ON THE USAGE OF SPREADSHEET PACKAGES FOR AUTOMATING STATISTICAL PROCESS-CONTROL TASKS

This paper presents an implementation of statistical process control a pplication using a modern spreadsheet software package. This implement ation uses a graphical user interface and integrates the SPC functiona lity into the spreadsheet package in such form that it becomes an inte gral part of the package. A fairly complete collection of control char t types have been included. This system also contains an embedded expe rt assistant for the selection of the appropriate control chart type f or the problem depending on the data characteristics. The usage of thi s statistical process control application is demonstrated by using on- line statistical process control of control loop operation as an examp le. This example clearly illustrates the importance of variable select ion for performing statistical process control.