METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING A QUALITY CONTROL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

A system for process control management and quality navigation is described which provides an intranet based approach to providing management with run and control charts for more effective tracking and management of quality related processes. The quality navigation system includes intuitive quality navigation. Data which formerly may have been redundantly collected and stored is now centrally stored and made available on a web site. The system automatically links top level indicators to core and sublevel process and quality outcome indicators. To this end, core processes, measures of quality and sources of data are identified. Data is collected and stored in a database. Hierarchical relationships of processes and subprocesses are established. Strengths of relationships of the linkages of processes and subprocesses are identified and stored. Indicators for strengths of relationship are stored and displayed within families of linked charts. Users can readily drill down to lower levels of processes to look at underlying root data. Chart monitoring is automated on a real time basis, and users may be automatically informed of process data exceeding predetermined control limits.