SPC system brings computing mobility to quality departments

Zontec Inc.'s Synergy 200, a mobile statistical process control (SPC) system, allows quality department members to move freely about the production facility while performing real-time SPC on a wireless portable PC.

The system, which provides instant feedback about manufacturing processes, includes a handheld PC approximately the size of a paperback book and comes preloaded with quality assurance tools for data collection, charting, process monitoring, data analysis, and reporting.

Just 1.7 lbs., the compact Windows® XP PC has a 7-in. WVGA touchscreen that provides high resolution display of interactive SPC graphics and status alarms.

Gages and measurement devices can be connected to the unit via the USB ports for automated data collection. It is equipped with an Intel Celeron processor rated at 900 MHz, a 40GB hard drive, and 512MB of memory. The computer features the latest communication technologies with 10/100 Base-TX Ethernet, 802.11b/g wireless connectivity and Bluetooth v2.0. A twin-array microphone allows the users to make phone calls over the Internet using VOIP.