Quality Characterisation and Capability Assessment of a Tobacco Company

Abstract

This is an empirical study on the application of SPC techniques for monitoring and detecting variation in the quality of locally produced tobacco in Nigeria. The result provides base evidence for intervention in the quality behavior of the heavily automated tobacco production process in which slight undetected deviation can result in significant wastes. An observational study was carried out within the primary manufacturing department of the tobacco company. The study analysis was conducted using descriptive statistics, goodness of fit test and SPC charts.. These charts were constructed and examined for significant variation in expected output quality as well as the capability of the process. The goodness of fit test and SPC identified CTQs that were approximately normally distributed and out of process control across periods of observations. These deviations were not evident with the summary data or its presentation on the histogram. Subsequently, the out of control process charts were transformed to in-control charts by repetitive elimination of out-of-control instances. At this state, it was observed that the process was only capable of meeting specification for the dust level for all capability measures. These results illustrate a proof of SPC for process monitoring and product quality improvement.