Understanding Statistical Process Control

by Donald J. Wheeler, Donald J. Wheeler

This internationally acclaimed textbook is widely used for teaching basic SPC, Data Analysis, and Continual Improvement Techniques to those who work in manufacturing and process industries. Over 75 years of practical experience were distilled in this book which combines instruction with real-world case studies. Written in ordinary language, the book is easy to read and appropriate for self study. W. Edwards Deming wrote in his foreword, It is fitting to add my deep appreciation for the mathematical achievements of Dr. Wheeler. His understanding of theory, and its application, is guided by mathematical knowledge. Some of he unique material in this landmark text how charts signal inadequate measurement discrimination; how to use count data effectively; what happens if the measurements are not normally distributed; the right and wrong ways to assess capability; how to use process behavior charts with chemical batches; the right ways to compute limits for process behavior charts; principles of subgrouping; World-Class Quality and the Taguchi Loss Function.

Genres: Business, Management

406 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1986

Reviews

[tomlinton · Rating 3 out of 5]

I believe this is the book
Which offered manual calculation of control charts
It was the equivalent of celestial navigation
which I had just finished
thinking I would sail the world
only to find out
my wife got easily seasick

No sooner was the class out
than I began speculating
that our Excel spreadsheets
could do this much easier
and within a week
I'd proved it
and within another month
the whole TQM movement
at my level in the corporation
had collapsed for want of executives
who could put up with it

[Barry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, this book kind of is the be all and end all of understanding statistical process control!

The early chapters guide you through the rationale of why control charts are necessary and how to use them. Later in the book the chapters shift to more detailed ways to monitor and control processes.

If one is working in a production environment where regulation and control and stability are important this book will be really useful. If one wants an overview of how to understand and measure data then the first half of the book will be enough.

I assume this text book was to accompany a course or program of study. At the end of each chapter there are a series of exercises. I quite enjoyed working through the exercises (relatively) long hand. Right now, I can get Excel to do most of this book much quicker but I found the practice of working through the mathematics long-hand helped me appreciate nuance I hadn't noticed before.

Sadly, the book goes from explaining things in a basic high school way to graduate level mathematics in the space of a couple of chapters. If your algebra is rusty the book doesn't really help you and in some cases is downright confusing. Along with the gendered language (this was written in the 80's) it's clear who it's audience is and is not.

Still, despite my criticisms I think the book has broadened my knowledge and the learning in it I use regularly at work. This book helps the reader understand 'is my process in control', 'should I change it', and 'how will I know if a change has occurred.' Whilst I struggled towards the end, I won't ever need to measure a production line to this degree but I think the learning is relevant for anyone involved in managing, monitoring or improving a process of any description.

[Julia Wood]

TS156.8 .W47 2010

[Neil]

https://twitter.com/ejames_c/status/1...

[Nivas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Final year course on Process control and Industrial automation

[Warren]

Brief and to the point. Good use of illustrations.

[Jimmacc · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book to explain process control

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the most accessible presentation of SPC I've ever seen.