There is a pressing need for the continual improvement of manufacturing and service processes in today’s competitive business environment.
You may follow the time-tested Six Sigma DMAIC approach (define, measure, analyse, improve, and, control) in any improvement initiative.
For this, you need to …
- Identify the areas for improvement
- Identify the key input and output variables (KIVs & KOVs) that are critical to quality / schedule / cost
- Collect the relevant data and analyse them using the SPC tools such as Cause and Effect Diagram, Pareto, Histogram, Scatter Plot, Control Chart, etc.
- Take corrective and preventive actions to improve the process, and
- Install an on-going control scheme (such as SPC chart or EPC chart) to sustain the improvement.
SPC: Statistical Process control (SPC) is a scientific and inexpensive way to prevent defects. It is an effective check against assignable causes of process variation. You would require SPC tools for every Six Sigma project.
EPC: Once a process is brought to stable condition using SPC charts, Engineering Process Control (EPC) helps in predicting the process performance and pro-active adjustments, thereby reducing process variability. It adds extra power to your process control schemes.
Both SPC and EPC are very essential for achieving the PPM (parts per million) defect levels expected of your Six Sigma initiatives.
In this context, it is very important to provide a statistical software to your personnel for error-free data analysis and charting on regular basis.
Our FBM Tools – SPC/EPC/Six Sigma module is a Windows-based computer program designed specifically for improvement projects, by seasoned Engineer-Statistician experts (alumni of the Indian Statistical Institute).
Let’s take a look at the software features.
Statistical Analysis and Computations:
- Summary statistics
- Run analysis (detection of cyclic variations)
- Process capability indices - Cp, Cpk, Cpm, Cpkm, Cpc (for non-normal data)
- Six Sigma metrics - Defects Per Million, Sigma Quality Level, Yield %
Basic SPC charts supported:
| Name of chart |
Data |
Typical areas of application |
| X - Moving Range |
1 data / sample |
Chemical processes |
| Xbar - Range |
2 - 5 data / sample |
Turning operation |
| Xbar - SD |
2 - 200 data / sample |
Blanking process |
| Fraction Defective (p) |
sample size >= 1 |
Visual inspection (good/bad) of lot items |
| Nos. Defective (np) |
sample size >= 1 |
Visual inspection (good/bad) of lot items |
| Defects / Item (c) |
sample size = 1 |
Visual defects (count) of castings |
| Defects / Unit (u) |
sample size > 0 |
Clerical mistakes (count) in data entry |
Advanced SPC charts supported:
| Name of chart |
Data |
Typical areas of application |
| Short run / Standardized |
Same as basic charts |
For job-shop (small lot production) |
| Slopping / Tool wear |
2 - 200 data / sample |
Where gradual process shift is inherent |
| Six Sigma Process |
2 - 200 data / sample |
For monitoring Six Sigma processes |
| Coefficient of variation (CV)% |
2 - 200 data / sample |
Normally, in textile and jute processing |
| Moving Avg. - Moving Range |
1 data / sample |
When data is slightly auto-correlated |
| Moving Avg. - Moving SD |
1 data / sample |
When data is slightly auto-correlated |
| CuSum |
1 - 200 data / sample |
To detect small shifts in process mean |
| EWMA |
1 - 200 data / sample |
To detect small shifts in process mean |
| UBM |
1 data / sample |
When data is highly auto-correlated |
Other tools supported:
| Name of tool |
Typical use |
| Cause and Effect Diagram |
Brainstorming (cause-effect mapping) |
| Pareto Diagram |
Finding the vital few defects / problems |
| Scatter Plot and Linear Regression |
To study x-y relation between variables |
| Histogram and Frequency Table |
To visualize spread (variability) in data |
| Normal Probability Plot (NPP) |
To check normality of data |
| Auto-Correlation Chart |
To check auto-correlation in data |
| Run Chart |
To visualize trends in process mean |
| Normal Curve |
To visualize variability Vs specifications |
| Poisson Distribution |
To visualize defect data distribution |
Engineering Process Control (EPC):
- Supports Integral, Proportional-Integral, and, Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID) feedback control models
- Draws EPC prediction chart
- Performs process adjustment calculations
Optional Control Chart Features:
- Can draw control charts with lines or colour zones
- Can also draw charts with user-defined limits (process monitoring mode)
- Homogenizes data with user-selected cut-off %
General Features:
- Can import data from Access / Excel / Text files
- Can export data to Access / Excel / Text files
- Supports workgroups & project management
- Includes a detailed user manual (in pdf)
- Includes sample data files for every tool
- Provision for FREE / paid user training on software operations (at our training facility in Kerala)
- Provision for SPC / EPC / Six Sigma training (in Kerala) & e-Consultancy at extra cost.
OS & Recommended Minimum Hardware:
- Operating System : Windows XP or later editions
- Computer : PC / Laptop
- CPU speed : 1 GHz
- RAM : 1 GB
- Hard Disk : 2 GB free disk space
- Screen : Color monitor with 1024 x 768 resolution or higher
- Printer : Color Inkjet / Laser printer
Edition-wise Comparison:
The latest (7th) version of our SPC software comes in three forms, namely, ACADEMIC Edition (single user), LITE Edition (multi-user), and STANDARD Edition (multi-user) to suit the varying requirements of prospective buyers.
We highly recommend STANDARD edition for corporate users, LITE edition for small businesses, and ACDEMIC edition for academic users (professors teaching SPC / Six Sigma, executives preparing for Six Sigma Green Belt / Black belt examination, etc.).
All editions are economically priced, making them very affordable to corporate bodies as well as individuals.
| Particulars |
Academic |
Lite |
Standard |
| Target user segment |
Teachers, Students |
SMEs |
Large Companies |
| Max. records / analysis |
15 |
50 |
10000 |
| Max. No. of data columns |
25 |
50 |
200 |
| Max. No. of Users / Site License |
1 |
5 |
Unlimited |
| Product warranty & support |
1 month |
3 months |
6 months |
| User training in Kerala (India) |
For nominal fee |
For nominal fee |
FREE for 1 person |
| No. of FREE upgrades |
1 |
2 |
3 |
| Migration to Lite / Standard |
Allowed |
Allowed |
Not required |
Product Demo:
It is very important to know the utility of any product before purchasing it. We have made a humble attempt to present two highly enlightening Six Sigma projects (from service sector and manufacturing sector) to explain how could our software be used in such improvement initiatives. Software screenshots in each PowerPoint slide is accompanied by project narrative for easy understanding. A must-see presentation for anyone interested in process improvement !
Please click here to view a PowerPoint demo of the software.
Pricing, Order and Delivery:
Please click on the link ACADEMIC or LITE or STANDARD to visit our e-Shop just now to check the prices and/or place an order. You can either make an instant payment online (Credit Card / PayPal / eCheck / Internet Banking) or generate a Proforma Invoice and make payment off-line (Bank Demand Draft / Check) within 30 days.
In case of download version, you can download the software installation files from our website within six hours of making the payment. (Files compressed in WinZip format, takes just 3 minutes to download).
Price of CD-ROM version is inclusive of shipping charges. Product CD shall reach you within 7 days (India) or within 20 days (other countries) of receiving the payment.
