VISUAL Quality Software - Quality Management Resource Center

And Synergy Resources is dedicated solely to helping manufacturers and distributors improve their operational performance and meet the necessary standards to deliver the highest quality products at the right time and at the right price.

Learn more about VISUAL Quality and how it can be used to retain your existing customers and help you win new business through the use of an integrated Quality Management System by clicking on the Resource Links on this page.

Improved Quality Management is most effective when combined with Lean Manufacturing Business practices. To learn more about Lean and how it can improve your business performance, visit our Lean Resource Page.

Listen to how Barr Associates strengthened their relationship with NASA through the implementation of VISUAL Quality


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  Resource Links:

• VISUAL Quality Supported Standards and Regulations
• VISUAL Quality Capabilities
• VISUAL Quality Brochure
• VISUAL Quality Customer Video
• Tailoring your Quality Management System in a Competitive Marketplace

Listen to how Barr Associates recently used VISUAL to address CARs (Corrective Action Reports) cited by NASA, and regain a positive and active vendor relationship with this strategic aerospace and defense organization.

VISUAL Quality Supported Standards and Regulations:

As an enterprise management system, Infor VISUAL Quality Management supports numerous industry standards, including:

• ISO9001:2000 and ISO9004:2000 - International Quality Management and Performance Improvement Standards
• ISO/TS16949 - Automotive Industry
• AS9000 and AS9100 - Aerospace Industry
• D1-9000 BQS and AQS - Boeing Advanced Quality System
• ISO 14001 - International Environmental Management
• ISO/IEC 17025 and ANSI/NCSL Z540-1 - Testing and Calibration Labs
• TL9000 - Telecommunications Industry
• FDA cGMP, QSR, ISO 13485/ISO 13488, EN46001/EN46002, 21 CFR Part 11 - FDA Medical Device Standards
• MS-9000 - Ford Materials Management System*
• SAE J4000 - Lean Manufacturing Operations Standard
• M-1003 - Association of American Railways
• M-110.2 - Manufacturing Machinery and Equipment
• CE - European Compliance
• MIL-I-45208 and MIL-Q-9858 - Military Quality Assurance Systems

* When used with other software applications available in the Infor VISUAL suite.

Automotive Industry Solutions

Infor VISUAL Quality Management offers specific tools for automotive suppliers of all tiers who operate under the QS-9000 or ISO/TS-16949 standards. These tools include:

• A complete Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) and Project Management module.
• A Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) manager, including Submission Warrants, Appearance Approval, and Color Evaluation.
• All required reports standardized to AIAG formats.
• Automatic generation of Inspection and Control Plans.
• An integrated design and process Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) module.
• OEM-specific reports, such as the Ford Supplier Request for Engineering Approval and GM's Interim Approval Worksheet.
• A built-in 8D format for Corrective Actions (CARs).
• Complete Gage Reproducibility and Repeatability (Gage R&R), Bias, Stability, and Linearity studies.
• System-wide Cost of Quality module and reporting.

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VISUAL Quality Capabilities

• Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) - The APQP Engineering Project Management system provides a standard  template for complete scheduling and execution of task and team activities throughout the product and process design, development and release process.
• Inspection and Control Plans - Infor VISUAL uses documented specifications to generate inspection and control plans for attributes, variables, and key text details for both products and processes.
• Seamless CAD Integration - The system enables the seamless movement of data from CAD applications via an XML interface through the ERP database and into Infor VISUAL’s Product Data Management system.
• Automated Data Interface (ADI) - You can enter inspection data into the system from shop floor measuring devices that are configured using a device driver housed within Infor VISUAL Quality Management.
• Once set up, the test results flow from the gage, CMM or SCADA systems via an RS232 cable or multiplexer using the built-in ADI capability.
• Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) - Design review of possible variation for both products and processes is supplied with FMEAs. Calculate RPNs, prioritize continuous improvement projects via analysis of FMEA results, and automatically communicate FMEA review ticklers to employees when related products or processes change.
• Embedded Statistical Process Control (SPC) - Infor VISUAL provides the tools that help you locate, analyze and control variation and prevent scrap. The system’s SPC module automatically generates attribute and variable control charts on demand. The system also calculates and tracks process capability initially and over time. SPC includes embedded Western Electric control rules for easier detection of special cause occurrences and necessary changes to the process.
• Process Capability Studies (Histogram, Cp, Cpk, Pp, Ppk) Integrated SPC provides instant process  benchmarking and analysis while the system automatically generates capability details such as Cp, Cpk and Pp, Ppk.
• Engineering Change Notice (ECR/ECN) - The system helps you to formally initiate, assign, communicate, approve, and revise product, process, and documentation changes within its team-driven, password-protected workflow.
• Integrated Process Management (IPM) - The IPM module helps you design, monitor, manage and improve processes independent of one specific product. It provides key tools for Lean Manufacturing and Six-Sigma initiatives.
• Supply Chain Management - Infor VISUAL Quality Management’s features drive continuous improvement within and beyond the “four walls” of your business through database triggers, e-mail notifications, advanced reporting, user-specific task management and the Internet. From suppliers, internal divisions and distributors to OEMs and end users, Infor VISUAL ensures that your operations run optimally and efficiently throughout your supply chain.
• Workflow - Using the integrated ERP skip-lot capability, a receiving inspector may enter inspection results that are outside the agreed upon specification. Infor VISUAL provides an option to initiate and assign a nonconformance (NCM) with details flowing directly from the inspection report to the NCM. For repeat or costly issues the system will flow the needed NCM information to either a Corrective Action (CAR) or Supplier Corrective Action (SCAR) complete with a triggered My To Do task or an e-mail, notifying the responsible person in real time. While you address the CAR or SCAR, Infor VISUAL Quality Management lets you create an on-the-fly 8D report and integrated email sends it on to the affected customers or supplier responsible.
• My To Do List - Infor VISUAL provides each user with a single point of reference to all assigned tasks with My To Do List. This tool reaches beyond the limits of traditional e-mail notifications. It allows you to sort, access and analyze all activities within the system, whether you generate tasks within the specific quality system, automatically through team assignments, or as a schedule. Supervisors and team leaders can efficiently manage workload by using the My To Do List as a productivity management tool.
• Reports - Infor VISUAL Quality Management contains approximately 400 reports that include industry standard forms, master lists, sophisticated analysis charts and performance or gap analysis reports with built-in drill-down capabilities. You can customize each report for your operations and customers, and print, fax or e-mail them on the fly.