What is the basic assumption of process quality control?

The basic assumption of process quality control is that every process has random variation. This acknowledges that variations can occur in production processes due to a multitude of factors, such as differences in materials, equipment performance, environmental conditions, and human factors. Understanding that variation is inherent to any process is fundamental to quality control as it allows for the establishment of control limits and helps in identifying when a process is functioning within an acceptable range.

By recognizing that random variation exists, organizations can implement statistical methods to monitor and analyze process performance. This enables them to distinguish between common cause variation, which is expected and inherent in the process, and special cause variation, which indicates that an issue needs to be addressed. Therefore, this assumption plays a crucial role in the continuous improvement of quality and operational efficiency within supply chain management.