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Data Collection and Analysis Tools

Control charts are graphs used to study how a process changes over time by plotting data points in chronological order. A control chart contains a central line for the average and upper and lower lines called control limits determined from historical data. By comparing current data to these lines, you can determine whether a process's variation is consistent or unpredictable. Control charts are used to monitor ongoing processes, predict expected outcomes, determine if a process is stable, analyze patterns of variation, and determine if a quality improvement project should prevent specific problems or make fundamental process changes. The basic procedure for a control chart involves choosing the appropriate chart type, collecting data over time, analyzing for out-of-control signals like single points outside limits or successive points on the same

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35 views

Data Collection and Analysis Tools

Control charts are graphs used to study how a process changes over time by plotting data points in chronological order. A control chart contains a central line for the average and upper and lower lines called control limits determined from historical data. By comparing current data to these lines, you can determine whether a process's variation is consistent or unpredictable. Control charts are used to monitor ongoing processes, predict expected outcomes, determine if a process is stable, analyze patterns of variation, and determine if a quality improvement project should prevent specific problems or make fundamental process changes. The basic procedure for a control chart involves choosing the appropriate chart type, collecting data over time, analyzing for out-of-control signals like single points outside limits or successive points on the same

Uploaded by

shifa
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Data Collection and Analysis Tools

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Control Chart
Also called: statistical process control
Description
The control chart is a graph used to study how a process changes over time. Data
are plotted in time order. A control chart always has a central line for the average,
an upper line for the upper control limit and a lower line for the lower control limit.
These lines are determined from historical data. By comparing current data to
these lines, you can draw conclusions about whether the process variation is
consistent (in control) or is unpredictable (out of control, affected by special causes
of variation).
Control charts for variable data are used in pairs. The top chart monitors the
average, or the centering of the distribution of data from the process. The bottom
chart monitors the range, or the width of the distribution. If your data were shots
in target practice, the average is where the shots are clustering, and the range is
how tightly they are clustered. Control charts for attribute data are used singly.
When to Use a Control Chart

When controlling ongoing processes by finding and correcting problems as


they occur.

When predicting the expected range of outcomes from a process.

When determining whether a process is stable (in statistical control).

When analyzing patterns of process variation from special causes (nonroutine events) or common causes (built into the process).

When determining whether your quality improvement project should aim


to prevent specific problems or to make fundamental changes to the
process.

Template
See a sample control chart and create your own with the control chart
template(Excel, 973 KB).*
Control Chart Basic Procedure
1.

Choose the appropriate control chart for your data.

2.

Determine the appropriate time period for collecting and plotting data.

3.

Collect data, construct your chart and analyze the data.

4.

Look for out-of-control signals on the control chart. When one is


identified, mark it on the chart and investigate the cause. Document how
you investigated, what you learned, the cause and how it was corrected.

Out-of-control signals
o

A single point outside the control limits. In Figure 1, point sixteen


is above the UCL (upper control limit).

Two out of three successive points are on the same side of the
centerline and farther than 2 from it. In Figure 1, point 4 sends
that signal.

Four out of five successive points are on the same side of the
centerline and farther than 1 from it. In Figure 1, point 11 sends
that signal.

A run of eight in a row are on the same side of the centerline. Or


10 out of 11, 12 out of 14 or 16 out of 20. In Figure 1, point 21 is
eighth in a row above the centerline.

Obvious consistent or persistent patterns that suggest something


unusual about your data and your process.

Figure 1 Control Chart: Out-of-Control Signals


5.

Continue to plot data as they are generated. As each new data point is
plotted, check for new out-of-control signals.

6.

When you start a new control chart, the process may be out of control. If
so, the control limits calculated from the first 20 points are conditional
limits. When you have at least 20 sequential points from a period when
the process is operating in control, recalculate control limits.

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