Apr 4, 2012
DataNet Quality Systems, developers of WinSPC® and QualTrend® quality control software, recently announced that a global manufacturer of industrial and automotive rubber products has selected WinSPC as its statistical process control system.
Starting with several US plants, the rollout marks the beginning of a company-wide initiative to implement a unified SPC system.
The $2B manufacturer produces conveyor belts, industrial power transmission products, hydraulics, hoses, and other products for markets such as the military, automotive, and mining industries. With 31 facilities worldwide, the company plans to standardize SPC methods and place a greater emphasis on reducing waste and driving quality across the globe—and WinSPC will be central to jump-starting and sustaining that effort.
The company chose WinSPC as its SPC system because of its ease of use, automated data collection, versatile connectivity, and ability to reduce scrap costs. To track key quality characteristics, the company has replaced paper check sheets and Microsoft Excel with WinSPC’s streamlined data collection capability. This has significantly reduced the time spent on data collection activities and, with quality data now quickly captured and centrally managed, has permitted quality professionals to more easily query and analyze the data in order to improve processes.
The company is also leveraging WinSPC to prevent waste by enhancing its monitoring of production operations. For example, in certain processes that make rubber products, parameters like temperature, pressure, and RPMs are closely tracked. These parameters impact the rubber’s brittleness, a critical characteristic of the product. With WinSPC providing real-time feedback the moment any of these process parameters strays out of control, personnel can take timely action to bring the process back into control and greatly reduce the number of defective units produced. The company has successfully automated the tracking of these process parameters by integrating WinSPC with its OPC-based programmable logic controllers.
The company also plans to use WinSPC to guide research and development efforts. By gaining a bird’s-eye view of each process’ capability, the company expects its R&D team will be able to define optimal specifications and design products that are most efficiently produced by the manufacturing processes currently in place.
Building on the success of WinSPC implementations already completed, the company plans to continue expanding the application of real-time SPC throughout its worldwide operations.
About DataNet Quality Systems
DataNet Quality Systems empowers manufacturers to improve products, processes, and profitability through real-time statistical software solutions. The company’s vision is to deliver trusted and capable technology solutions that allow manufacturers to create the highest quality product for the lowest possible cost. DataNet’s flagship product, WinSPC, provides statistical decision-making at the point of production and delivers real-time, actionable information to where it is needed most. With over 2500 installed facilities worldwide and distributors across the globe, DataNet is dedicated to delivering a high level of customer service and support, shop-floor expertise, and professional Continuous Improvement, Six Sigma, and Lean Manufacturing services.