Analysis of the Use of Statistical Thinking and Statistical Techniques in Industrial Companies of São Paulo State

Abstract

Improvement programs such as Lean Manufacturing, Total Quality Management, Six Sigma (SS), Lean Six Sigma (LSS) and Total Productive Maintenance focus on improving processes and at different levels are based on Statistical Thinking (ST) and Statistical Techniques (Stech). This article presents the results of a survey, with 243 industrial companies from the State of Sao Paulo, with the objective of analyzing the presence of ST and STech in companies that adopt these programs, and the results obtained with their use. A group of advanced companies was identified, which representeded 17% of the sample, and are the most grounded in the use of ST and STech and which were able to obtain expected operational results and subjective benefits with their use. Involvement with SS and LSS for more than 5 years has helped these companies to incorporate ST principles and to use STech. However, in the observed sample, despite the presence of improvement programs that make use of statistical principles and techniques, there are still few companies in which this use is consolidated.

Keywords

• Statistical thinking
• Statistical techniques
• Improvement programs
• Benefits.