A tool for the design and evaluation of alternative quality-control procedures

Abstract

I have developed an interactive microcomputer simulation program for the design, comparison, and evaluation of alternative quality-control (QC) procedures. The program estimates the probabilities for rejection under different conditions of random and systematic error when these procedures are used and plots their power function graphs. It also estimates the probabilities for detection of critical errors, the defect rate, and the test yield. To allow a flexible definition of the QC procedures, it includes an interpreter. Various characteristics of the analytical process and the QC procedure can be user-defined. The program extends the concepts of the probability for error detection and of the power function to describe the results of the introduction of error between runs and within a run. The usefulness of this approach is illustrated with some examples.