What is the main focus of Statistical Process Control (SPC)?

The main focus of Statistical Process Control (SPC) is to monitor and control a process using statistical methods. This approach enables organizations to understand the variability within their processes, identify trends, and detect any deviations from established control limits. By applying statistical techniques, SPC helps ensure that processes are operating efficiently and consistently, which ultimately leads to improved quality in products and services.

SPC involves collecting data from the production process and using various statistical tools, such as control charts, to analyze this data. The goal is to maintain processes within predefined limits, thereby reducing waste and ensuring that products meet quality standards. When a process drifts outside these control limits, it signals the need for corrective actions, helping organizations to proactively address potential issues before they escalate.

The other options represent different aspects of quality and operations management but do not encapsulate the primary objective of SPC. While enhancing product design, planning production schedules, and evaluating employee performance are all important elements of overall quality management, they do not focus on the statistical monitoring and control of processes, which is the essence of SPC.