|
|
Publications
Ramalhoto, M.F. and Guedes Soares, C. (1997), “Stochastic Process Control and Quality Management”, Advances in Safety and Reliability, Guedes Soares, C. (Ed), Pergamon, Vol. 3, pp. 2003-2010
Whether in production, design, administration or service the results of quality control are smoother operations, reduced costs, higher outputs, improved quality and customer satisfaction and better humam relations. Logical data collection, well designed record sheets, statistical summaries, establishing priorities, generating and organising ideas, looking at relationships, monitoring and control, are served by the so called basic statistical tools od Stochastic Process Control / Quality Management (SPC/QM). Of course, we bear in mind that SPC, in either product, process or total quality applications, must not be dominated by techniques. We are in agreement with the aphorism, SPC is 20% statistics, 10% common sense and 70% engineering. Or as Eduard Deming puts it, "statistics is a basic put comprehensive way of thinking and acting which combines information, opinion and common-sense for the better design of products, systems, strategies and decision making". The accent is on communication, teamwork and problem-solving. Therefore, sucessful implementation of SPC/QM, depend on an adequate and efficient blend of managemnt skills, technology, human relations and statisicts. That requires interdisciplinary postgraduate programs, MSc. Degrees and advanced continuing engineering / management courses, blending all the different types of the above mentioned disciplines. Interdisciplinary Ph.D and Postdoctoral research programs in those areas are clearly needed. The purposes of this paper is to discuss and propose some networking opportunities in SPC/QM in the context of intterdisciplinary research and postgraduate programs. Some examples, to clarify the points that we are trying to make, are taken from current research on control charts / maintenance schemes.
If you did not manage to obtain a copy of this paper: Request a copy of this article
For information about all CENTEC publications you can download: Download the Complete List of CENTEC Publications
|