Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide apparatuses and methods for determining the cost of poor quality of an incident within a business. One way to measure costs associated with an incident is by measuring failed customer interactions (“FCIs”). FCIs are defined as incidents that occur within the business that either directly or indirectly affect a customer's ability to use a product or service offered by the business. In most situations an FCI relates to a failed interaction between the business and the customer through a channel that affected the customer's use of a product or service through the channel. The cost of poor quality application calculates the total cost of an incident through a multifaceted valuation that factors in hard metrics, such as but not limited to actual costs, duration, channel costs, FCI severity, etc. in order to calculate a remediation cost, a channel FCI cost, and a reputation cost.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide apparatuses and methods for determining the cost of poor quality of an incident within a business. One way to measure costs associated with an incident is by measuring failed customer interactions (“FCIs”). FCIs are defined as incidents that occur within the business that either directly or indirectly affect a customer's ability to use a product or service offered by the business. In most situations an FCI relates to a failed interaction between the business and the customer through a channel that affected the customer's use of a product or service through the channel. The cost of poor quality application calculates the total cost of an incident through a multifaceted valuation that factors in hard metrics, such as but not limited to actual costs, duration, channel costs, FCI severity, etc. in order to calculate a remediation cost, a channel FCI cost, and a reputation cost.

Abstract: A filter assembly for removing particulate contaminants from a fluid, comprises a annular filter element having first and second ends, a filter housing containing the filter element and having first and second ends and a substantially cylindrical side wall defining an annular space between the side wall and the filter element, an end plate secured to the first end of the filter housing and having at least one fluid inlet therethrough adjacent to the first end of the filter element so that the fluid enters the filter housing through the at least one fluid inlet and flows into the annular space, and a directional fluid insert having at least one of fin disposed between the first end of the filter element and the end plate. The fins provided to cause the fluid entering the filter housing through the at least one fluid inlet to swirl around the filter element.

Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed of a patronage incentive system in which a monetary award is made to a customer's retirement account as incentive for the customer to participate in a transaction with the sponsor for the sponsor's goods or services. The system includes a means for identifying the customer, a means for inputting the identification information and other information about the transaction into a computer data storage, a computer data processing device which uses a software program along with the transactional information to calculate an incentive award amount a means for transferring the monetary funds equal to the incentive award amount from an incentive award pool to the customer's retirement account, and a means of reporting the incentive award amount to the customer and to the sponsor.