Statistical methods and its role in quality control in industrial manufacturing sector of saudi arabia: Evidence from al-safi danone company

This paper aims at examining the statistical control charts (X bar Chart, S Chart, and R Chart) in controlling the quality of full cream fresh milk produced by Al-Safi Danone. For this purpose, several theoretical and practical statistical techniques are applied on the production process. The method used in this study to collect data consists of a test of a sample from the full cream fresh milk, observation and interviews conducted with staff in charge for quality control. This study finds that the “monitoring system” at the company relies, in part, on the scientific statistical methods with certain shortage in the implementation aspect. Further, the absence of some concepts of the “statistical quality control” that are important and necessary to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the company's control system in terms of implementing the statistical control for the purpose of conformity. This study also finds that there is a certain degree of ignorance among the staff with regard to the scientific statistical techniques and the use of statistical control software as well as a little training is conducted to enhance the staff with “statistical quality control. The results of this study are of importance to decision makers at the company and country level with regard to quality control system.