Solution Summary

In Line Testing

In line test equipment is very powerful. In line check weighers are capable of weighing individual packages as they fly over the load cell. Metal detectors can kick out metal content over a threshold. Many companies rely on this high tech capability to the exclusion of anything else. But such equipment needs careful calibration and maintenance. It is also effective only under certain line speeds, and may provide false readings under certain circumstances.

In line equipment is very effective for thresholds – to kick out packages under c certain weight or with a certain metal content. It is also effective for statistical sampling.

Many in line testing devices are integrated into the line itself and controlled and monitored by the PLC network – thermocouples, speed monitors, flow meters, etc. QIC has available equipment to communicate directly with these devices or communicate directly with the PLC. Or we may collect the data using OPC.

QIC has worked with a number of inline testing instruments in conjunction with our SPC solutions, using a variety of interfaces.

To provide data collection and analysis of data from in-line testing instrumentation, we have had excellent success with GainSeeker™ SPC from Hertzler Systems Inc.

Firstly, the vendor and solution meets all of our criteria for selecting systems.

Secondly, GainSeeker SPC provides an excellent balance between very sophisticated statistical analysis capabilities, and extremely easy to use data collection capability. The mathematics are validated by qualified statisticians. Although there are about 150 SPC software packages available, there are only 4 or 5 that are enterprise oriented, 21CFR part 11 compliant, ODBC compliant, configurable, and easy to integrate with other MES and ERP systems.

Thirdly, GainSeeker™ is competitively priced for both small clients as well as multi-plant, multinational implementations.

For an overview of GainSeeker functionality, click here.