Which of the following techniques is commonly used in SPC?

Control charts are a fundamental technique commonly used in Statistical Process Control (SPC). They serve as a tool for monitoring the stability of a process over time and determining whether a process is in control or exhibiting variability due to specific causes. Control charts display data points over a period, alongside control limits that indicate the expected variation within the process under normal conditions. By analyzing the patterns and trends in these charts, teams can identify any variations that might signify an issue, allowing for timely interventions to maintain quality and efficiency.

While other techniques such as quality circles, fishbone diagrams, and Pareto analysis are valuable in quality management and problem-solving, they do not play the same central role in SPC as control charts. Quality circles focus more on team involvement for continuous improvement, fishbone diagrams are used for root cause analysis, and Pareto analysis prioritizes problems based on their significance. Control charts specifically allow for real-time monitoring and are essential for understanding and managing process behavior, which is at the heart of SPC methodologies.