New computerized systems are able to check for defects on products right on the assembly line. For example: a pencil manufacturer is able to use laser scanning to check for the size of the pencils. Since the scanner is placed right on the assembly line, as the pencils are ready to be packaged, the computer is able to check the entire population of pencils without having to sample.
1. Since the computer is able to check the entire population of pencils without having to sample, what is the value of sampling to develop control limits for a statistical control process?
2. Do you think statistical process control is obsolete because of technology advances such as the one described above?
3. Provide an example in which statistical process control (sampling) has to be used.