Here you find frequently asked questions about VRAnalyst.

What are the advantages of VRAnalyst?

VRanalyst provides several advantages:

•  Reduction of products with specification out of range.

•  Reduction of the need of laboratory analysis.

•  Reduction of the product’s variability.

•  Product development in a fast and low-cost way.

• Add value to the historical data bank, obtaining important information about the variables relation from data.

In what kind of production process can VRAnalyst be used?

In all processes with raw material’s mixtures or in processes where many properties of the production process (such as pressure, temperature, and others) has influence in the quality of the product.

I don’t understand how is VRAnalyst able to “know” all the production processes?

VRAnalyst does not know all the processes. The process simulation is performed based on models constructed from previous historical data. This data is specific for each process and each customer.

And if I do not have historical data?

VRTech offers a service to collect this data in a systematic way in order to obtain the best simulation’s results with this data.

And if I do not measure the product’s properties or the raw material’s properties, how to begin?

VRTech can also help you in this task and can also help you to select the best variables in order to increase the simulations quality.

Is it possible to integrate VRAnalyst with my ERP?

Yes, VRTech offers this service.

How large are the differences between my simulation and the real measured property?

Depends on several things:

• The measured variables.

• If a variable really has influence in the final product’s property.

•  The quantity of the measures.

•  The quality of the measures.

Although the differences depend on several things, it is possible to analyze the quality of the simulation based on summary statistics of the generated model provided by the software.

VRAnalyst substitutes the laboratory analysis?

Depending on the data, VRAnalyst can present a good estimate to substitute the laboratory measurements. However some equipment can present measurement errors along the time. It is safer to continue the analysis, even less frequent, to evaluate the models generated by the software.

When it is necessary to feed the models with new data?

Always when new trusted data are available, it is recommended to feed the model with this data in order to increase the results quality.

Is it possible to use VRAnalyst to hav an on-line estimate for a property as a “virtual analyzer”?

Yes, VRAnalyst can be integrated with the equipment where measurements are made and, this way, it is possible to have this on-line data. This integration is done as a service.

I find the software difficult to use, dos VRTech offers some kind of training?

Yes, but the training needs to be acquired separately.

What kind of training does VRTech offers?

VRTech has two modules of training: basic and advanced.

The basic training is a four-hour course where the main features are presented. The course also presents basic industrial statistics notions. The course is based in the manual that comes with the software.

On the advanced training, real examples of the company are used. Initially a study with the company’s data is performed. Than VRTech offers support to collect and analyze historical data that are necessary to start the software use. With this data, a course with VRAnalyst is performed, developing simulators specifically for the company’s process.

What kind of services does VRTech offer with VRAnalyst?

Beyond the training VRTech offers the following services:

•  Integration of VRAnalyst with ERP, data banks and data acquisition (SCADA) systems (such as PLC, SDCD, and others).

• Simulation development. Where the customer’s process is analyzed and also support for data collection is made. Further a process simulation is presented.

• Fail detection in the production process: In this service a test sequence is performed in the production process in order to detect failures. VRTech helps to build the tests and perform a statistical analysis with the results. Finally a report is presented to identify the process parameter that causes the fails.

• Statistical process control (SPC) implementation: This service includes an analysis to search the variables to include in the control charts and training to use the system.

Does VRAnalyst have a manual?

Yes, but it is only available in Brazilian Potuguese language.