BSOM046: (Managing Operations and the Supply Chain) You will conduct a review of the academic literature on the subject of statistical process control.

Module / Subject / School:

BSOM046: Managing Operations and the Supply Chain

University of Northampton

Requirements: 

Assessment Task:

You will conduct a review of the academic literature on the subject of statistical process control.

Following your review, you are to analyse a given set of data to evaluate the performance of a fictional brewery in a given scenario.

You will be expected to illustrate your discussion with examples from academic journals, the trade press and other authoritative sources.

The word count should be 2000 words ±10% (tables, diagrams and appendices are excluded from the count).

Assessment Breakdown:

1. Prepare a literature review on the subject of Statistical Process Control, covering the concept from its inception up to the present day.

Ensure that you include references to at least 10 peer-reviewed articles, no more than ten years old. You may also acknowledge older works, providing they are of sufficient importance in charting the development of SPC. (50% of word count)

2. The supplied spreadsheet contains historic data recording the temperature of combined effluent discharged by a fictional brewery, Waterside Lager Limited (WLL). The data comprises temperatures recorded four times a day over the month of September 2022.

The brewery’s discharges are normally controlled within the range 25oC to 35oC. The maximum legally permitted temperature is 40oC.

Regular maintenance is performed on the balancing system (which neutralises the pH of the effluent at the expense of heating the discharge in the process), normally on a weekly basis.

Use the data to visualise the performance of the effluent control process, describing your analytical approach in detail. Include any graphs generated.

In your view, how well has the plant performed?

What priorities for quality improvements should the plant management set? (50% of word count)

What we score:

75%

Our Writer’s Comment 

This assignment is designed to assess students’ understanding of business practices.

To secure an A+ grade, adhere to these guidelines and make sure your work aligns with the grading criteria:

1. Literature Review on Statistical Process Control (SPC)

This is worth 50% of the word count, so make sure you’re giving it enough depth and breadth.

• Start with the Origins: Begin by introducing the origins of SPC. Mention pioneers like Walter A. Shewhart, who developed the control chart concept, and explain how SPC was initially used in manufacturing. Even though older works can be included, make sure they’re relevant and significant to the historical development.
• Cover Modern Developments: Once you’ve discussed the historical background, move into how SPC has evolved over the years. Focus on its use in contemporary industries beyond manufacturing, such as in services, healthcare, and supply chain management. Show how SPC has become a cornerstone of quality control in these industries.
• Use Peer-Reviewed Articles: Make sure your sources are up-to-date (within the last 10 years) and peer-reviewed. You need at least 10, so be selective. Look for articles that discuss real-world applications of SPC in different industries and how it continues to drive continuous improvement in operations.
• Incorporate Examples: Use examples from academic journals and industry reports to illustrate how companies use SPC to monitor processes, reduce variability, and improve product quality. For instance, you can highlight how major companies like Toyota use SPC in their manufacturing processes as part of their lean management strategies.
• Structure the Review: Organize the literature review logically:
  • Start with the origins and key definitions.
  • Move to modern applications and tools used in SPC (control charts, Six Sigma integration).
  • End with current trends and future directions (e.g., how SPC is evolving with data analytics and automation).

2. Data Analysis of the Brewery’s Performance

This part is also 50% of the assignment, and it’s where you can score highly if you apply solid data analysistechniques.

• Data Visualization: Use tools like control charts to visualize the temperature data from the brewery. This is the backbone of your analysis. You’ll want to generate charts that show upper and lower control limits, and how often the temperature readings fall outside the desired range (25°C to 35°C) or the legal limit (40°C).Key Tip: Ensure the charts are clear, properly labeled, and easy to interpret. You might include:
  • X-bar and R charts for monitoring the average and range of temperatures.
  • Histograms to show the distribution of the temperatures.
• Evaluate Plant Performance: Based on the data and control charts, analyze how well the plant is managing its effluent discharge temperatures. Here are some things to consider:
  • Are there any trends in the data? (e.g., are temperatures increasing or decreasing over time?)
  • How often does the plant exceed its control limits? If it frequently exceeds 35°C but stays below 40°C, discuss whether this is acceptable or points to potential issues.
  • If temperatures exceed 40°C, even occasionally, this is a major issue. Highlight those moments in your analysis and explain the implications.
• Recommendations for Improvement: Based on your analysis, identify priorities for quality improvement:
  • Suggest more frequent maintenance of the balancing system if spikes in temperature correlate with maintenance schedules.
  • If variability is high, recommend process adjustments or additional control mechanisms to reduce temperature fluctuations.
  • You could also suggest implementing automated monitoring and real-time alerts when temperatures approach critical levels, allowing for quicker responses.

3. Tie Back to SPC Concepts

Throughout your analysis, tie everything back to the principles of SPC. For example:

• When discussing control limits, mention how SPC uses statistical methods to determine whether a process is in control or out of control.
• Highlight how regular monitoring and process adjustments can reduce variability and improve overall quality, which is the goal of SPC.

4. Writing and Presentation

Since your assignment is quite technical, clarity and structure are key to scoring well:

• Introduction: Give a brief overview of what the assignment will cover—both the literature review and the brewery analysis.
• Body: Split the assignment into clear sections—one for the literature review, another for the data analysis. Use subheadings for key topics (e.g., “Origins of SPC”, “Modern Applications of SPC”, “Control Chart Analysis of Brewery Performance”).
• Conclusion: Wrap up with a summary of your findings and key recommendations for the brewery.

5. APA Referencing

Ensure your references are in APA format. Make sure every source you’ve used is correctly cited both in-text and in the reference list. This includes your additional academic articles, industry reports, and any data sources.

Final Tips:

• Use technical terms correctly: Make sure you’re using SPC terminology correctly and in context.
• Be precise in your recommendations: Don’t just say “improve quality”—be specific about how the brewery can do this (e.g., “Implement real-time monitoring systems to catch temperature fluctuations immediately”).
• Show clear data insights: Let the data you analyzed speak for itself. If you identify a clear trend or pattern, emphasize it in your discussion.

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