Monitoring process control chart with finite mixture probability distribution: An application in manufacture industry

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a monitoring multiple-stream processes control chart with a finite mixture of probability distributions in the manufacture industry.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected during production of a wheat-based dough in a food industry and the control charts were developed with these steps: to collect the master sample from different production batches; to verify, by graphical methods, the quantity and the characterization of the number of mixing probability distributions in the production batch; to adjust the theoretical model of probability distribution of each subpopulation in the production batch; to make a statistical model considering the mixture distribution of probability and assuming that the statistical parameters are unknown; to determine control limits; and to compare the mixture chart with traditional control chart.

Findings

A graph was developed for monitoring a multi-stream process composed by some parameters considered in its calculation with similar efficiency to the traditional control chart.

Originality/value

The control chart can be an efficient tool for customers that receive product batches continuously from a supplier and need to monitor statistically the critical quality parameters.

Citation

Vicentin, D.S., Silva, B.B., Piccirillo, I., Bueno, F.C. and Oprime, P.C. (2018), "Monitoring process control chart with finite mixture probability distribution: An application in manufacture industry", International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management, Vol. 35 No. 2, pp. 335-353. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJQRM-11-2016-0196