Is Static Process Control the Horse?

It is always fun to look at assumptions of old. This ad seems comical now – but when written, it made logical sense. The short-term efficiency and know how of the “horse” clearly outweighed that of the automobile. Few of us use a horse today for main transportation. But our carburetors do fail and our transmissions are known to be faulty, however, most people cant identify either parts from a lineup. That is what changed! Our micro-view, becomes macro, as efficiency improves.

For today’s factories – the same can be said about Process Control and protocols. The emphasis on “standard” and “statistical” must be replaced with imaginative and fluid. The transition will not be simple. The transition will require infrastructure and new technology. In the same way as the mechanization revolution of the 20th century. The result, will be production that is able to achieve higher yields, a reduction of waste, and better use of human ingenuity. Don’t allow the adaptation of new thinking and technology to be limited by short-term thinking that will look comical when reflected back in a few years.