The relevance of research on statistical process control to the total quality movement

We review the history of statistical process control research from its origins at Bell Laboratories with Shewhart in 1924 up to the present and integrate it with the history of the larger total quality management movement that emerged from these same statistical process control origins. The original research was very philosophical and very practical and is still implemented today. Our view is that the majority of the enormous research literature after Duncan's 1956 seminal paper on optimal design of control charts has had little practical relevance. The research formulations became more mechanical, less philosophical and less practical. We explore the reasons for this and make suggestions for new research directions. We also propose changes in the supporting industry-university relationships to facilitate a program of more relevant research in statistical process control.