Is SPC a requirement of AS9100? Small Machine Shop and Assembly

[Cindrakay]

Hi Folks, I work at a small manufacturing company that makes mounts for military helicopters. We have a small machine shop and also perform assembly operations on items as required prior to delivery to the customer. I am questioning whether or not SPC (or some other type of statistical technique) is required by AS9100.

We generally have quite small runs of parts going through our system - typically the process takes a few days from set up to getting all of the parts off the machines and to their next step. I don't really see where SPC would be a valuable tool for small runs of parts. We always do a first piece check at initial set up, but we do not normally run checks on parts during the run unless we have a need for closer control because of criticality or because of the hardness of the material (and thus the tools are seeing more wear). Those instances are rather few and far between.

I've been trying to figure out where to implement SPC, and after rereading the requirement again, it seems to me that our company can use inspection sampling if that is what fits us best. Am I interpreting this correctly? Thanks in advance for your input on this.

 

[Randy]

Re: Is SPC a requirement of AS9100?

Don't interpret! Just do what it says.

Does it say that you have to use SPC? NO

can you do whatever works for you and is effective? YES

 

[Jim Wynne]

Re: Is SPC a requirement of AS9100?

Don't interpret! Just do what it says.

As has been pointed out to you before, saying "Don't interpret!" is the equivalent of saying "Don't try to understand!".

 

[bobdoering]

Re: Is SPC a requirement of AS9100?

We generally have quite small runs of parts going through our system - typically the process takes a few days from set up to getting all of the parts off the machines and to their next step. I don't really see where SPC would be a valuable tool for small runs of parts. We always do a first piece check at initial set up, but we do not normally run checks on parts during the run unless we have a need for closer control because of criticality or because of the hardness of the material (and thus the tools are seeing more wear). Those instances are rather few and far between.

I've been trying to figure out where to implement SPC, and after rereading the requirement again, it seems to me that our company can use inspection sampling if that is what fits us best. Am I interpreting this correctly? Thanks in advance for your input on this.

If you are doing SPC because you are forced to, you are missing the point. If you are doing to gain profound knowledge of your process, then you are on the right track and the standard is irrelevant.

If you are not making enough parts to do SPC, then you are likely not doing enough parts to do sampling, either. You would need to do 100% inspection.

Also, if you are considering doing SPC for tool wear, do not use X-bar R charts.

 

[Randy]

Re: Is SPC a requirement of AS9100?

As has been pointed out to you before, saying "Don't interpret!" is the equivalent of saying "Don't try to understand!".

Maybe so, but apparently my customers and clients are very happy with the approach I use because they seem to achieve greater understanding and usefulness from it than they would from 100 different "interpretations" that wind up sounding like Abbot and Costello's "Who's on 1st?".

It's worked in more than one country and for the literally hundreds of organizations and professionals that I have come into contact with.

Of course I may very well be incorrect and they are all going to eventually and collectively fall on their fannies like dominoes....Ya think?

 

[howste]

Re: Is SPC a requirement of AS9100?

I've been trying to figure out where to implement SPC, and after rereading the requirement again, it seems to me that our company can use inspection sampling if that is what fits us best. Am I interpreting this correctly? Thanks in advance for your input on this.

The standard requires you to determine and implement applicable monitoring, measurement, and analysis processes including statistical techniques. It doesn't specify any particular type of statistical techniques that must be used. Here's the exact requirement:

8.1 General:
The organization shall plan and implement the monitoring, measurement, analysis and improvement processes needed
a) to demonstrate conformity of the product,
b) to ensure conformity of the quality management system, and
c) to continually improve the effectiveness of the quality management system.
This shall include determination of applicable methods, including statistical techniques, and the extent of their use.

AS9100 goes on to say (in a note, as guidance):

NOTE: According to the nature of the product and depending on the specified requirements, statistical techniques may be used to support:
- design verification (e.g., reliability, maintainability, safety);
- process control:
- selection and inspection of key characteristics;
- process capability measurements;
- statistical process control;
- design of experiment;
- inspection - matching sampling rate to the criticality of the product and to the process capability;
- failure mode and effect analysis.

While it does mention SPC, it's just listed as an example of tools that can be used.

 

[Cindrakay]

Re: Is SPC a requirement of AS9100?

Thanks all for your input here. As always, you've been most helpful.

 

[Sidney Vianna]

Re: Is SPC a requirement of AS9100?

Maybe so, but apparently my customers and clients are very happy with the approach I use because they seem to achieve greater understanding and usefulness from it than they would from 100 different "interpretations" that wind up sounding like Abbot and Costello's "Who's on 1st?".

It's worked in more than one country and for the literally hundreds of organizations and professionals that I have come into contact with.

Of course I may very well be incorrect and they are all going to eventually and collectively fall on their fannies like dominoes....Ya think?

Since the original question was settled, I think it is OK to go here.
I can't comprehend how anyone would go about implementing a generic management system standard without INTERPRETING it. That is the core of all training associated with management system standards. To understand what is the intent of the requirements, so you can apply and comply with it, in YOUR business setting.
If there was no need for interpretation, auditors would not have to be trained. People would read the standard for the first time and know exactly what do.

That is also why ISO TC176 created an interpretation process for ISO 9001, the US TAG to ISO TC207 have an interpretation document for ISO 14001 and so on and so forth

 

[cbearden]

Wouldn't it be nice to have a Quality Standard that didn't require interpretation????......that's like giving us a Bible and say live by it....oh wait, that happens everyday.....nevermind....