Quality Improvement through SPC Techniques: A Case Study

Statistical process Control (SPC) can be applied most frequently to controlling manufacturing lines but it may be equally applied to any process with a measurable output. Key tools in SPC are control charts and cause & effect diagrams focused on continuous improvement. In this paper, an attempt has been made to implement the some SPC techniques in the industry, producing the Tractor's parts in India. The power of SPC lies in the ability to examine a process and the sources of variation in that process, using tools that give weightage to objective analysis over subjective opinions and that allow the strength of each source to be determined numerically. Only two main tools i.e. cause and effect diagram and control charts are implemented in this industry out of seven SPC tools. The present work deals with the study of defects in Foot Board assembly, Foot step assembly, Fuel tank assembly and Fender of Radiator. After implementing the required suggestions/recommendations for radiator assembly, it is found that process capability is improved and it is greater than required for 400 numbers of observations.