Newsletter
NWA SPC Update: May 2007
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Industry News
Upcoming Product and SPC Training
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NWA SPC Update is a newsletter from Northwest Analytical (NWA), the world's leading provider of statistical process control software. Here you will find the latest SPC news and solutions for manufacturers and laboratories.
Industry News
Northwest Analytical and Infometrix Announce Multivariate Alliance
Northwest Analytical, Inc. (NWA) and Infometrix, Inc. have announced an alliance where NWA will incorporate Infometrix’ multivariate technology in the full range of NWA SPC and Manufacturing Analytics products.
As a result of this alliance, NWA's customers will be able to perform multivariate SPC and other techniques using NWA Quality Analyst, NWA Quality Monitor, and the embedded QAx and SPCx products based on models developed using the Infometrix Pirouette® software. This capability specifically addresses the needs of companies requiring an easily deployed solution to perform real-time and off-line multivariate analysis to monitor complex processes, unit operations, and other areas where multivariate analysis offers a significant advantage over univariate techniques.
NWA in the UAE
Northwest Analytical joined with our regional distributor Intercol to exhibit at ArabLAB 2007, the Middle East’s largest industrial laboratory conference. Jeff Cawley, VP Market Development, presented, “Laboratory SPC: From Analytical Methods to Process Management”. In addition, NWA and Intercol met with the technical departments of the Dubai Municipality Food Control Department, Dubai Aluminum, and Unimix.
Unimix Uses NWA Quality Analyst to Build the World’s Tallest Building
Unimix is the largest producer of ready-mix concrete in Dubai where massive amounts of concrete are consumed in one of the world’s biggest building booms. A major reason that Unimix has achieved this market position is that it has maintained a corporate focus on process management and improvement.
Unimix has been certified to ISO 9001:1994 since 1997 and has recently re-certified to ISO 9001:2000 standards. Unimix uses NWA Quality Analyst to monitor and improve its processes, demonstrate capability to meet specifications, provide quality deliverables to customers and maintain its position as the largest supplier to the tallest building projects.
Because Unimix ensures that its products and services comply with customer specifications and the applicable regulatory requirements and can consistently operate on the massive scale required, they have been the primary concrete supplier to the large tower projects in Dubai. Currently they are the concrete supplier to the Burj Dubai project which will be the world’s tallest building and tallest manmade structure with a final height in excess of 800 m.
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Upcoming Product and SPC Training
Applied SPC with NWA Quality Analyst
June 21-22, 2007
Chicago, IL
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Product and Technical Notes
Quality Monitor Workstation: Network Configurations
One of the strengths of the NWA software suite is the ability of the different modules to work with each other and to integrate with other manufacturing systems in your enterprise. NWA Quality Monitor is the primary data collection and operator/technician interface to the system. Proper configuration of Quality Monitor to your network environment will help guarantee a successful system.
The tech note Quality Monitor Workstation: Network Configurations will help guide you through the process. We recommend you discuss your plans with our Quality Monitor support engineers so that you can choose the optimum configuration.
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Events and Publications
IFT 2007 Annual Meeting & Food Expo
July 28-August 1, 2007
McCormick Place
Chicago, IL
Jeffery Cawley, NWA VP of Market Development, will chair and speak in Session 158, "Taking Safety and Quality Systems into the 21st Century," Tuesday July 31, 2007 from 8:30 AM - 10:05 AM. The symposium is sponsored by the IFT Quality Assurance Division. Cawley’s presentation is "Implementing Next Generation Food Safety and Quality Management Systems."
ArabLAB – Event Summary
Northwest Analytical joined our regional distributor Intercol to exhibit at ArabLAB in Dubai, UAE, February 11-14, 2007. Jeff Cawley presented “Laboratory SPC: From Analytical Methods to Process Management,” a discussion of how SPC is the standard for managing analytical methods and usually performed in the LIMS context. Since the laboratory is a primary "sensor" of many manufacturing processes, SPC analysis of the data in the LIMS enables successful operational process, supply chain quality, and enterprise management.
ARC – Collaborative Manufacturing Strategies – Event Summary
Phil Schreiber, VP Sales and Marketing and George Yost, Solution Architect attended the ARC Collaborative Manufacturing Strategies: Driving Performance in the Flat World Forum, February 12-15, 2007 in Orlando, FL. The conference focused on the problems associated with integrating global scale production and supply chain management. Several presentations further validated and reinforced the NWA Manufacturing Analytics strategy as a fundamental element of success in this effort.
Rockwell Automation RAMBO – Event Summary
Phil Schreiber and George Yost participated in the 10th annual Rockwell Automation Market Business Overview (RAMBO) in La Jolla, CA from March 19-22. The conference focused on collaborative innovation for growth through Rockwell Automation's network – Rockwell Automation, Solution Providers and Encompass Partners.
As a Rockwell Automation Encompass Partner, RAMBO provides a means for Northwest Analytical to further understand how these resources can be aligned to bring quality solutions to meet our customer needs. In addition to the general sessions, Phil and George participated in the Food and Beverage and the Life Sciences breakout sessions.
Food Safety Summit – Event Summary
Jeff Cawley and Dr. John Surak presented the symposium, “Guarantee Your Success, Don’t Just Document Failure”, How to use SPC to manage your supply chain to maximize food safety, quality and profit while reducing risk.
From ground beef to spinach, we have seen the huge downside of supply chain safety and quality failures. Food processors are faced with the continuing challenges of maximizing food safety while reducing production costs by improving throughput, product yields, and process efficiencies. One effective strategy is to improve the performance of the supply chain.
Many customers now mandate their suppliers implement Statistical Process Control (SPC) programs. These programs provide the results of improved food quality and safety while decreasing purchasing costs. Suppliers and customers will not see financial benefits from SPC implementation, if the suppliers feel that all they are required to do is to ship control charts and histograms with the raw product. However, all members of the supply chain can receive large financial and risk reduction benefits if the suppliers actively embrace SPC.
The session examined how simple SPC tools provide the means to develop a detailed understanding of process performance. Case studies demonstrate the role of SPC and Process Capability Analysis to select and certify vendors, monitor lot acceptance and improve food safety performance.
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Current NWA Product Release Numbers
Users frequently ask us for the most current software release numbers so we publish them on our website.
© Copyright Northwest Analytical, Inc., all rights reserved. NWA Quality Analyst, NWA Quality Analyst Web Server, NWA Quality Information Server, NWA Quality Monitor, NWA Quality Monitor Supervisor, NWA QAx, and NWA SPCx are trademarks or registered trademarks of Northwest Analytical. *All other company and product names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of those respective companies.
Northwest Analytical (NWA) is the leading provider of SPC software with more than 50,000 licenses shipped to over 5,000 companies. NWA software is recognized for its ease-of-use and ability to integrate with other software and systems. The NWA SPC software suite includes plant floor data collection and supervision, enterprise-wide charting and analysis, web-based reporting and embedded SPC.
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