What's New 2022

September 2022

Key Metrics Overview Dashboard

There is a new Key Metrics Overview dashboard for those of you that assign multiple (up to 5) key metrics to deficiencies (such as priority, costs, days delay, severity). On one screen you have an executive view of all key metric trends and see which key metrics warrant deeper analysis on a key metric-specific dashboard (discussed below).

• Help Article: Key Metric Overview Dashboard

Focused Deficiency Analysis & Key Metric (specific) Dashboards

The new Deficiency Analysis dashboard breaks down the open and fixed issues over the past year. Fifteen (15) interactive panels enable you to see trends and drill down by project, responsible party, checklist, reason code, and inspector. Plus, you now have a dashboard focused on each key metric (up to five). Key Metrics are powerful tools for quality accountability and defect reduction, and a dashboard focused on one key metric allows you to compare the collected data against the reported deficiencies.

• Help Article: Deficiency Analysis Dashboard
• Help Article: Key Metric Detail Dashboards

Two “Days to Fix” Dashboards

There are two new dashboards that focus on accountability for fixing deficiencies in a timely fashion. The average days to fix examines the time to fix over the last year. 15 interactive panels enable you to see trends and drill down by project, responsible party, checklist, reason codes, and inspector.

• Help Article: Deficiency Total Days Dashboard
• Help Article: Deficiency Average Days Dashboard

Duplicate any Checkpoint

Now you have the ability to dynamically duplicate any checkpoint on the inspection screen. This is very useful when you want to report several deficiencies related to a specific checkpoint or assign multiple Responsible Parties. Tap the menu icon next to the camera, then tap duplicate. A duplicate of the original checkpoint is inserted just below.

In many cases, you may not need dynamic checkpoints for reporting multiple deficiencies, simplifying checklist templates.

• Help Article: Enter a New Inspection

Checkpoint IDs on inspection screens

Look closely and you can see a checkpoint ID on the inspection screen. Checkpoint IDs are unique identifiers in the same way that inspection IDs are unique identifiers of inspections. Copy the checkpoint ID and you’ll see that it is actually a hyperlink to the checkpoint. Pasted into email or messaging apps and it is a handy way to bring someone to the inspection and automatically navigate to the checkpoint.

• Help Article: Enter a New Inspection
• Help Article: Inspection Activity Log

August 2022

Checklist Building Blocks

Now you can create a special type of checklist called a building block, which as you can tell from the name is block of standardized checkpoints that you intend to use over and over in multiple checklist templates. For example, a building block of a time reporting table can be used on any checklist that you want to include time reporting. Or on a larger scale, a company library of standard building block checklists can be used to prepare project-specific checklists that preserve a consistent approach for common work. A superpower of this feature is that when the building block is edited, the changes appear on all new inspections without having to update the checklist templates that use it.

• Help Article: Checklist Building Blocks

Infinite Inspections

Inspecting repetitive, ongoing, and continuous processes just got a lot simpler and easier. Think roadway construction, welding pipelines, cabling, and installing windows in high-rises. Anything that is repetitive and may have several stages of inspection. On the inspection screen, you’ll see a group of dynamic buttons at the bottom, one for each stage of inspection. Press the stage you are currently inspecting and the relevant checkpoints are inserted at the bottom of the inspection report, just above the group of dynamic checkpoints. Then the next section you inspect, choose the relevant button and again the checkpoints are inserted just above the buttons, which are ready for whatever you inspect next. What makes this so useful is that inspections can go on and on, following the natural flow of the inspection process until you are done. You are limited only by the practical size of the inspection report on your mobile device.

• Help Article: Infinite Inspections

New User Setup and Permission Screens

A new user setup screen is easier to use than ever. All existing precision permissions are there - in the same style of the checklist and project setup screens.

• Help Article: User Setup and Permissions Screen

Search Bar on Inspection Screen

Now you can do a text search on the inspection screen notes and checkpoints. It searches as you type so It’s another easy way to locate a checkpoint that is of interest.

• Help Article: Search Bar on Inspection Screen

Ready for Review Inspector Auto-notification

FTQ360 knows which checkpoints were inspected by inspector. Now when an issue has been fixed and “Ready for Review” is checked, FTQ360 will notify the checkpoint inspector. This is very handy when multiple users work on the same inspection.

• Help Article: Create Open Items on an Inspection

Sort and Filter on Setup Screens

Now you can sort listing grids on all setup screens. In combination with the search bar you have an ease of control that helps you home in on what you need to see.

• Help Article: Checklist Form Setup Process

Communication Checklist Type

This is an enhancement for setting up nonconformance reports from any inspection and have it link back. Communication are useful when issues must be elevated for a disposition resolution process with multiple layers of review and approvals. Communications checklist templates are created on the checklist setup screen and choosing the checklist type “Communications”. Only Communication checklists appear as an option on the inspection screen when +Add New is pressed.

• Help Article: Communication Checklist Type

Miscellaneous

• The inspection query Q1029 has two additional columns: Inspector Notes and Reference#/Location ID. This query lists inspections, so this makes the listing more complete.

• The inspector type “Data Entry” is deprecated. This user type is a carryover from many years ago when paper forms were entered into FTQ360 by a data entry operator.

JULY 2022

New Inspector-Focused Report Filters

Now you can filter data that appears on reports by the specific inspector, or more broadly by the affiliated organization of the inspector, and/or the inspector type role. The selected filters apply to the specific checkpoints on the inspections. On team inspections, the filters can determine which checkpoints were performed by each inspector and the report that's produced will only return info from the selected inspectors, their affiliation, or inspector type. This tool is useful for quality managers who want to review the history of specific inspectors or third party inspection companies. Favorite reports save inspector filters so that you can run the report again later with new date parameters, and those favorite reports can be set to automatically compile and email on daily, weekly, or monthly schedules.

• Instructions: Run Online Reports
• Video: Create Favorite Reports

 

New Inspector-Specific Reports

A new series of inspector-specific reports allow users to track deficiencies an inspector has opened and receive alerts on open issues that are ready for review. These reports are particularly useful to inspectors who need to ensure that outstanding deficiencies are corrected and approved without delay. These repots can also notify managers of inspections that are ready for their review and approval, especially when used in conjunction with approval checkpoints. There are also several reports useful to Quality Managers Who oversee third party inspection companies, as this new report series can email the inspections performed by each TPI company.

• Instructions: Deficiency & Open Item Reports
• Instructions: Performance & Trend Reports

 

Automatic email notification when Approval Checkpoints are ready for review

We've streamlined the process for inspections that must be approved by a manager! A special approval checkpoint can be added to the checklist template. With it, the inspector can trigger an automatic request to the approver simply by checking Ready for Review. FTQ360 will email the approver a notification with a link back to the inspection.

• Instructions: Checkpoint Types

 

 

MAY 2022

Checkpoint Comments

Comments is an important new feature that streamlines field communications. With it, you have the ability to involve any number of people in back and forth discussions surrounding resolution of an issue. Briefly, it works like this: You can add a comment to any checkpoint and mention another FTQ360 user. In less than 5 minutes they will automatically get an email with your comment and a link back to the inspection so they can reply back and add their own comment. You are notified of their reply in the same fashion. Comments are intended as informal communications, therefore they are NOT included in the inspection report Pdf printouts.

• Instructions: Create and Respond to Comments
• Instructions: Enter a New Inspection

 

Schedule Data Queries

Just like the current performance and data reports, you can schedule your data queries to run on a schedule and automatically email you the Excel file! Save any standard or custom query with selected filters as a favorite. Choose the daily, weekly, or monthly schedule options and enter the email addresses that will receive the Excel file. This feature is useful automate workflows as well as automatically backing up FTQ360 data to project repository.

• Instructions: Schedule a Favorite Report or Data Query to run and email automatically
• Instructions: Data Queries

 

Security Update: Login one-device-at-a-time security enhancement

It is always good to know if someone else is using your FTQ360 login. If someone else logs in with your username, when you leave the screen you are on,  FTQ360 will alert you to a possible security concern and ask you to login. Even if someone else logs in from another device it will not interrupt your work on the inspection screen and will still save your data to the server, as normal. It is only when you leave the inspection screen that you will see the alert message and be asked to login again. Change your password immediately if the alert was unexpected. This protocol is a security best practice widely implemented by software applications world-wide to combat hackers and protect your information.

• Instructions: Log in to FTQ360

Email Triggers for Approval Checkpoints

Inspection approvers are notified via email that a checkpoint needs action from them when the R4R box is clicked.

• Checkpoint Types

 

Take Videos with New Android App Version 9.0

Take videos right on the inspection screen. The procedure is just like taking a photo. When the camera opens, choose “Video”, then review the video and crop using the smart slider– which is very useful to remove unnecessary footage of your feet 😉 from the beginning or end. Videos can be up to one minute long. Like photos, you can take a sequence of videos and/or photos, and the videos are GPS and time stamped. They can be viewed from the inspection screen or from PDF reports. This is an improvement updated to the feature that was published earlier this year.

• Instructions: Taking & Editing Photos and Videos for your Inspection

Click-Sort on Setup Selections

Sometimes you just need to sort on various columns to find what you need. Now this feature is implemented on all of the new setup access selection screens. Give this handy feature a try!

• Checklist Form Setup Process
• Project Setup Process

Screen-specific Help

FTQ360 help screens are legendary for their informative explanations of screens and reports. It is now simple and easy click the to go directly to the help documentation related to the screen you are on.

 

Other mentionable Improvements:

• The inspection and test (ITP) detail screen fields are reordered and position the frequently used plans at the top of the screen.
• There is an new set of “Information Functions” that can be used on the inspection screen to perform logic and calculations. For example ISBLANK or ISNUMBER can be used to validate entries or in if-then calculations.
• The inspector of each checkpoint is recorded in the Activity Log. Now when several inspectors are involved with one inspection you are able to distinguish which checkpoints are inspected by whom. The information appears on on the deficiency listing screen and the Q1025 inspection checkpoint query.
• The new project and checklist setup screens will automatically remove leading or trailing spaces and non-printing characters.
• Refinements have been made to the drag and drop on the new setup screens to make operate smoother.
• The account management screen has some text revisions to clarify the meaning of entry fields.

March 2022

New project setup screens

A new project setup screen has a totally new and easy-to-use design based upon the checklist setup screen. Using it is optional and you can switch back and forth to the legacy project setup screen on the setup menu. 

• Instructions: How to Setup A Project (New Screen)
• Video: How to Setup A Project (New Screen)

Here is a video overview of how to use the new checklist setup screen.

Custom Dashboard Layout

Now you can customize your dashboards. Click on the layout icon and you can select which panels you want to see and arrange their order. The layout affects only your computer so you can set up your dashboards way you like them.

• Instructions: How to Customize the Dashboard

Copy and Paste Photos, Videos, and Files between checkpoints in Windows Browser

Now you have the freedom to take whatever photos or videos even if you are not sure of the exact checkpoint they should go to. You can copy and paste them to the proper checkpoint later. Just copy the photo to the clipboard and then paste from the camera icon.

• Instructions: Enter a New Inspection

Setup Activity Logs

The setup activity logs introduced recently have expanded coverage. Rich information logs enable you to track setup activity for users, projects, checklists, responsible parties and preferences. This enhances application security, accountability, and explanations of why something changed.

• Instructions: Setup Activity Log

New checklist setup improvements

Thanks for your suggestions! Numerous small refinements make the setup screens overall easier and more intuitive to use.

• Instructions: New Checklist Setup Screen
• Video: How to Setup A Checklist Template

January 2022

Take Videos in the new iOS app (v9.1)

Take videos right on the inspection screen. The procedure is just like taking a photo. When the camera opens, choose “Video”, then review the video and crop using the smart slider– which is very useful to remove unnecessary footage of your feet 😉 from the beginning or end. Videos can be up to one minute long. Like photos, you can take a sequence of videos and/or photos, and the videos are GPS and time stamped. They can be viewed from the inspection screen or from PDF reports.

Copy and Paste Photos, Videos, and Files between checkpoints in the new iOS app (v9.1)

It may not seem like much until you realize that you have the freedom to take whatever photos or videos you need to take in the field even if you are not sure of the exact checkpoint they should go to. Or if you are inspecting in a harsh environment, you can just take a series of photos and move them to the proper position on the inspection report later. Just tap the thumbnail, copy, and then paste from the camera icon.

Jump to and from other apps with the new iOS app (v9.1)

Now when another app has a link to FTQ360.net it will open the FTQ360 app to view the inspection or open a screen. Also when FTQ360 attachments are a file type associated with another app, choosing to view the file will open the appropriate app. This is handy for using FTQ360 to store project files or URL links to files and quickly jumping to application of your choice for to view files, drawings, or documents.

Paste and Edit Screenshots from other apps with the new iOS app (v9.1)

Take a screenshot from whatever you are viewing on your device; another app viewing a specification, drawing, a screen from a measurement tool, or reading an email. Return to FTQ360 and tap the camera icon. The photo editor will open automatically so you can crop and mark up the screenshot, then save to the inspection.

Approval checkpoints: A New Type of Checkpoint

When inspection report reviews and approvals are part of your workflow, the new Approval Checkpoints are for you. They give you the ability to set up checklist templates with required approvals according to your workflow. Then during the inspection the approver is notified when the inspection is ready for their review and can reject or sign-off. Approval checkpoints can be added to any checklist template or dynamically added based on if-then logic formulas.