Cultural Contradictions of Statistical Process Control In American Manufacturing Organizations

Abstract

This 21/2-year study of the implementation of statistical process con-trol in one U.S. location of a large corporation in the automotive in-dustry uncovered cultural barriers to the innovation. A "manufactur-ing culture" is posited and three cultural themes that impeded implementation are described. Implications for research on use of in-novation and ethnographic inquiry are discussed.