ABSTRACT

Mastering Statistical Process Control shows how to understand business or process performance more clearly and more effectively. This practical book is based on a rich and varied selection of case studies from across industry and commerce, including material from the manufacturing, extractive and service sectors. It will enable readers to understand how SPC can be used to maximum effect, and will deliver more effective monitoring, control and improvement in systems, processes and management.

The common obstacle to successful use of SPC is getting bogged down with control charts, forgetting that visual representation of data is but a tool and not an end in itself. Mastering SPC demonstrates how statistical tools are applied and used in reality. This is a book that will open up the power of SPC for many: managers, quality professionals, engineers and analysts, as well as students, will welcome the clarity and explanation that it brings to understanding the use and benefit of SPC in a wide range of engineering, production and service situations.

Key case studies include using SPC to:
· Measure quality and human factors
· Monitor process performance accurately over long periods
· Develop best-practice benchmarks using control charts
· Maximise profitability of fixed assets
· Improve customer service and satisfaction

part |20 pages

An Introduction to the Theory of SPC

part |37 pages

Exploding Data Analysis Myths

chapter |10 pages

Exploring the mis-information in moving average charts

How they fail to respond to process changes, out-of-control points, trends and seasonality

part |191 pages

Putting SPC into Practice – The Cases

chapter |6 pages

Investigating variation in chemical concentration

How control charts were used to identify, investigate and prove the cause of fluctuations in results

chapter |6 pages

Monitoring rare events

How a sudden but uncertain change in safety record was shown to be significant

chapter |7 pages

Reducing problems during borehole drilling

An example of monitoring two metrics on one chart

chapter |12 pages

Comparing the results of using different

An application to a batch production process

chapter |10 pages

Using control charts to analyse data with a trend

An application to cost management

chapter |18 pages

Comparison of test results of production process

From a batch production process to identify a key cause of variation and that the process is not capable of producing within specification

part |46 pages

Developing SPC Skills: Organisational Review Questions, Workshops and Exercises

chapter |18 pages

The Rods Experiment

A practical case study that can be used for training

part |17 pages

An Introduction to Six Sigma