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What tools are available in Xfmea/RCM++ to help monitor the
progress for completing an analysis?
Xfmea
and RCM++ provide
three tools to help you keep track of progress in your analyses:
- Check Analysis Utility:
You can use this tool to run checks that help to make sure
that the analysis is complete and consistent before you
start generating reports; e.g. whether you have
defined at least one cause for every failure mode, whether
you have calculated the RPN for every cause, etc.
- Statistics Window:
This window provides an easy-to-read summary of the number
of records in your analysis and calculated percentages to
indicate whether you have completed the analysis for every
function and the completion status of the recommended
actions.
- Analysis Plan Window:
This window allows you to define your own custom "task list"
for the analysis project and track the completion of these
tasks. (For an in-depth look at the Analysis Plan window,
see the
Tool Tips in Reliability Hotwire Issue 61.)
How can I use DOE++'s Modify Design window?
Last month's
Tool Tips discussed the wide variety of changes that can be
made to an existing design in
DOE++. This month, we
offer more specific information on the Modify Design window,
available beginning in version 1.0.2.
To access the Modify Design
window, choose Modify Design from the Data menu or
click the icon in the Control Panel.
The Modify Design window is
shown next.
This window allows you to do
the following:
- Add replicates:
Adding replicates allows you to increase the number of tests
to take under each factor setting combination (e.g.
the number of samples you want to test at each setting
combination). The ability to add replicates is available for
all design types.
- Add center points:
Center points are used primarily to help determine if there
is curvature in the relationship between the factors and the
response. In addition, using several center points allows
you to estimate "noise," or "error." The ability to add
center points is available for standard factorial and
response surface method designs with at least one
quantitative factor. For general full factorial and Taguchi
OA designs, all factors must be quantitative.
- Fold the design:
Folding replicates the design, but toggles the coded values
of the selected factor(s). For example, if you fold over
Factor A, the design will be replicated and in each new row
the value of Factor A will be opposite of what it was in the
original row that was copied (i.e. the -1 values will be
replaced with the 1 values and vice versa). The ability to
fold the design is available for designs with two levels (i.e.
standard and reliability two level full factorial, two level
fractional factorial and Plackett-Burman designs).
- Add an axial block:
Adding an axial block converts the current design into a
central composite design (if it is not already) by adding
axial runs. The ability to add an axial block is available
for all standard factorial and response surface method
designs such that all factors are quantitative.
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