Control charts and statistical process control (SPC) allow companies to monitor processes, detect issues, and enact improvements. Control charts display process data over time and help identify when processes are behaving unusually due to "special causes." SPC uses statistics to set control limits on charts and determine whether a process is in or out of statistical control. Implementing control charts involves selecting processes and variables to measure, collecting baseline data to create charts, training operators, and continuously monitoring and improving processes.

1. Control Charts and SPC
How to implement in your company
and having real gains by using SPC
and Control Charts

2. Jun-2016 SPC and Control Charts miguel.ma.araujo@gmail.com
CONTROL CHARTS
Control Charts or Shewhart’s Charts are quality
tools that allow us not only the quality control of a
process, but a process improvement, reduce
variation and reduce costs.
By monitoring and controlling the critical variables
of a process, giving signals so that we can take
measures in our process, such as - stopping a
process, adjusting or correcting the factor of a
process that is out of control – control charts are a
visual and simple tool to use.

3. Jun-2016 SPC and Control Charts miguel.ma.araujo@gmail.com
Walter A. Shewhart, known as the father of statistical process
control, created some of the most used control charts as the
Xbar-R, I-MR among others, used for variables and other charts
for attributes (charts p, np, c, u).
Variation is normal and present in every process, due to the
common causes of variation, what the charts allow us is to
detect the presence of special causes of variation, those that
cause the difficulties in our processes 

4. Jun-2016 SPC and Control Charts miguel.ma.araujo@gmail.com
SPC – Statistical Process Control
It’s based on Statistics that we built and interpret the control charts.
The central value is the mean of data collected for creating the chart.
And the upper and lower control limits are calculated by adding and
subtracting, 3 times the standard deviation (SD).
UCL = Mean + 3xSD LCL = Mean – 3xSD
Since processes have natural variation due to the common causes of
variation, the points of a chart will have a random distribution, with
the shape of a normal curve (Gauss curve). Closer to the centre and
with the shape of a bell curve.
UCLLCL

5. Jun-2016 SPC and Control Charts miguel.ma.araujo@gmail.com
So we say that a process is in statistical control only when the
common causes of variation are present and in the control chart
the distribution of the observations has a normal behaviour.
SPC and the control charts are very useful to help us detect the
presence of special causes of variation and/or any disturbance in
our process.

6. Jun-2016 SPC and Control Charts miguel.ma.araujo@gmail.com
Centre the process and/or reduce variation
it’s what we do in a process improvement
initiative.
Out of target
X
X
XX
X X X
X X
X
X
X
Variation
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
XX
X
Centre
The Process
Reduce
variation
ON TARGET
X
X
XXX
X
X
XXXX
XX X
LCL UCL
UCLLCL

7. Jun-2016 SPC and Control Charts miguel.ma.araujo@gmail.com
Some advantages:
• Simple and practical control and monitoring tool of
our processes
• Allows a bigger and better knowledge of the process
• Enables the process continuous improvement
• Useful to fulfil customer requirements
• Visual and easy to integrate with Information
Systems

8. Jun-2016 SPC and Control Charts miguel.ma.araujo@gmail.com
Implementation:
There is no recipe for all Organizations, but here are some
important points to have in mind:
1. Define what you are going to measure( know the process and
the variables to study)
2. Team training before implementing
3. Measurement System Analysis in place
4. Collect initial data and create the control chart ( with excel)
5. Put the control chart on the workplace, define how and
when to control the process
6. Follow-up and coach the operators (teaching fundamentals
of control charts)

9. Jun-2016 SPC and Control Charts miguel.ma.araujo@gmail.com
Implementation
7. With more experience on control charts, consider to have
automated data collection,
8. Use of specific software tools for SPC and Control Charts,
9. Even with a SPC Software, keep the charts visual and
interacting with the operators,
10. Records should be complemented with vital information
from the process, to allow the correct interpretation and
detection of the variation causes.
11. Training and coaching never stops. The same for monitoring
and continuously improving the process.

10. Jun-2016 SPC and Control Charts miguel.ma.araujo@gmail.com
Support
• SPC and Control Charts training
• Control Charts implementation on the workplace
• Process analysis and definition of the variables to
be measured
• Choose the adequate Control Charts
• MSA (Measuring System Analysis)
• Support on selecting the SPC and Control Charts
Software to your company.

11. Questions and Support:
Miguel Araújo
miguel.ma.araujo@gmail.com
+351 962390706