Quality 4.0: Learning quality control, the evolution of SQC/SPC

Abstract

This article marks a significant advancement in the field of quality management, specifically focusing on the evolution from traditional Statistical Quality Control (SQC) and Statistical Process Control (SPC) methods to a more advanced Learning Quality Control (LQC) approach. The research introduces Quality 4.0 (Q4.0) as a novel paradigm that fuses the technologies of the fourth industrial revolution, Manufacturing Big Data (MBD), Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), Cloud Storage and Computing (CSC) and Artificial Intelligence (AI), with traditional quality management practices. The central theme of this study is exploring the limitations inherent in conventional quality control methods when faced with the complexities of modern manufacturing environments. The authors propose LQC systems as a solution, employing binary classification algorithms to predict and detect defects in manufacturing processes. This represents a shift from reactive to proactive quality measures enabled by AI’s real-time data processing capabilities. The document delves into the evolution of manufacturing data across industrial revolutions, highlighting the exponential growth of unstructured data and its challenges. Through case studies, the authors illustrate the practical applications of LQC systems, demonstrating their ability to learn complex patterns in hyperdimensional spaces and automate tasks traditionally performed visually.