options such as:

1. Ignore the ‘requirement’ to chart this since charting this does not add value.

2. Change the time period how defects are counted. For example instead of each shift, count them each day.

3. Show the control chart with no control limits and all of the data at 0.

4. Do something else.

Please share your suggestions.

Matt S

6

Re: Gage vs Gauge - which is right?

So I look at it this way if you are having something measured you are gauging something but if you are talking about the tool it self I use Gage.

Just my 2 cents

Jstanage

5

Re: Gage vs Gauge - which is right?

My co-worker is Gage, and I asked him to use the Gauge in the drawer to measure a part.

TBHill

5

Re: NIST numbers

No, I don't record that number anywhere.

Billsoller

5

Re: Hello from a fellow quality practitioner.

Welcome. I haven't been in the QA staff that long, 5 years maybe, but I'm always learning and never willing to stop learning. I hope that continues with groups like this.

TBHill

6

Suggestions - National Trend Interpretation Standard (s)?

Whether it suicide rates, crime, or GDP, the national media (and most everyone else) concludes significance by comparing two data points. To introduce the fact that there are generally accepted trend interpretation standards, should the quality community advocate for the application of one or more standard (s)? A trend chart would be a "gateway" to control charts (trend charts with control limits). If yes, is there one or more standards that you would recommend? If we had a link to the standards, we could reference the link when responding to misleading headlines. Thoughts?

Tim

5