Implementing SPC into the Manufacturing Process

Textbooks on Statistical Process Control concepts have been available for over thirty years. However, the actual process of implementing SPC into American industry is just beginning. This paper describes a method of SPC implementation as developed and instituted by a heavy-duty transmission manufacturing plant. The process described goes far beyond applying a few control charts at troublesome machine operations. Statistical Process Control is structured into a “system” where inspection stations are no longer required at the end of production lines. Total responsibility of quality management now belongs to the Production organization.