Does anyone know of a good, user friendly, cheap SPC software for the shop floor?
It will be mostly used to generate control charts.

Thnx.

[This message has been edited by sue_mistry (edited 21 June 2001).]

Sue,

I am assuming by "cheap" you mean inexpensive. We put in a system 3 years ago, after many months of research, and there are no "cheap" systems out there, especially if you want to network your system. We paid 15K just for the site license.

E-mail me if you want more details on what I am using.

CarolX

Sue,

Could you post some more details of what you expect from the software.

-network
-Stand alone
-Operator input
-ease of use
-Interface with Excel
etc...


ASD...

Hello

I am looking for some new SPC software. The stuff we are using right now is pretty archaic (an abacus and a piece of graph paper!). Since I know very little, ok nothing at all, on this subject I was hoping for some input from my good friends in the cove.

We have a small metal stamping shop. We produce small parts for automotive, electronics and maybe soon the fashion industry (the last one is a long story). Anyway, I would like to purchase some new SPC software. But before I approach management on the issue, I would like to have something to show them.

I'm not really looking to be sold anything. I am looking for people in the manufacturing field who are in love with their SPC software. It needs to be pretty idiot proof. Please tell me what you are using, the pros and cons- that kind of stuff.

Thanks muchly!
FG:)

We found PCCTK to fit all of our needs... not as "flashy as stata-matrix" or others I've seen in Q Progress.

Process
Control
Chart
Tool
Kit

Has all the bells & whistles needed to get one on the correct path and is as you say "menu driven idiot proof" programming

Sof-Ware Tools
PO box 8751
Bosie Idaho 83707

Phone 1-208-343-1437

Web search indicated the cost at $399 but I can't be sure that is todays price.

FG -

We are using MeasurLink by Mitutoyo. We selected their system so we wouldn't have any hardware/software conflicts. The system is not bad, but if you are going to network the systems, you will need IT support. Additionally, I have found that Mitutoyo customer support is not on par with their competition. But all in all, I am pretty pleased with the system.

Regards,

CarolX

We use an SPC program called Statimate. Very simple - very cheap - no bells - no whistles. It runs in windows, exports to excel if needed and is user friendly.

There is a full working version around here somewhere for download but if you can't find it (I couldn't with a quick look) e-mail me and I will send you the zip file.

Dave

I'll take another approach . . .

What do you want the SPC software to do?

-Calculate control limits?

-Generate blank charts for use by hand (with control limits included)?

-Generate SPC charts real time?

-Save the SPC data for future analyses? What format?

-What analyses would you need applied?

-Is there any need for "enterprise" software - where access to charts/data is over a network of some kind? If yes, across locations or multiple networks??

-Can charts be done on a local PC?

-How are the data to be "injected" into the software? By hand? tranferred electronically somehow?

Ken

You can try out SPC Work Bench.

It's simple o use.

Evaluation version is available for download on www.symphonytech.com

Anyone have any suggestions on a good, expandable and easy to use SPC software ?

gp,

I put in Mitutoyo's MeasurLink system about 4 years ago.

We picked Mitutoyo for a couple of reasons...first most being there would be no finger pointing with regards to hardware/software compatiability. We use only Mitutoyo equipment for hardware. Second, they hve a program called Process Manager that will allow you to view, in real time, the activities at the different collection stations.

But to adress your specifics...

"good"- I would say it's fair, about on par with any software you will find out there. Support, to put it mildly, stinks unless you are Boeing (their biggest customer).

"expandable" - yes, but not for the average computer user.

"easy" - not bad once you master it.

Good Luck!!!!
CarolX

You should use Applied Stats Software.
Very good

I've used Mitutoyos equipment earlier ( I don't work with SPC these days), and found it satisfactory. Actually I used pen and paper a lot too - It's been a while...

/Claes

Dear Sue,

Try and visit www.symphonytech.com and download a trial working software. i think its simple to use and has all control charting, Process capability etc.

Thanks,

I'd like to hear from the membership any recommendations for SPC software that provides effective graphing, management reporting, ease of use for operators, etc.....

Any recommendations?

thanks

I've used Minitab 13 and found it to be VERY powerful -- much more capability than I have the intelligence to use. It is reasonably intuitive and fairly easy to use. I don't have lots of experience using other SPC programs, but compared to some other software I've used, it is fairly user-friendly. Take a look on their web site www.minitab.com

Ray,

Don't forget to take a look at the capabilities of ubiquitous old Microsoft Excel. See if it will do what you need before you spring for more expensive and complex stuff (maybe you already have).

how about QI analysist ?

Mini Tab is great if they'll if you don't mund the cost. Compariatively speaking (cost wise) I'll stay with Excel.

Good luck with you decision. There are million spc software programs out there.

Jay

:bigwave:

Thanks Dragonar, I'll check em out too!

Hello Ray,

I have been using the MeasurLink system from Mitutoyo for about 5 years. What first impressed us was the Process Manager that allowed you to view the floor activity in real time. Additional plus is when you use their hardware, you have no finger pointing - which we have had with other software/hardware.

Negative side is that if you aren't Boeing (the customer they love to brag about), the support is less than acceptable. But if you have a sharp IT person, they can work out the bugs.

Regards,
CarolX

Does anyone know a good operator friendly SPC software. That can be used on the shop floor by the operators. Thanks for your help!!!!

Please note that this thread is a combination of several (merged) threads. I merged them because the question was basically the same.

I know this is off the original question, but is there anyone out there who has experience of SPC1+ Professional software? Made in the mid 1990s, it has served us well for several years. It is an old DOS based program, which has always been reliable, until we started to install it on a Windows NT system. Several of the screens are corrupted, and we have tried everything we can think of to try to sort it. I wondered if any of you have had experience of it, and how we can get round the problem.
Thanks for any help you can give
John (from a steaming hot UK)