Overview
ISO 11462-2:2010 - "Guidelines for implementation of statistical process control (SPC) - Part 2: Catalogue of tools and techniques" provides a practical catalogue of statistical tools and techniques to support planning, implementation and evaluation of an effective statistical process control (SPC) system. It complements ISO 11462-1 (Elements of SPC) by listing recommended methods - from control charts and capability indices to measurement system analysis and root-cause tools - that are essential to realize SPC elements and improve process predictability and quality.
Key topics
- Catalogue of SPC tools and techniques: Comprehensive listing and classification of quality tools (control charts, descriptive statistics, exploratory data analysis, multivariate methods, reliability analysis, sampling, tolerancing, etc.).
- Control charts: Attributes and variables charts such as p, np, c, u, X̄ (Xbar), R, s, EWMA, CUSUM, and specialized/short-run charts referenced to ISO 7870 / ISO 8258.
- Process capability and performance: Capability indices and process assessment methods (Cp, Cpk, Pp, Ppk and related descriptors) with links to ISO 22514 series.
- Measurement system analysis (MSA): Techniques like repeatability & reproducibility (R&R), stability, linearity and discrimination (see ISO 5725 references).
- Exploratory & inferential tools: Histograms, box plots, scatter plots, normality and outlier tests, hypothesis testing and ANOVA.
- Root cause & improvement tools: FMEA/FMECA, fault tree analysis (FTA), 5 Whys, Pareto, affinity diagrams, PDPC, poka-yoke, QFD and control plans.
- Advanced methods: Multivariate analysis (PCA, Hotelling T2), regression diagnostics, experimental designs, Shainin methods and reliability/survival analysis.
- Continual improvement guidance: Using SPC to detect special causes, reduce variation and support management decisions on tolerances and process design.
Practical applications
ISO 11462-2 is a practical reference for:
- Selecting appropriate control charts and SPC techniques for production, assembly lines, service processes (e.g., banking errors, delivery performance) and short-run processes.
- Conducting process capability assessments and converting SPC data into specification and tolerance decisions.
- Designing measurement system studies and interpreting MSA results to support reliable SPC.
- Integrating SPC into quality planning, process control and continual improvement programs such as Six Sigma or lean manufacturing.
- Guiding root-cause analysis and preventive actions using FMEA, fault tree and mistake-proofing (poka-yoke).
Who should use it
- Quality engineers, process engineers and statisticians
- Manufacturing and production managers
- Continuous improvement and Six Sigma practitioners
- Auditors and quality system implementers
- R&D and reliability engineers
Related standards
Using ISO 11462-2 helps organizations choose proven SPC tools to make processes more predictable, reduce special-cause variation and improve product and service quality.