Critical Thinking Activity

SPC Review

1. Review the section Statistical Process Control Defined. Explain how environment and the Five Ms can affect processes used in the following:

   1. A hardware store

   2. A hospital

   3. An accounting firm

   4. A newspaper

   5. A factory

   6. A new-car dealership

2. Explain the relationship that exists between the histogram and the control chart.

3. Contrast the histograms characteristic of representing a snapshot of a process with a control chart.

4. Defend the statement that the operator of the process should be the owner and data plotter of the control chart, as opposed to a person from quality assurance or engineering, for example.

5. Comment on the significance of this statement: Control chart parameters must be statistically derived and cannot simply be specifications or some arbitrary values that are based on production expectations.