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| Statistical Engineering. An Algorithm for Reducing Variation in Manufacturing Processes | Buy a book...
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| Author(s): | S. Steiner and R. Mackay |
| Publisher: | American Society for Quality |
| ISBN: | 0873896467 |
| Format: | hardback + CD-ROM |
| 328pp | |
| Price: | $89.00 |
| Review Date: | 25 August 2005 |
| Review: | Reducing the variation in process output is a key part of process improvement. Here the authors discuss how a reduction in variation can lead to reduction in overall costs as well as an improvement in function and customer satisfaction. This book gives an effective, low-cost strategy for finding the dominant cause of variation, based on the method of elimination – a proven search method based on available observational data. The authors give a detailed framework for planning and analysing empirical investigations, known as QPDAC (Question, Plan, data, Analysis, Conclusion). They classify all effective ways of reducing variation into seven approaches. This variation-reducing algorithm narrowly focuses on process implementation of high-volume manufacturing processes. They begin by introducing the language of processes, such as outputs, fixed and varying inputs, dominant cause etc. They go on to focus, define and quantify a problem. Then the method of elimination is used for finding a dominant cause that uses families of causes of variation. Finally, they return to the choice of variation reduction approach in light of the results of a search for the dominant cause or a decision to skip such a search. The CD-ROM has chapter supplements, case studies, exercises, data assets and appendices. |