Process Analysis Overview

The Process Analysis module contains different analytic procedures for:

Sampling plans are discussed in detail in Duncan (1974) and Montgomery (1985); most process capability procedures (and indices) were only recently introduced to the US from Japan (Kane, 1986), however, they are discussed in three excellent hands-on books by Bhote (1988), Hart and Hart (1989), and Pyzdek (1989); detailed discussions of these methods can also be found in Montgomery (1991).

Step-by-step instructions for the computation and interpretation of capability indices are also provided in the Fundamental Statistical Process Control Reference Manual published by the ASQC (American Society for Quality Control) and AIAG (Automotive Industry Action Group, 1991; referenced as ASQC/AIAG, 1991). Repeatability and reproducibility (R & R) methods are discussed in Grant and Leavenworth (1980), Pyzdek (1989) and Montgomery (1991); a more detailed discussion of the subject (of variance estimation) is also provided in Duncan (1974).

Step-by-step instructions on how to conduct and analyze R & R experiments are presented in the Measurement Systems Analysis Reference Manual published by ASQC/AIAG (1990). In the following topics, we will briefly introduce the purpose and logic of each of these procedures (click on a topic name to go to the overview about that topic). The examples presented in the Examples section of the manual will provide additional details about these methods. Note that STATISTICA also includes the Variance Components and Mixed ModelANOVA/ANCOVA module, which contains numerous options for analyzing designs with random effects and for estimating components of variance. See also the section on Methods for Analysis of Variance for additional details.

Standard references and textbooks describing Weibull Analysis techniques include Lawless (1982), Nelson (1990), Lee (1980, 1992), and Dodson (1994); the relevant functions of the Weibull distribution (hazard, CDF, reliability) are also described in Weibull CDF, Reliability, and Hazard Functions. Note that very similar statistical procedures are used in the analysis of survival data (see also the description of the Survival Analysis module), and, for example, the descriptions in Lee's book (Lee, 1992) are primarily addressed to biomedical research applications. An excellent overview with many examples of engineering applications is provided by Dodson (1994).