1. SPC stores data in Sets. A set is comprised of chronological streams of data that are collected on the same product, at the same process and location, within a finite period of time. The time period for a set begins when you start a set, or enable it, and stops when you end a set, or disable it. When you collect data in SPC Operator, you must:
a. Select the location
b. Select the product
c. Enable the set, aka start the set if the product was not configured to Auto Collect.
d. Enter the Traceability if it is configured
e. Enter data
2. In SPC Operator, highlight a location, and select New. Then select a product and click OK. The system will display information about the traceability that is to be collected on the product configuration itself. Now it’s time to enter traceability information. The first traceability topic listed is Inspector. Double-click anywhere in that row. Because of the way the product was configured, the system will provide you with a list of Inspector names to choose from, or you can add a name if the one you are looking for is not in the list. Select an Inspector and click OK. The system will complete the field with your selection and add a plus sign (+) besides the topic. The plus sign indicates additional information is available. Click the plus sign beside the Inspector. The system tracks the date and time that traceability item was entered. Double-click in the lot number row. This product was configured in a way that forces the operator to manually enter the number, rather than selecting it from a populated list of items. Enter a number and click OK. Double click in the Operators row. The system will again provide you with a populated list of items. To add an item, click the dropdown arrow and select Add Item and click OK. When the add trace item box appears, enter your own name into the field and click OK. Double-click in the shift row. Select a shift and click OK. Double-click in the Spool ID row. Select a Spool. Double-click in the Material row. Select a material and click Ok. Traceability items may change while a set is still enabled. For example, you may have a shift change and you want to continue on the same set but have the new shift information entered. If the traceability topics you want to change are set as one entry per set, you will not be able to have both items attached to the set. On the upper right side of the traceability and group screen there are several options listed. Here is a description of each of these options.
a. Enable – Enables (i.e. makes available) the displayed set for data collection. This button is available only when the displayed set is currently disabled.
b. New – Disables (i.e. stops collection on) the existing data set, then enables a new set. The disabled data set is sent to history.
c. Disable – Makes the displayed set unavailable for data collection. No further data collection is allowed for any disabled set. This button is available only when the displayed set is currently enabled.
d. Collect – Moves the system screen from traceability to the data collection screen. If the product was not configured to begin data collection automatically, you must first press F8 to begin entering data. In order to use the Collect button, you must first have highlighted the characteristic group or an individual characteristic on the traceability screen.
e. Charts – Moves to the charts screen, where you may display the data set in several different charts, graphs, and report formats.
f. Help - Provides helpful information about fields and functionality within the SPC Operator application.
3. Now you are ready to select the Characteristic Group or the Characteristic for which you want to collect data. You can either highlight the characteristic group or a characteristic, such as length, to start the data collection. Highlight one or the other and click Collect. Now the system takes you to the data collection workspace. The view you see on this screen depends on how the workstation or default workstation was configured. This product was configured with a single sample view; so, the operator would see one data field at a time and a real-time control chart. At times there will be helpful instructions for the operator in the lower left hand corner for instance, when the operator is in the data collection mode the lower left hand corner will instruct the operator how to exit the collection mode. These tips vary based on how the product was configured and what screen the operator is working on in the SPC Operator application. Remember, to select a view you must launch SPC System Setup within SPC Administrator. There you can edit an existing workstation configuration or add a new workstation and then configure it with the appropriate view and locations. Data collection views are specific to a workstation, not to the operator. You will notice that the data collection screen is now ready to have data entered, in the form of inches. The operator is also given the Hi and Lo Specifications, i.e. customer specifications, for this characteristic. Hopefully, the measurements the operator enters will fall within this range. There is also a running tally of which subgroup they are currently collecting data. Enter in a spec. Click the Enter key on your keyboard. If a measurement is outside of our reasonable limits, you will receive a message that says so. Click OK. You can repeat entering data until you are complete. The operator would either click Yes to accept the entries or No to reject the entries. If the subgroup entries are not accepted, the operator can make changes to the data. Once the subgroup is accepted, there is no going back to the same data entry screen. If any of the subgroups fails a statistical test and you are asked to enter an assignable cause, choose any of the causes in the list. At that point, you might also be prompted to add any additional comments about the situation.
4. Unlike variable data collection, which uses measurement values, attribute data have only two values but they can be stated in different ways: Conforming or Nonconforming; Attribute data collection is typically used for recording and analysis. In order to make attribute data collection valuable to your organization, you must develop a specific operational definition of what is nonconforming. It is likely that there are many attribute data opportunities in your organization already. For instance, locations at which existing inspections are performed, write-ups for repair, sorts of rejected material, first-piece approval/first run OK performance, etc. In these examples, the only effort and expense involved is that of converting the data to control chart form. One key benefit in using attribute control charts on key quality measures is that quite often they can point the way to the specific process areas that would need more detailed examination (and possible use of control charts for variables). Attribute data collection is very similar to variable data collection. The operator still needs to:
a. Select the location
b. Select the product
c. Enable the set, or start the set, if the product was not configured to Auto Collect
d. Enter the traceability if it is configured
e. Enter data
5. In SPC operator, highlight a location and click New. Then select a Part number and click OK. Enter some traceability items, then select a characteristic group and click Collect. The top part of this screen provides a summary to the operator that is similar to the one seen for variable data collection. It states the location at which the operator is collecting data; the process the operator is running; the product that is being manufactured and audited; and the characteristic on which the operator is collecting data. This product configuration did not allow for automatic data collection; rather, the operator must manually start the collection mode by pressing the F8 key on the keyboard or by clicking the Collect button. There is also an instruction in the lower left hand corner that informs the operator to press F8 to begin data collection. Unlike variable data collection, the attribute collection screen only requires an entry when a nonconforming product is found. The system will ask you to enter the specific defect and quantity found. If there are no nonconforming products, just click the Accept subgroup button. The data collection box looks similar to this one shown. The first box is where you can specify the defect and the second is to indicate the quantity with that particular defect found in the lot. Click the drop down to receive the defect list. Select one and Tab over and add in a quantity. Then click Enter. The information typed in will appear on the screen on the right. If there are other defects noticed, and you want to add a second row to your data collection box, click the Add Row button again. At this point, you will receive the Attribute quantity dialog box asking you to enter the lot size. It defaults to the value contained in the attributes statistical technique. Enter a number in the lost size field and click OK. The upper right hand box shows you the entries for the first subgroup and the states that the subgroup has been accepted. After the subgroup is accepted, the pChart is immediately updated with the new information.
Also see the video How Do I? - Collecting Data for more information.
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