posted on 6/9/2011 1:29:15 PM
InfinityQS rolls out ProFicient on Demand, a Web-based version of its statistical process control software that extends quality management to remote facilities and provides visibility across the supply chain.
InfinityQS International, a provider of real-time quality management software, has announced the commercial availability of a cloud-based version of its statistical process control software, providing manufacturers with a way to extend quality control to remote factories, suppliers, and engineering partners.
ProFicient on Demand is said to eliminate the need for costly on-site hardware, IT support, ongoing maintenance fees, or expensive upgrades. Yet, like the local server-based version, ProFicient on Demand monitors production and testing processes in real time, the company said, building a global quality database and enabling users to analyze quality results from a library of more than 300 statistical process control (SPC) reports.
The core SPC capability, which is a predictive analysis tool, monitors what is going on across the entire production process, from suppliers to general manufacturing through delivery of the final product, InfinityQS said. Product features and process parameters are monitored for any indication that something is changing. The software tracks fluctuations and provides the appropriate notification to individuals through a dashboard. According to the company, ProFicient on Demand charts can even be accessed via a mobile phone.
In addition, the cloud-based software gives manufacturers more visibility across the supply chain; this can reduce costs associated with product testing and increase overall product quality, the company said.
When it comes to quality control of a supplier’s product, a manufacturer typically receives a certificate of analysis that is associated with the component. But even with that certificate, companies still perform an inspection of the product to ensure it is usable in production. And there is a cost associated with that, especially if it is determined that the product cannot be used.
“In the cloud model, with real-time visibility into key characteristics that are critical to the components received, companies can collaborate with their suppliers before problems arise or the product even leaves the dock and gets to the manufacturing stream,” InfinityQS CEO Michael Lyle told Managing Automation in an interview.
While there is a huge flexibility and cost advantage associated with the cloud-based model, Lyle said that many of the customers that have been testing the software over the last few months, including Kraft Foods, see a need for both the on-premises and the on-demand versions.
For example, the on-premises ProFicient product provides a way to create a quality hub that brings information from suppliers and various manufacturing facilities together in one centralized system for tracking purposes, Lyle said. In addition, the on-premises version can be integrated with ProFicient on Demand, providing a cost-conscious way to deploy the SPC software at remote facilities. According to the company, pricing for ProFicient on Demand starts at $100 per user for five users.
“With these increased capabilities, InfinityQS customers can better protect their corporate brand, reduce the risk of product recall, and improve supplier collaboration while decreasing the overall cost of quality,” Lyle said in a statement.