For operations, quality and service teams
Statistical Process Control (SPC) Consulting
Is a spike this week a real problem or ordinary noise? Statistical process control gives you a clear answer. With the right control charts, you stop reacting to every small change and act fast when a process truly shifts, whether you run a production line, a clinic or a service desk.
The short answer
What is statistical process control?
Statistical process control (SPC) is a method for monitoring a process over time using control charts. Each chart shows a center line and control limits, usually three standard deviations either side of the average.
Points inside the limits reflect normal, common cause variation. Points outside the limits, or unusual patterns, signal a special cause that is worth investigating.
Signal or noise
Where statistical process control fits in your operations cycle
Operations teams see variation every day and must decide which changes are real. Control charts help, but only when the measurements are reliable and the limits are set correctly. We join at the point where the charts are built and read.
Swipe sideways to see the full diagram
| Stage | Who leads | Their work | Where we fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Process goal | Operations manager | Chooses the process and the quality target. | Helps pick a measure that reflects the process and can be tracked. |
| 2. Measurement system | Quality engineer | Checks that the measurement tools are accurate. | Reviews measurement error, so noise is not mistaken for a process shift. |
| 3. Data collection | Operators and supervisors | Records measurements on the line. | Sets up rational subgroups and a simple, consistent recording method. |
| 4. Control charts | Data analyst | Builds charts and calculates control limits. | Calculates the limits, checks the chart rules and explains each signal. |
| 5. Monitoring | Line supervisor | Watches the chart and reacts to signals. | Agrees a response plan, so signals trigger a clear action. |
| 6. Improvement | Process team | Investigates causes and tests fixes. | Checks whether the change shifted the process, using the same charts. |
Who it is for
Built for teams like yours.
Manufacturing and quality teams
Monitor defects, dimensions and yields with the right chart types.
Healthcare and service teams
Track waiting times, error rates and turnaround times.
Operations managers
Separate real performance changes from random noise in weekly KPIs.
What you get
Clear deliverables, agreed up front.
A practical monitoring system, not just a chart. Every project is quoted as a fixed price after a free assessment, so you know the cost before work begins.
- Selection of the right control chart for each measure
- Calculated control limits from your baseline data
- Rules for spotting special causes
- Process capability analysis (Cp, Cpk) where relevant
- A reusable Excel or R monitoring template
- Training for the people who will read the charts
Packages and pricing
Pick the depth you need.
Starting prices are shown for each option. Your final price is a fixed quote, agreed after a free assessment of your data and scope, so there are no surprises.
Chart Setup
Control charts for one process measure, set up correctly from the start.
- Stability check of past data
- Control limits calculated
- Chart in Excel or R
- Guide to reading signals
Capability Study
Shows whether a process can meet its specification, not just whether it is stable.
- Everything in Chart Setup
- Measurement error review
- Cp and Cpk with intervals
- Improvement priorities report
Monthly Monitoring
We review your charts each month and explain every signal.
- Monthly chart update
- Signal review and likely causes
- Limit recalculation when the process changes
How it works
Four steps from question to answer.
- Step 1
Map
We identify the measures that matter and how they are collected.
- Step 2
Baseline
We calculate center lines and limits from stable data.
- Step 3
Chart
We build charts and agree the rules for action.
- Step 4
Embed
We train your team and hand over the template.
Questions we help you answer
If you are asking these, we can help.
Tools we use
- ?Is this week’s spike real or random?
- ?Is our process stable enough to improve?
- ?Which control chart fits our data?
- ?Is our process capable of meeting specification?
- ?Did our change actually improve performance?
- ?How do we avoid overreacting to noise?
FAQ
Questions about Statistical Process Control
Cannot see your question? Ask it in the enquiry form and you will get a direct answer.
See all FAQsWhat is a control chart?
A time series chart with a center line and upper and lower control limits. It shows whether variation in a process is normal or signals something unusual.
Who needs SPC?
Any team that measures the same process repeatedly, such as quality, waiting times, defects, error rates or delivery times.
What is the difference between control limits and specification limits?
Control limits come from your process data and show what it naturally does. Specification limits come from customers or standards and show what it should do.
Which chart should I use?
It depends on the data: individual measurements, subgroup averages, proportions or counts each need a different chart. We select the right one for each measure.
Can SPC run in Excel?
Yes. We build Excel templates that update the chart as you add data, and can also set it up in Power BI or R.
Our services
All eleven services
Statistics Coaching
View service Research and survey analyticsSurvey Analytics
View service Research and survey analyticsSurvey Design and Questionnaires
View service Data quality and business intelligenceData Cleaning and Validation
View service Research and survey analyticsMonitoring and Evaluation
View service Data quality and business intelligenceBusiness Intelligence and Dashboards
View service Data quality and business intelligenceProduct Insight Review
View serviceStatistical Process Control
Clinical and Health Data Analysis
View service AI, automation and coachingData Automation and Web Data Collection
View service AI, automation and coachingAI Automation and Chatbots
View serviceTell us about your data. We will tell you what it can answer.
Send a short description and receive a free assessment with a suggested approach, timeline and fixed quote.