Items Tagged with 'statistical process control (SPC)'

Reliable measurements are the linchpin to any Six Sigma process. 

The supply chain has become a vital process contributing to products and services realized by organizations.

In metal additive manufacturing, “traceability” has become a badge of seriousness. We can trace powder batches. We can trace build jobs. We can trace post-processing steps. We can trace inspection results. Great. 

Many manufacturers want to automate but struggle to figure out where to begin. 

Nearly 90% of material resources across the European Union are lost after their first use, highlighting how linear today’s manufacturing economy remains. 

Today, quality is an economic engine in its own right—driving productivity, customer loyalty, and profitability.

Manufacturing teams continue to use handheld gages during daily quality work, even as they expand their automated inspection systems and adopt more software-driven processes.

For decades, quality has been treated as something that sits alongside production rather than as an integral part of it. Most organizations invest in quality primarily to avoid failure: recalls, regulatory findings, customer complaints, and brand damage. 

I admit, first things first does make sense to me. In particular, I like it because it places a priority on the basics. You have to crawl before you walk, walk before you run.

Lou Ann Lathrop is an ASQ fellow, ASQ board of directors’ treasurer for 2025, and past chair of ASQ Automotive Division. She also recently wrote an article for Quality about Dr. Deming's teachings.