W.A. Shewhart wrote a hundred years ago to his bosses:
“A few days ago, you mentioned some of the problems connected with the development of an acceptable form of inspection report which might be modified from time to time, in order to give at a glance the greatest amount of accurate information…… Should it be found desirable, however, to make use of this form of chart in any of the studies now being conducted within the Inspection Department, it will be possible to indicate the method to be followed in the particular examples.”
"Walter Shewhart developed a critical insight that, while all processes exhibit variation, some variation is inherent to the specific process. From this thinking, he invented the Statistical Process Control (SPC) technique in 1924."
The first control chart was “born”! The QIS will be holding a “birthday party” to celebrate this significant event. There will be three talks and a discussion.
John Aldrich and Penny Reynolds of the RSS History of Statistics Section will start the session with an online presentation - history of SPC and the links to the RSS.
Penny will review papers from the perspective of the early history of Bell Labs, a copy of Shewhart’s original memo with the first QC chart, plus general papers on the development of statistical QA/QI. Shewhart was important in the story of US-UK statistical collaborations as the first American guru. He was introduced to the UK by Egon Pearson and his work was behind the I in the RSS's Industrial & Agricultural Section which was part of the RSS's re-missioning in the 1930s. Shewhart's intellectual capture of the statistics department at University College London, which Egon Pearson would soon take over, was a big deal. Quality control was the main business of the wartime mathematical statisticians who created the RSS Research Section and Series B. (https://www.jehps.net/juin2010/Aldrich.pdf)
Jonathan Smyth-Renshaw of the RSS Quality Improvement Section – what was Shewhart’s intent for SPC? (In person & online)
I will go back in time to 1924, where we will revisit the Shewhart SPC chart and the assumptions Shewhart made, resulting in robust method to display and understand variation. I will also discuss the role of Jennett in the development of SPC.
Roland Caulcutt of the RSS Quality Improvement Section - Shewhart charts aren’t always suitable. (online)
The inflow of Japanese products into Britain during the 1960s triggered a demand for help with the introduction of SPC charts. These charts were already in use in some British companies, that were similar to Bell Telephones, where Shewhart had spent much of his working life. However, many Quality Managers, in British chemical and oil industries, experienced difficulty following the Shewhart procedures. Roland will explain the fundamental differences between the two types of companies and describe alternative SPC charts that are more suitable when manufacturing liquid products, that Shewhart may not have encountered.
Open discussion and summary of Shewhart’s contribution and legacy.
We expect many people to attend this joint section presentation. We would like to have a lively discussion on the next 100 years of SPC and welcome comments in the chat box as the presentations are being given.
Penny Reynolds (RSS History of Statistics)
John Aldrich (RSS History of Statistics)
Jonathan Smyth-Renshaw (RSS Quality Improvement Section)
Ronald Caulcutt (RSS Quality Improvement Section)
Chair: Shirley Coleman (RSS Quality Improvement Section)
Jonathan Smyth-Renshaw (smythrenshaw@btinternet.com) for RSS Quality Improvement Section.
Jointly organised with RSS History of Statistics Section
Members - free
Non-members - £10