RE: SPC Theory

["John McConnell" <wysowl@msn.com.au>]

John David Kromkowski wrote,

Again, I say that understanding variation is not beyond the capacity of good
middle school education.

I agree with John.  Many of us will have witnessed first hand how anyone who
has the desire to can learn to understand and reduce variation, including
learning how to use control charts.  My own experience is that if leaders
lead, the remainder will eventually abandon their excuses and avoidance and
follow.  But leaders must both show the way as well as demand that
understanding and reducing variation is not optional.
For example, one manufacturing manager, Mr. Geoff Ward, would not accept
data or reports from any production/process leader unless a control chart
for the key attributes and/or variables was presented, along with the
appropriate Pareto charts.  This was a minimum standard. People were soon
clamouring to gain a place on the next available course on control chart
theory and practice.  Even folk who had not finished high school became
competent with control charts, and some became quite expert.  Everyone
learned charts for both variables and attributes.  Compare this with the
avoidance and "excusitis" so often witnessed.
It can be done; it has been done; it will be done again.

Have Fun!

John McConnell
wysowl@msn.com.au