The newest edition of an insightful and practical statistical approach to quality control and management

In the newly revised and thoroughly updated Fifth Edition ofFundamentals of Quality Control and Improvement, accomplished academic, consultant, and author Dr. Amitava Mitra delivers a comprehensive and quantitative approach to quality management techniques. The book demonstrates how to integrate statistical concepts with quality assurance methods, incorporating modern ideas, strategies, and philosophies of quality management.

You'll discover experimental design concepts and the use of the Taguchi method to incorporate customer needs, improve lead time, and reduce costs. The new edition also includes brand-new case studies at the end of several chapters, references to the statistical software Minitab 19, and chapter updates that add discussions of trending and exciting topics in quality control.

The book includes access to supplementary material for instructors consisting of a new instructor's solutions manual and PowerPoint slides, as well as access to data sets for all readers.

Readers will also benefit from the inclusion of:

A thorough introduction to the evolution of quality and definitions of quality, quality control, quality assurance, quality circles, and quality improvement teamsAn exploration of customer needs and market share, as well as the benefits of quality control and the total quality systemPractical discussions of quality and reliability, quality improvement, product and service costing, and quality costsA concise treatment of how to measure quality costs, the management of quality, and the interrelationship between quality and productivity

Perfect for upper-level undergraduate and graduate students in quality control and improvement, the Fifth Edition ofFundamentals of Quality Control and Improvement will also earn a place in the libraries of business students and those undertaking training programs in Six Sigma.

Amitava Mitra, PhD, is Professor in the Department of Systems and Technology and the former Associate Dean in the College of Business at Auburn University, Alabama. He has published over 70 journal articles and teaches quality assurance and improvement.

Preface  xix

About the Companion Website xxiii

Part I Philosophy and Fundamentals 1

1 Introduction to Quality Control and the Total Quality System 3

2 Some Philosophies and Their Impact on Quality 47

3 Quality Management: Practices, Tools, and Standards 89

Part II Statistical Foundations and Methods of Quality Improvement 151

4 Fundamentals of Statistical Concepts and Techniques in Quality Control and Improvement 153

5 Data Analyses and Sampling 233

Part III Statistical Process Control 285

6 Statistical Process Control Using Control Charts 287

7 Control Charts for Variables 311

8 Control Charts for Attributes 405

9 Process Capability Analysis 471

Part IV Product and Process Design 527

10 Reliability 529

11 Experimental Design and the Taguchi Method 569

12 Process Modeling Through Regression Analysis 675

Appendixes 733

Index 755