Using SPC in Conjunction with APC

ABSTRACT

The objective of this article is to discuss the role and use of statistical process control (SPC) in quality systems, especially when there is an automatic process control (APC) in place. SPC, along with APC, can be used as a process monitoring system to signal deviations from the expected behavior of the process. The idea for this article was triggered by the article by G. Vining (2010) entitled “Technical Advice: Statistical Process Control and Automatic/Engineering Process Control.”

KEYWORDS:

• automatic/engineering process control
• process monitoring
• statistical process control

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Donald S. Holmes

Donald S. Holmes is the president of Stochos Inc., Duanesburg, NY. He is a retired professor of the Gradaute Management Institute at Union College, Schenectady, NY. Mr. Holmes received M.Sc. and B.Sc. degrees in mathematics. He is a Fellow of American Society for Quality and a certified quality engineer.

A. Erhan Mergen

A. Erhan Mergen is a professor of Decision Sciences in the Saunders College of Business at the Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY. He holds a Ph.D. in administrative and engineering systems, an M.Sc. in industrial administration, and a B.Sc. in management. He is a member of the American Society for Quality.