Quality Assurance Features

Enforces Configuration Management Systems.
Collects & Analyzes SPC data automatically.
Enforces Manufacturing Specifications.
Enforces Operator Qualification Status.
Keeps manufacturing process, procedures, drawings & technical specifications on-line at all times.
Makes quality auditing possible where it was previously a chore.
Easily Configured

Configuration Management

is ISO 9000 compliant and built from information supplied to it by the user. knows nothing about your factory until you build up a list of manufacturing operations that are performed by your shop floor employees. This list holds information like: Charge number, Process/operation #, Revision Level, Default technical specs, Document and drawing numbers necessary for the operation.

As each operation is entered into it must go through a release cycle similar to the release cycle used for paper document systems. The significance of this is that operations can only be released by Configuration Management who has the release code for and the software will only allow for released operations to be included in routings or travelers. Like Operations, Routings or Travelers must go through a release cycle before will allow them to be used on the factory floor. This system of release authorization enforces, via software, compliance to Configuration Management principles.

SPC Data Collection and Analysis

When a process goes unmonitored, unmeasured and uncorrected, very large and unpredictable swings in quality and quantity will occur.

SPC is a key element of and is integral to the way the system works. Engineering Data Collection and Analysis occurs every time parts are processed through an operation in the factory.

From Any Computer on the Network, Engineering can review any chart in real time... responding to alarms and shut downs as processes go out of control.

Manufacturing Specifications Enforcement

Specifications are enforced in the sense that the routing or traveler calls out the sequence of operations that are required to manufacture a product. Deviation from that sequence is not possible without a password that allows deviations. No matter what the operator does, maintains a complete history of the as built configuration.

Travelers have an optional and alternate steps capability. Once past the optional or alternate step, the operator can not go back and choose the optional step without knowing the password.

is flexible in that any operation may be repeated as rework before going onto the next operation. The rework is recorded with the history of the device or lot.

On-line Documentation

Manufacturing specifications are also enforced in that technical specifications are put on screen whenever a device or lot is checked into an operation. The user has the option of printing the specifications if necessary to take back to their work station. They also have the option of reviewing any documentation associated with the operation such as supporting documents and drawings. A nice feature of is that the operator doesn't have to know these document titles intimately. They appear as documentation choices for the operator on check in.

Operator Qualification Enforcement

Operators in the factory are assigned a qualification status for different operations in the factory and will not allow operators to check into operations they are not qualified for.

Quality Auditing

supports a very powerful form on on-line data collection that is associated with the operation. When ever a device or lot is checked out of an operation will ask the operator to input inventory information like starts, rejects, reject categories and rework. This input is kept to the numeric keypad of a keyboard which is easy for operators to master. Once the inventory information is collected will ask the operator for Operational Information. It can be any information that quality, manufacturing, or engineering believes is important. It can be the batch code for a chemical used to clean, etch, cement or solder for example. It can be a list of measurements made on a device or lot of parts. This information is captured to the database and associated with the device and the operation. There is immediate real-time feedback to the operator as to whether the measurements they are entering exceed control limits. These limits are configured by users with sufficient security rights.

There are monitoring screens that can be configured by users to monitor data collected in real time from the manufacturing line. For example a process engineer responsible for circuit board plating can watch in real time the data that a factory floor operator is inputting as they go about their job. The monitor screen can be set up to warn the engineer if data exceeds configurable tolerances. Similar monitor screens can be configured to watch inventory yield data by operation and by job.

Easily Configured

This data collection is associated with an operation on check out and can be changed at anytime. There is exceptional flexibility in the ability of the system to collect data. On a day to day or hour to hour basis it is possible to change the data that is being collected at an operation. If a problem develops with an operation data can be collected for several days to try and correlate it with other operational data from other operations and then changed or abandoned as necessary. This is all possible with out programming and is one of the most significant features of MissionSystems contribution to quality systems.



Integrated SPC SQC is a side benefit of running
Manufacturing Execution Systems.