Discussion Board

I am relatively new to the industry and would like feedback and calculation examples of how you might go about establishing a QA system to evaluate the data entry keying accuracy for keyers as well as determining how you might define and describe the accuracy of the entire department. We currently are keying both image data entry as well as key from paper. Is there any place that I can go to find out the generally accepted industry standard for such an evaluation/analysis?

RE: QA for Data Entry Keying

You don't need to be new to the industry to pose that question...it's been the million dollar question for a lot of data entry shops. Unfortunately, the best answer may be "it depends." I'm not aware of an industry standard for accuracy. A lot depends on the nature of the data being keyed; miskeying one digit makes a 9-digit social security number worthless.

Double key verify is most accurate. As stated in TAWPI's ICP Handbook, "When keying from paper with double-key verify, accuracy can exceed 99.99 percent - less than one error in 10,000 characters."

RE: QA for Data Entry Keying

I would also approach your problem as a process - improvement issue. As you are aware, the process can produce many surprises to both quality (accuracy) and timeliness. Simply collecting the data can lead to incorrect decisions and also be meaningless unless your process makes sense. You may want to become familiar with benchmarking and there are many benchmarking books out there. I have one for the health industry which I obtained through ASQ, American Society for Quality - www.asq.org.

Q: Extraction Equipment Output

I am doing research on industry standards for the following OPEX extraction devices and would like some feedback on how others may be using these devices and their respective outputs:

OPEX 150 (Non-IEM): envelopes/hour

OPEX 150 (IEM): envelopes/hour

OPEX Manual Extraction (OPEX 48, 50. 51, 60)

I would also like information regarding uptront mechanical mail sorters such as the OPEX MPS-30 and whether that device positively affects extraction rates.

Re: Extraction Equipment Output

We are currently using the OPEX 50's...and get anywhere from 1500 to 2000/hr output from our openers/extractors. We do not review for match/no match but we do have about ten different types/sorts they have to review and place accordingly. We are moving to the OPEX 3600i's shortly and will also be interested in any information anyone has regarding (these systems) as they are new to the market.

Continue this discussion at www.tawpi.org

Each issue, we'll pick one of two questions from TAWPI's Lislserve (online discussion board). TAWPI members can post their own questions, or reply immediately at www.tawpi.org: non-members can reply care of TODAY Magazine.