Title: Controversies and Contradictions in Statistical Process Control
Author: William H. Woodall
Publication Source: Journal of Quality Technology, Vol. 32, No. 4, October 2000
Abstract
[Based on the authors' abstract.] Statistical process control (SPC) methods are widely used to monitor and improve manufacturing processes and service operations. Disputes over the theory and application of these methods are frequent and often very tense.
Some of the controversies and issues discussed are the relationship between hypothesis testing and control charting, the role of theory and the modeling of control chart performance, the relative merits of competing methods, the relevance of research on SPC and even the relevance of SPC itself.
One purpose of the paper is to offer a resolution of some of these disagreements in order to improve the communication between practitioners and researchers.
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