Statistical Quality Control: Developing Students' Understanding of Variable Control Charts using String

摘要

Students have responded very favorably to experienced-based learning (Heineke & Meile, 1995). Experienced-based minidemonstrations are simple, yet effective teaching tools to positively assist in student learning (Fish, 2001). Although the quality movement in the United States occurred over 20 years ago, quality management concepts remain as traditional concepts taught in operations management classes. Typical quality management controls taught include statistical process control charts—both variable and attribute. This teaching brief offers a minidemonstra-tion for variable control charting that can be used in graduate and undergraduate courses, encourages student participation and learning, allows for minimal and efficient use of valuable classroom time (approximately 10 minutes of classroom time), and can be used with small or large class sizes (Fish, 2001). The statistical quality control charting string minidemonstration has been very well received (92.7% favor) by 838 graduate and undergraduate students.