Access the Quality Variables of an Operation

About this task

Quality variables include details about the data that are collected while performing an operation. These variables are defined in Plant Applications Administrator. Also, the variables can be defined in Web Administrator. These variables can be accessed from the Variables tab in the Route Editor application. The values that you provide for these variables help verify that the parameters that are critical to the quality and manufacturing processes are within the acceptable limits. If a variable is configured to use a Tool, then you need to select a tool from the list of the configured tools before entering a variable value. You can use this data to review the performance of a production line and production unit and compare the quality of the products produced in each unit with projections for an operation.

For example, suppose you have been assigned the testing operation in a motor manufacturing unit. Quality variables can include the torque and rpm of the motor shaft. When you test each motor, you must enter the torque and rpm values for the corresponding serial number. A quality supervisor can then verify that the torque and rpm fall within the acceptable range.

Procedure

  1. Access the operation whose quality variables you want to access.
  2. Select Quality.
    The Quality section appears, displaying a list of quality variables defined for the operation, and values for these variables for the serial/lot selected in the left pane. These variables are grouped based on the quality variable group. In Unit Operations, the number on the Quality tab indicates the total number of mandatory quality variables for the serial/lot that still require a value. In Work Queue, the number on the Quality tab indicates the total number of mandatory quality variables for all the serials/lots that you have clocked on for the operation and that still require a value. The following table provides information on the columns in the table.
    ColumnDescription
    VARIABLE NAMEThe name of the variable.
    TOOL Allows to add a tool to the variable. You can add a value to the variable only after adding a tool. You can add a tool only if the RECORD TOOL option is enabled for the variable.
    VALUE The value of the variable. You can enter a value only if you have clocked on the serial/lot.
    SPECThe value of the variable. You can enter a value only if you have clocked on the serial/lot. If an acceptable range has been defined for the variable, after you enter a value, the box in this column displays a color, indicating whether the value is within the acceptable range.
    CHARTContains a chart that plots the lower and upper limits for the variable and the value that you have entered in the SPEC column. The CHART column appears only in the Box Whisker view.
    Tip:
    • By default, all the quality variables appear. If you want to access only mandatory variables, select Mandatory Variables in the drop-down list box.
    • If you want to view the lowest, highest, lower quartile, upper quartile, and median values for each variable, select . If you want to view the same values plotted on a chart, select .
  3. In the left pane, select the serial/lot whose variable values you want to access.
    The Quality section displays the quality variables for the selected serial/lot.
    Important: If any of the quality variables are out of specification, you cannot complete a serial/lot, you must create a Non-conformance for that serial/lot using Create Non Conformance in the Quality or NCR tab. If you try to complete a serial/lot that has at least one variable that is out of specification limits and a Non-conformance is not created with a proper disposition for the serial/lot (that is, there is no Closed/Active defect on it), an error message will be displayed. For more information, refer to Create a Non-Conformance.