On 100 Years of Quality Control Charts

Abstract

Abstract Control charts, which originated at Bell Telephone Laboratories (1924), have been vital to quality and reliability engineering as well as statistical process control (SPC), serving as a cornerstone of quality management for the past century. Plenty of work has been done on the ideas and applications of control charts in quality control. However, there is a notable research gap in the comprehensive examination of the evolution, expansion and impact of control charts across various fields. This bibliometric study seeks to fill this gap by examining control charts from 1924 to 2023 and analyzing trends and patterns across an extensive scientific dataset. Objectives include documenting the historical context, identifying contributors, analyzing themes, and assessing temporal dynamics. The study utilizes R package bibliometric tools to analyze 7,880 articles from 2,337 sources. Findings reveal a consistent 7.94% annual growth rate, an average of 17.29 citations per document, and a total of 133,760 references in control charts research. Shewhart's (1931), Page's (1954), and Robert (1959) work set the basis and contributions from Duncan, A.J., D.C. Montgomery, Hawkins, D.M., and William H. Woodall influenced the research clusters. The engineering department remains the top consumer of control charts with 28%. National dynamics indicate global involvement, with major contributors from the United States, China, India, Iran Malaysia, United Kingdom and Pakistan. This study sheds light on global collaborations, key contributions in various disciplines, top journals and the long-term impact of former work on control chart research. Outcomes of this study in the form of key statistics, famous authors, rising subjects, influential institutions, leading countries and identified research gaps will enlighten further interactions and inspire researchers; which will lead to collaboration on SPC and control chart research. The need for more robust Industry 4.0 and 5.0 quality tools presents future methodological adjustments for researchers and practitioners.