Item Software's ITEM-QA program offers a powerful, integrated environment for implementing and analysing QS 9000 data. The program consists of the following 6 modules :

• FMEA (Process & Design)
• Calibration Analysis
• Control Plans
• Concern and Corrective Action Reporting (CCAR)
• Document Control and Auditing
• Statistical Process Control (SPC)

The programs main features include :

• Conforms to BS and QS 9000 and other leading standards

• Easy to use program interface

• Password protection capabilities - each user must log in

• Flexible user administration facilities to control user access

• Pareto analysis and distribution graphs for displaying RPN and SPC data etc

• Library management facilities enable fast accurate data entry

• Changes to text in the libraries can change all occurences of the text in FMEAs, Control Plans etc

• Internal email capabilities for communication with other QA members, the transfer of documents, document approval etc

• Report generator

• The ability to globally change a failure mode within a single process, allowing the automatic update of all FMEAs or Control Plans using the failure mode

• The calibration module is capable of producing wear trend graphs, based on the calibration data

FMEA

ITEM-QA uses Failure Mode and Effect Analysis to recognise and identify potential failures in a design or process. FMEA analyses systems and components according to uniform, comprehensive standards for internal and external quality assurance. ITEM-QA supports the SAE J1739 and ISO 9000 standards as well as the automotive industry and Quality System (QS-9000) requirements.

Data is stored in libraries and registers which means common data can be reused again and again, speeding up data entry while reducing the potential for errors. The FMEA module also offers comprehensive charts and reports relevant to FMEAs including Pareto and Distribution reports and RPN charts.

Calibration Analysis

The purpose of ITEM-QA's Calibration Analysis module is to allow the recording, calibration and issue of gauging equipment used in manufacturing or process operations, and to calculate Repeatability and Reproducibility Analysis for gauges.

Control Plans

The Control Plan facilities in ITEM-QA ensure a logical thought process is used to produce documents for the application of procedures and the documentation of results, in accordance with BS/ISO standards. The module supports the creation of Full Control Plans and also Unit Control Plans, which can then be used as building blocks in the construction of Full Control Plans. The library management facility within the program stores all text entered for reusing elsewhere or for performing global changes.

Concern and Corrective Action Reporting (CCAR)

The CCAR module of ITEM-QA offers powerful facilities for monitoring concerns and corrective actions. The following facilities are available to assist in the management of CCAR's.

• Filter
• Trace
• Approve
• Reject

Corrective actions can also be sent to other people or departments for Approval.

Document Control and Auditing

The Document Control and Auditing module is designed to comply with the requirements of ISO 9000 but is equally well suited for almost any QA system. It controls the creation of documents and records, their approval, issue, subsequent amendments and distribution. A document can exist in one of the following areas:

• Issued draft
• Draft Document
• Documents Awaiting Approval
• Obsolete

SPC

The SPC module of ItemQA offers the ability to reduce manufacturing and production costs by eliminating costly errors, using well recognised techniques. The SPC module offers the ability to produce a range of variable, attribute and Pareto analysis charts whilst giving the user the ability to produce management report documents. This means the user will have an abundance of storable and retrievable information to analyse both current and historical data, and meet internal and external needs.