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Original Date: 10/14/1988
Revision Date: 01/18/2007
Information : Quality Management System
Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc. (BHTI) has developed a state-of-the-art computer based Quality Management System (QMS) designed to provide a more efficient and effective means to document and analyze nonconforming products and services. Its objective is to reduce costs associated with nonconformances in scrap, rework, and repair along with costs associated with warranties, obsolescence, and troubleshooting. The system was brought on-line in January 1988.
Phase I features the following:
Provides timely management information for problem solving and decision making;
Enhances problem prevention through improved visibility of historical events;
Baselines nonconformance costs and measures improvements;
Prioritizes and tracks corrective action efforts;
Rates vendor performance.
Features of the system include on line input, comprehensive editing, and automation of material discrepancy reports (MDRs) and rework instruction reports. Since all terminals and systems at BHTI are connected, it provides electronic interfaces between hundreds of QMS users. Numerous report formats are available at various levels showing defect costs, corrective action effectiveness, historical manufacturing and supplier data, yields, parts analysis, and other information.
Corrective action is initiated when the QMS flags occurrences which exceed predetermined quality performance thresholds. The system was designed, programmed and integrated by BHTI personnel. Return on investment are realized from reduced nonconformance costs.
Phase II includes the following features:
Incorporation of receiving and inspection functions.
Verifiable collection of unplanned labor.
Real time process control.
Direct coordinate measuring machine input.
On-line graphics input and output.
QMS is being well received and accepted by manufacturing personnel due to extensive training and the phased implementation. It should prove to be an effective system for improving quality and controlling costs.
For more information see the
Point of Contact for this survey.
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