Blog — Page 23

More posts from the Advantive team. 323 posts total.

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  Jan 7, 2019 · Grace Barton

  4 Steps to Convert from Paper-Based to Electronic Record Keeping

  In the age of electronic data, it’s shocking that 75 percent of manufacturers still rely on manual data collection. While it may seem cheaper to manually administer quality and safety programs on paper, it is not efficient and leaves much room for error. When data collection is not done properly, records can be lost or … Continued

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  Jan 2, 2019 · Grace Barton

  What is GMROII?

  ROI (Return on Investment) is a crucial measure when calculating distribution business investment. Yet, when it comes to inventory, a more specified ROI formula is necessary to ensure you’re actually making money. For instance, most distributors (and their salespeople) look at how much money they make on a sale. While this is important, there’s much … Continued

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  Dec 20, 2018 · Grace Barton

  Why Is Standardization Important? Part II – The Challenges of Standardization in Manufacturing

  As I mentioned in Part I of this blog two-parter, standardization in manufacturing is a dirty word to some folks. It seems “unattainable,” and therefore not worth discussing. But I’m here to say that standardization is attainable, so once again, let’s discuss. For Part II, I’m going to dive into the challenges presented by standardization…and how we … Continued

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  Dec 12, 2018 · Grace Barton

  Why Is Standardization Important? The Benefits of Standardization in Manufacturing

  Standardization. Is that a dirty word to you? Is that something you consider “unattainable,” and therefore not worth discussing? Is standardization the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow? What is it? Why is standardization important for manufacturers? And what are the benefits of standardization for your organization? Let’s discuss. In general, the … Continued

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  Dec 10, 2018 · Grace Barton

  Prevent an Escape with Quality Control in Manufacturing

  When someone says the word “escape,” what comes to mind for you? Is it a last-minute meeting that suddenly “comes up,” allowing you to avoid a visit to your least-favorite relative?  Or maybe the opposite; a family emergency allows you to escape a meeting you were just dreading? Is it the latest fad, the Escape … Continued

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  Oct 18, 2018 · Grace Barton

  3 Great Things About SPC Dashboards in Your Quality Control Software

  Product quality reports are dead; long live the SPC dashboard! Delivering information to the user is key to your manufacturing quality control efforts. I think there are three very important aspects to dashboards that make them invaluable to manufacturers: a visually compelling delivery system, reporting made easy (with the help of a centralized data repository), … Continued

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  Oct 8, 2018 · Grace Barton

  How Can an OC Curve Be Used to Manage Risk of Undetected Special Causes?

  An OC curve allows practitioners to determine a sample size that will result in the detection of those process changes that are of practical significance while minimizing the occurrence of false alarm. When applied properly, SPC provides manufacturers a proven method to increase profitability and achieve a deeper understanding of their processes. Additionally, SPC can … Continued

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  Oct 8, 2018 · Grace Barton

  Where do the typical control chart signals come from?

  The purpose of control charting is to regularly monitor a process so that significant process changes may be detected. These process changes may be a shift in the process average (Xbar) or a change in the amount of variation in the process. The variation observed when the process is operating normally is called common cause variation. When … Continued

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  Oct 8, 2018 · Grace Barton

  Pre-Control: No Substitute for Statistical Process Control

  Unfortunately, applying “simple” tools at the expense of tools with considerably more value (and really not much more complexity or difficulty) doesn’t cut it. Statistical Process Control (SPC) charts allow timely detection of assignable causes of process changes (e.g. shifts, trends, variation). This allows root causes to be determined and allows the production team to … Continued

• Oct 5, 2018 · Grace Barton

  Stanley Black & Decker Produces Saw Blades a Cut Above Thanks to WinSPC

  Stanley Black & Decker, the world’s #1 producer of power tools reported that it used WinSPC to reduce its RPM defect metrics and rework by 20%, attaining its ROI in 6 months. Background Stanley Black & Decker [NYSE: SWK] is the world’s #1 producer of power tools and accessories with well over $10 billion in … Continued

• Sep 13, 2018 · Grace Barton

  What do Costco, Walmart, Trader Joe’s and McDonald’s require of their food suppliers?

  It might be surprising to find out that corporate food safety standards often far surpass what is required by the government (see more about the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act below). With an increasing public awareness of foodborne illnesses and product recalls, supermarkets and restaurants are being driven to beef up their food safety requirements for … Continued

• Sep 6, 2018 · Grace Barton

  Best Practices – Labeling Goods Received

  Labeling goods received is an integral starting point for lot tracing capability.  A question that often arises is, “Should I scan my vendor labels?” The correct answer varies based on a few key considerations. 1. Are your vendor labels usable? Do your vendors label product with GS1 labels? Do you receive catch (random) weight products? If … Continued