Quality Progress - American Society for Quality

17325 Top 10 Tips for audit readyness
Gregor Cloerkes
Dec-01-03
Right after I read the article I made two copies and mailed them to colleagues which are
going to be audited next week. The article is helpful and it narrative style invites to read it
to the end. However, after a couple of hours I am s'tarting to wonder if these tips are
focussing enough on the new revision. Don't we have to mention customer requirements,
continuous improvement and process management as well in manufacturing. To follow
these 10 tips seems to be the easy way out.
17313 Re: Letter: Clear Explanation of Split-Plot Designs
John Chakmakas
Nov-25-03
I agree. I thought it was an excellent article. I would also recommend a follow-up on the
analysis.
John Chakmakas
GE Power Systems
17312 Letter: Need Clarification on How Samples Are To Be Taken
ASQ Staff
Nov-25-03
In reference to Forrest Breyfogle's article "Control Charting at 30,000 Foot-Level" ("3.4
Per Million," November 2003, p. 67), I suggest he clarify the how the samples are to be
taken to calculate the standard deviation for the XmR chart for Natural Log of Std
Deviation. These data need to be taken in a manner such that the effects from factors that
are deemed to be common cause of the process are included. In Breyfogle's example
cited in Table 1, which assumes the five samples are taken from the same day (to make
his point re:XmR on the mean), these data would not be appropriate for his charts in
Figure 4 because the standard deviation calculated will only reflect the within-day
variation.
Alex T. Lau, Blending Performance Specialist
ExxonMobil Research & Engineering, AOD/CAAOS
Fairfax, VA
alex.t.lau@exxonmobil.com
17305 Letter: October Issue the Best Ever
ASQ Staff
Nov-24-03
The October 2003 issue of QP is simply superb. I think it may be the very best since I
joined ASQ about 10 years ago. The articles commencing on pp. 27, 34, 41, 44, 50, 59,