If you have been frustrated by very technical statistical process control (SPC) training materials, then this is the book for you. This book focuses on how SPC works and why managers should consider using it in their operations. It provides you with a conceptual understanding of SPC so that appropriate decisions can be made about the benefits of incorporating SPC into the process management and quality improvement processes. Today, there is little need to make the necessary calculations by hand, so the author utilizes Minitab and NWA Quality Analyst-two of the most popular statistical analysis software packages on the market. Links are provided to the home pages of these software packages where trial versions may be downloaded for evaluation and trial use. The book also addresses the question of why SPC should be considered for use, the process of implementing SPC, how to incorporate SPC into problem identification, problem solving, and the management and improvement of processes, products, and services.

Author Biography

Victor (Vic) Sower is distinguished Professor Emeritus of Operations Management at Sam Houston State University (SHSU). He has a BS in chemistry from Virginia Tech, an MBA from Auburn University, and PhD in operations management from the University of North Texas. Before entering the academic arena at SHSU, Vic worked for 18 years in a variety of manufacturing positions including as a process engineer for the Radford Army Ammunition Plant, and process engineer and process development engineering manager for Ampex Corp. At SHSU, he established the Sower Business Technology Laboratory in the College of Business, is the author or coauthor of eight books in the quality and operations management fields, and is a senior member of American Society for Quality and American Institute of Chemical Engineers.