WHAT IS STATISTICAL

PROCESS CONTROL?
Quality Glossary Definition: Statistical process control

Statistical process control (SPC) is defined as the use of statistical techniques to control a process
or production method. SPC tools and procedures can help you monitor process behavior, discover
issues in internal systems, and find solutions for production issues. Statistical process control is
often used interchangeably with statistical quality control (SQC).

• SPC tools
• SQC vs. SPC
• The 7 quality control tools
• The 7 supplemental tools
• History of SPC
• SPC resources

SPC TOOLS
A popular SPC tool is the control chart, originally developed by Walter Shewhart in the early 1920s.
A control chart helps one record data and lets you see when an unusual event, such as a very high
or low observation compared with "typical" process performance, occurs.

Control charts attempt to distinguish between two types of process variation:

1. Common cause variation, which is intrinsic to the process and will always be present
2. Special cause variation, which stems from external sources and indicates that the process
is out of statistical control

Various tests can help determine when an out-of-control event has occurred. However, as more
tests are employed, the probability of a false alarm also increases.

SQC VERSUS SPC

Statistical quality control (SQC) is defined as the application of the 14 statistical and analytical tools
(7-QC and 7-SUPP) to monitor process outputs (dependent variables). Statistical process control
(SPC) is the application of the same 14 tools to control process inputs (independent variables).
Although both terms are often used interchangeably, SQC includes acceptance sampling where
SPC does not.
THE 7 QUALITY CONTROL (7-QC)
TOOLS
In 1974, Dr. Kaoru Ishikawa brought together a collection of process improvement tools in his
text Guide to Quality Control. Known around the world as the seven quality control (7-QC) tools, they
are:

1. Cause-and-effect diagram (also called Ishikawa diagram or fishbone diagram)

2. Check sheet
3. Control chart
4. Histogram
5. Pareto chart
6. Scatter diagram
7. Stratification

THE 7 SUPPLEMENTAL (7-SUPP)

TOOLS
In addition to the basic 7-QC tools, there are also some additional statistical quality tools known as
the seven supplemental (7-SUPP) tools:

1. Data stratification
2. Defect maps
3. Events logs
4. Process flowcharts
5. Progress centers
6. Randomization
7. Sample size determination

The Relationship Between Statistical Quality Control and Statistical Process Control

Design of experiments (DOE) and

analysis of variance (AOV or ANOVA)
HISTORY OF SPC
A marked increase in the use of control charts occurred during World War II in the United States to
ensure the quality of munitions and other strategically important products. The use of SPC methods
diminished somewhat after the war, though was subsequently taken up with great effect in Japan
and continues to the present day. (For more information, see the History of Quality.)

Many SPC techniques have been adopted by organizations throughout the globe in recent years,
especially as a component of quality improvement initiatives like Six Sigma. The widespread use of
control charting procedures has been greatly assisted by statistical software packages and
sophisticated data collection systems.

Additional process-monitoring tools include:

• Cumulative Sum (CUSUM) charts: The ordinate of each plotted point represents the
algebraic sum of the previous ordinate and the most recent deviations from the target.
• Exponentially Weighted Moving Average (EWMA) charts: Each chart point represents the
weighted average of current and all previous subgroup values, giving more weight to recent
process history and decreasing weights for older data.

SPC RESOURCES
You can also search articles, case studies, and publications for SPC resources.

Books
Statistical Process Control for the FDA-Regulated Industry

Process Quality Control

Statistical Quality Control for the Six Sigma Green Belt

The Desk Reference Of Statistical Quality Methods

SPC For Right-Brain Thinkers