ABSTRACT
Statistical process control (SPC) is a collection of management and statistical techniques whose objective is to bring a process into a state of stability or control and then to maintain this state. All processes are variable, and being in control is not a natural state. Statistical process control has been found to be an effective way to improve product and service quality. There are many management issues, as well as statistical techniques, that need to be considered to ensure the successful use of statistical process control. Quite often SPC fails in companies, not because of the technicalities, but because of a poor understanding of the important management issues. We shall be more concerned with the concepts and management issues involved with SPC than with the technicalities.
