What's new in the latest release?

Some of the updates and new features in the release 3.6 include:

• Four new attributes control chart types for overly-dispersed data: In some cases, traditional attributes charts (p-chart, n-chart, c-chart, and u-chart) do not work well because they show out-of-control conditions that are not necessarily out-of-control. When more variation than can be explained by simple distribution assumptions exists in the data, we describe it as overly dispersed.
  
  The solution to overly-dispersed data is prime charts. The p-prime, c-prime, u-prime,  and np-prime  charts are almost equivalent to their more traditional counterparts–the p-, c-, u-, and np-charts. The difference lies in a special algorithm that is used to compute more meaningful and useful control limits that allow you to more accurately detect special causes and react appropriately.

• New statistical test for attributes control charts: If you are using a p-, 
  c-, u-, or np-chart and the limits do not seem applicable, you may want to test your data for over dispersion. This new test helps you decide if you should instead use a p', c', u',  or np' chart (where the trailing apostrophe denotes "prime")  chart.

• New chart type: Stacked bar Pareto: This new option allows you to visualize Pareto charts that show a set of bar charts or a set of column charts as stacked bar charts.

• New options for multi-line charts: New y-axis features and legend options make interpreting multi-line charts much clearer and allow you to more easily compare values that are plotted on differing scales. This new feature allows you to have a y-axis for each of up to ten data lines and improves the legend options.

• Median line option for t-chart and g-chart: t- and g- control charts for rare events become more informative when you add a median line.

• Select from three types of preferences: general, health or manufacturing: Different industries use differing practices for SPC charting. Select a user type, and CHARTrunner will default to settings that reflect your industry's practices. Healthcare users, for example, will see the Lloyd Nelson option as the default setting for various control charts and the Associates for Process Improvement out-of-control test rules will be active. New industry-specific sample charts provided also serve as templates and examples.

Some of the updates and new features in the release 3.5 include:

• Concurrent-user licensing: This option allows you to install PQ Systems software products on an unlimited number of computers, terminal servers, or Citrix servers. The license server then meters the number of users who can concurrently run the software. Concurrent-user licenses give more users access affordably, help eliminate the IT burden, and simplify license management.

• Live online chat with technical support engineer: The 24-hour live online chat feature allows you to get your CHARTrunner questions answered faster and easier than ever. Utilizing our worldwide network of offices, a click of a button will connect you to a PQ Systems technical support engineer that can answer your questions via instant messaging. Simply type in your question and get an answer from one of our qualified technical support engineers. “The live chat/help functionality is great. Keep up the good work!” says Paul Roos of Vale Inco.

• Improved access to context sensitive help: The new help button allows you to access context sensitive help right where you need it. Help buttons are placed on many of the forms used in CHARTrunner and can be clicked to retrieve answers to commonly-asked questions.

Some of the updates and new features in the release 3.0 include:

• t-chart: The t-chart is a special chart for rare events. It is a control chart which allows you to monitor the amount of time that passes between rare events. An example is the number of days between patient falls in a hospital. Since there are relatively few data points, you monitor the time between data points and compute control limits with a different formula than traditional control charts.

• g-chart: The g-chart is another special chart for rare events. It is a control chart which allows you to monitor a number of units between rare events. An example is the number of units produced between line stoppages. Since you have few line stoppages, you monitor how many units you produce between each one. The g-chart chart computes control limits differently than traditional control charts.

• Cpk Advisor analysis: CHARTrunner not only displays the cpk value for any histogram, but also automatically generates a complete capability analysis that helps you interpret the cpk value. This analysis is customized for the specifics of each histogram and is the feature that will have you asking, "How’d they get the statistician in there?"

• Out-of-control summary: The out-of-control summary allows you to quickly scan many control charts, saving you potentially hours of time that would have been spent reviewing charts. The out-of-control summary ranks the charts, putting those with the highest count of out-of-control conditions at the top of the list. You can double click to display the charts that really need attention. Why waste time sifting through those that don't?

>> View a 4-minute video about the new out-of-control summary feature in CHARTrunner 3.0.

>> View a PDF about the new features in each release.