Statistical process control
SPC is a technique of quality control that allows users to monitor the behavior of a process Garci (Bersbach Consulting). Examples of statistical process control tools: control charts, cumulative sum charts and exponentially weighted moving average.
SQC (seven quality controls)
The SQC are tools used as quality controls to solve any quality related problems through concentrating on the problem and not the symptoms. They include the scatter diagrams, check sheets, control charts, cause and effect diagrams, histograms, pareto diagrams and flow charts.
Literature review
The owners of the business would always need to ensure that they have increased their competitive ability in the market. Jafri and Teng also asserts that the success of the business will also depend on the improved quality and productivity of their products. Consequently, the business will need the presence of the seven quality controls, in order to meet these requirements. The SQC are important as they act as a cost effective method that the entrepreneur can use in ensuring that their production is successful in the market. The writers give example of a local plastic injection moulding company made use of the seven quality controls that would help in increasing their quality of production by reducing the defect from 13.49% to 7.4% (Mohd and Teng 33). Mohd and Teng also assert that in order for the SQC to work effectively, there is a need for the top management to put a strong commitment in undertaking the project. The company in a study made use of all the tools for the seven quality control like the scatter diagram, process flow chart, control chart, pareto chart and check sheet (Mohd and Teng 33).
Fouad and Mukattash talk about the need of realizing the relationship between the statistical process control and seven quality controls to improve the quality of production. The business owners need to put forward efforts in ensuring that there is effective implementation of the tools. The writers included a case study for the Jordanian manufacturing company (dealing in production of steel) who applied the tool in realizing their success. There was the realization that the defect arising in the company’s operation arose from the steel tensile strength, which contributed, to 72% of the total results of the problems (Fouad and Mukattash, 3). The use of the tool helped in realizing the nonconformities and the foundation of the problems together with the possible cure. There was a collection of data concerning the operation of the business. The data was then incorporated in the SQC tools, and the SPC, which helped in determining the percentage each of the activities, contribute to the problem witnessed. The pareto chart showed that rework in the company arose from the 72% contributed by the tensile strength while the other tests came out as the Useful Many taking the rest of the cumulative percentage (Fouad and Mukattash, 33).
The article by Bersbach Consulting also illustrates on the use of the seven basic control tools in improving the quality in a business environment. There is no restriction on who is using the tools, provided he or she is able to use them efficiently. The cause and effect diagrams help in accessing the opinion of the members about the problems with subsequent graphical representation of the information. The check sheet presents a list of items and how frequent they occur in the business. The control charts makes use of the Xbar-R Chart to analyze the quantity of the products (Bersbach Consulting). Further, the management will also involve the use of the scatter diagrams and stratifications.
Garcia stress on the need for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to make use of the checklist in helping the load operator to inspect machines. The checklist allows management to get the signature of the operator, which is then filed, with subsequent storage in the maintenance department (Garcia). The checklist consists of sections: outside the front-end loader, inside the cab and operational inspection of the machine used by the organization. The sectioning of the checklist allows the operator to ensure that they have inspected the machine before and after the operation.
References:
Rohani, J.M. & Teng, C.K. (2001). Improving quality with basic statistical process control (SPC) tools: a case study. Journal Technogi, 35(A):21-34. Retrieved November 12, 2012 from http://eprints.utm.my/1032/1/JT35A3.pdf
Fouad, R.H. & Mukattash, A. (2010). Statistical process control tools: a practical guide for Jordanian industrial organizations. JJMIE, 4(6):693-700. Retrieved November 12, 2012 from http://www.jjmie.hu.edu.jo/files/v4n6/4.pdf
BC. (2011, November 26). The seven basic quality control tools. Retrieved November 12, 2012, from http://www.sixsigmatrainingconsulting.com/uncategorized/the-seven-basic-quality-control-tools/
Garcia, H. (2012). Front end loader operator check list. eHow contributor. Retrieved November 12, 2012 from http://www.ehow.com/list_680242_front-loader-operator-check-list.html#ixzz2BkbgdRn1
