What technique is primarily used to monitor processes over time in statistical quality control?

The technique that is primarily used to monitor processes over time in statistical quality control is control charts. Control charts are vital tools in process management, allowing organizations to track data points over a defined period and assess the stability and consistency of the process being monitored. They help identify variations in the process, distinguishing between common cause variations (natural fluctuations) and special cause variations (unusual or abnormal variations).

By plotting the performance data on a control chart, users can quickly visualize trends, shifts, or any out-of-control conditions, facilitating timely interventions. This real-time monitoring is essential for maintaining quality standards and implementing continuous improvement initiatives within manufacturing or service processes.

While histogram analysis, regression analysis, and scatter diagrams serve important roles in data analysis, they do not provide the same ongoing monitoring capability that control charts do. Histograms display the distribution of data, regression analysis examines relationships between variables, and scatter diagrams visualize correlations between two variables, but none of these techniques are specifically tailored for continuous monitoring of processes over time as control charts are.