Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

• ISO 9000 QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
  
• ISO 14000 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
  
• FOOD SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
  
• METROLOGICAL MEASUREMENT SYSTEM
  
• ISO/IEC 17025 - COMPETENCE OF TESTING AND CALIBRATION LABS
  
• INTEGRATED PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
  
• STATISTICAL PROCESS CONTROL (SPC)
  

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What is Statistical Process Control (SPC)?

SPC is a:

• practical application of statistical principles in management, engineering and process control systems; and
• statistical technique for the  identification, measurement, analysis and control of all causes of variation in any  process, that attains an output in goods, software and services.

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Benefits of SPC

• Identification, measurement, analysis and control of all root causes of variation in  processes and operations to maximize the added value, 
• Improving process efficiency and effectiveness (Business Process Re-engineering),
  
• Enhancing  professional competence,
• Supporting continual improvement thru cost savings/elimination of waste, etc

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Principles of SPC

Principle 1: No two things are exactly alike.

Principle 2: Variation in a product or process can be measured.

Principle 3: Things vary according to a definite pattern.

Principle 4:  Whenever things of the same kind are measured, a large group of the measurements will tend to cluster around the middle.

Principle 5:  It is possible to determine the shape of the distribution curve for parts (outputs) produced by any process.

Principle 6: Variation due to special (assignable) causes tends to distort the normal distribution curve.

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SPC Tools

• Brainstorming
  
• Sampling
  
• Check Sheet
  
• Run chart
  
• Pareto Chart
  
• The Five Whys
  
• Fishbone/ Cause & Effect Diagram
  
• Histograms
  
• Correlation Chart
  
• Control Chart
  
• Process capability
  
• Force Field Analysis
  
• Prioritization Matrix
  

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For more information, please contact Tadesse Solomon, I-QUAS Contact at: iquas@ethionet.et or (251-11) 662 3846 or (251-91) 161 3073, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

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