THE EFFECT OF STATISTICAL PROCESS CONTROL INSTRUCTION UPON THE JOB PERFORMANCE OF MACHINE OPERATORS (QUALITY CONTROL, MODULAR INSTRUCTION)
Abstract
The major purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of statistical process control (SPC) instruction upon the job performance of machine operators at three manufacturing companies. Two instruments were used. The Statistical Process Control Modular Series Test, Forms A and B, measured achievement in SPC techniques. Job performance data, in the form of percent of defective products produced, were measured by quality control charts. The subjects were 104 machine operators randomly assigned to groups. One group (N = 40) received SPC modular instruction using self-instructional audio-tapes, accompanying printed study guides, job aids, small group discussions, and a computer simulation. The other group (N = 64) received no training in SPC techniques. Job performance data were collected for a six-month period prior to pretesting and ending following posttesting. The Solomon Four-Group experimental design was used. One-way and two-way analyses of variance and a repeated measure were used to test the dependent variables. Each section of the test was treated as a separate factor. Based on the results of the study, it was inferred that the use of self-instructional modular SPC training significantly improved SPC achievement of machine operators. It was inferred that trained operators could significantly reduce the amount of defective products they produced more than untrained operators. It was also inferred that there was no significant difference in the percent of defective products produced by untrained operators using quality control charts. It was inferred that statistical process control charts used without companion SPC training did not enable the operators to produce significantly fewer defective products.
Degree
Ph.D.
Subject Area
Inservice training
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