Statistical Quality Control Narrative Essay Example

or process. We will ? st see what types of variation we can observe when measuring quality. Then we will be able to identify speci? c tools used for measuring this variation. Variation in the production process leads to quality defects and lack of product consistency. The Intel Corporation, the world’s largest and most pro? table manufacturer of microprocessors, understands this. Therefore, Intel has implemented a program it calls “copy-exactly” at all its manufacturing facilities. The idea is that regardless of whether the chips are made in Arizona, New Mexico, Ireland, or any of its other plants, they are made in exactly the same way.

This means using the same equipment, the same exact materials, and workers performing the same tasks in the exact same order. The level of detail to which the “copy-exactly” concept goes is meticulous. For example, when a chipmaking machine was found to be a few feet longer at one facility than another, Intel made them match. When water quality was found to be different at one facility, Intel instituted a puri? cation system to eliminate any differences. Even when a worker was found polishing equipment in one direction, he was asked to do it in the approved circular pattern.

Why such attention to exactness of detail? The reason is to minimize all variation. Now let’s look at the different types of variation that exist. Statistical process control (SPC) A statistical tool that involves inspecting a random sample of the output from a process and deciding whether the process is producing products