Title: Statistical process control: an approach for continuous quality improvement in automotive SMEs - Indian case study

Authors: Jigar A. Doshi; Darshak A. Desai

Addresses: School of Engineering, R.K. University, Rajkot, Gujarat, India; Indus Institute of Technology and Engineering, Indus University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India ' Mechanical Engineering Department, G.H. Patel College of Engineering and Technology, Bakrol Road, Vallabh Vidyanagar – 388120, Anand, Gujarat, India

Abstract: This paper intends to present the outcome of the case study-based research on implementation of the statistical process control (SPC) in the automotive SMEs in Gujarat, India. The case study-based research was carried out in four automotive SMEs; all of them are suppliers to automobile OEMs. SPC is one of the important automotive core tools to examine and monitor a process variation and that provides the means to improve process continuously based on numerical results. An attempt is made to identify process variations by implementing SPC in four automotive SMEs and to measure its impact on continuous quality improvement for automotive SMEs. As an outcome of research, process variation and sources for improvements are identified; root cause analysis was carried out to improve the processes in each company. It is also observed that all companies have a significant amount of process variation and improvement opportunity. After implementation of proper actions, process capability is improved significantly in all companies.

Keywords: statistical process control; SPC; control charts; automotive core tools; ACT; automotive SMEs; small and medium-sized enterprises; India; continuous improvement; quality improvement; case study; automobile industry; process capability.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPQM.2016.079783

International Journal of Productivity and Quality Management, 2016 Vol.19 No.3, pp.387 - 407

Received: 24 Jul 2014
Accepted: 13 Apr 2015
Published online: 14 Oct 2016 *

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