Analytics & Visualization · PI Vision Custom Symbol

How to Add a Smart SQC to AVEVA PI Vision

Everything you need to get the PIForge Smart SQC symbol running on your AVEVA PI Vision server — installation, license activation, and a tour of every feature with live video.

Installation — 5 steps, about 10 minutes

1. 1

   Download the package

   Purchase the symbol at piforge.app and download the ZIP from your profile. It contains four files: the symbol script (.js), two templates (.html) and an icon (.svg).

2. 2

   Copy the files to the PI Vision server

   Extract all four files into the PI Vision extension folder on the server: %PIHOME%\PIVision\Scripts\app\editor\symbols\ext\ (create the ext folder if it does not exist yet).

3. 3

   Restart the PI Vision application

   Recycle the PI Vision application pool in IIS (or run iisreset), then hard-refresh the browser (Ctrl+F5) so the new symbol script is loaded.

4. 4

   Add the symbol to a display

   Open a display in edit mode. The new symbol appears in the symbol palette on the left. Select it, then drag a tag or AF attribute onto the canvas.

5. 5

   Activate the license

   Open Format Symbol, paste the license key from your purchase email into the License field, and save. The watermark disappears immediately — no restart needed.

What you can do with it

Overview

Live Process Control, Always On

Real-time SPC monitoring with zero configuration overhead

Watch your process data stream in live — Smart SPC/SQC Pro automatically calculates control limits, detects violations, and updates the status badge the moment something goes wrong. No scripts. No external tools. Just drag, drop, and monitor.

• Auto-calculates UCL, LCL, and CL from live PI tag data
• Status badge switches STABLE → WARNING → VIOLATION in real time
• Cpk updates continuously — green when capable, red when not
• Histogram and Gaussian curve build as data arrives

Violation Rules

Rule 1 — Never Miss an Out-of-Control Point

Instant alert when any value exceeds ±3σ

A single rogue data point crossing your control limit is all it takes for a batch to fail. Smart SPC/SQC Pro catches it the moment it happens — marking the violation directly on the chart and raising a VIOLATION alert before your operator even notices.

• Flags any point beyond ±3σ (sigma factor is configurable: 2, 3, or 4)
• Red violation circle appears on the exact data point
• VIOLATION badge shows total count — always visible at a glance
• Cpk turns red instantly when the process goes out of control

Violation Rules

Rule 2 — Catch Process Shifts Before They Become Failures

Detects when 2 out of 3 consecutive points exceed 2σ on the same side

A process shift rarely announces itself with a single extreme value — it creeps in as a subtle bias. Rule 2 catches this pattern early, raising a WARNING while you still have time to act, not after the damage is done.

• Detects 2/3 consecutive points above 2σ on the same side of the mean
• WARNING badge triggers before values ever cross the control limit
• N, M, and σ threshold fully configurable to match your process standards
• Works alongside Rule 1 — multiple rules fire independently

Violation Rules

Rule 5 — Spot Trends Before They Drift Out of Control

6 consecutive points rising or falling — a trend your process shouldn't have

A steady upward or downward trend in your process is a warning sign that something is changing — tool wear, temperature drift, raw material shift. Rule 5 identifies the pattern while it's still within limits, giving you time to investigate and correct.

• Detects 6+ consecutive points in a continuous rise or fall
• Trend violation markers appear as the pattern completes
• Configurable run length — tighten or loosen to match your process
• Pairs with Rule 4 (Bias) for complete drift detection coverage

Violation Rules

8 Western Electric Rules — Full Coverage Out of the Box

Bias, Hugging, Oscillation, and Mixture patterns — all detected automatically

Most SPC charts only check Rule 1. Smart SPC/SQC Pro runs all 8 Western Electric rules simultaneously — catching the subtle patterns that ordinary charts miss entirely. Enable the rules your process needs, disable the ones you don't.

• Rule 4 (Bias): 9 consecutive points on one side of the mean
• Rule 6 (Hugging): 15 points within ±1σ — process too quiet
• Rule 7 (Oscillation): 14 alternating up/down — systematic variation
• Rule 8 (Mixture/Gap): 8 consecutive points beyond ±1σ — bimodal distribution
• All rules configurable independently — mix and match for your standard

Data Connection

Configurable Sigma Factor — Your Process, Your Limits

Switch between 2σ, 3σ, and 4σ control limits without touching a formula

Not every process runs to 3-sigma. Tighten limits to 2σ for high-precision manufacturing, or widen to 4σ for naturally noisy processes. Change the sigma factor and watch UCL, LCL, and all zone bands update instantly — no recalculation needed.

• Sigma Factor: 2σ (tight) → 3σ (standard) → 4σ (wide)
• UCL and LCL lines move in real time as you adjust
• Cpk recalculates automatically to reflect the new limits
• Manual UCL/LCL override: map limits directly from another PI tag

Time Range

Flexible Time Range — Display, Duration, or Custom

Follow the PI Vision display time or pull any historical window you need

Smart SPC/SQC Pro works in three time modes. Display mode follows your PI Vision page time automatically. Duration mode fetches a fixed rolling window — last 8 hours, last 7 days. Custom mode lets you analyze any historical period down to the minute.

• Display mode: syncs with PI Vision page time — no extra configuration
• Duration mode: 8h, 24h, 7d — configurable rolling window with optional offset
• Follow Display Time: Duration window shifts as the PI Vision time advances
• Custom mode: set exact start and end dates for historical SPC analysis

Chart Style

Chart Style — Show Exactly What Your Operators Need

Color bands, histogram, data badges — toggle each independently

Every operator and every display has different needs. A control room wall screen needs a clean trend line. An engineer's workstation benefits from the full histogram and zone bands. Smart SPC/SQC Pro lets you configure exactly what's shown — and it persists per symbol.

• Color Bands: shade zones A/B/C/D (±1σ / ±2σ / ±3σ) for instant visual context
• Histogram + Gaussian curve: see your data distribution alongside the trend
• Data Badges: pin value labels on key points — first, last, and violations
• Limit Line Style: solid or dashed — adapt to your display background

Colors

Full Color Control — Match Your Plant's Visual Standards

Every color configurable — trend line, limits, zones, background

Whether your control room uses a dark theme, a light theme, or your company's brand colors, Smart SPC/SQC Pro adapts completely. Change the trend line color, limit line color, zone band intensities, and background — all in the configuration panel, all reflected instantly.

• Trend line color: adapt to any display background
• Limit line color: high-visibility red by default, fully overridable
• Zone colors: tune the opacity of each sigma band independently
• Background and text color: dark theme, light theme, or anything in between

Frequently asked questions

Does Smart SQC work with my PI Vision version?

Yes — PI Vision 2019 R2 through 2023+ are supported. The symbol uses the standard PI Vision extensibility model, so regular version upgrades do not break it, and one year of compatibility updates is included.

Do I need to install anything on client PCs?

No. The symbol is installed once on the PI Vision server; every browser client gets it automatically from there.

How is it licensed?

One license covers one PI Vision server, with unlimited displays and unlimited users on that server. The key is delivered instantly by email after purchase.

Can I try it before buying?

Every feature is demonstrated in live video on the product page, and a free symbol (Combo Chart Free Edition) is available on GitHub to validate the install workflow end to end. For evaluation keys, contact [email protected].