RUN CHARTS/TIME PLOT/TREND CHART
TUTORIAL OUTLINE
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OVERVIEW
PURPOSE
In-depth view into Run Charts--a quality improvement technique; how Run charts are used
to monitor processes; how using Run charts can lead to improved process quality
USAGE
Run charts are used to analyze processes according to time or order. Run charts are
useful in discovering patterns that occur over time.
KEY TERMS
Trends:
- Trends are patterns or shifts according to time. An upward trend, for instance, would
contain a section of data points that increased as time passed.
Population:
- A population is the entire data set of the process. If a process produces one thousand
parts a day, the population would be the one thousand items.
Sample:
- A sample is a subgroup or small portion of the population that is examined when the
entire population can not be evaluated. For instance, if the process does produce one
thousand items a day, the sample size could be perhaps three hundred.
HISTORY
Run charts originated from control charts, which were initially designed by Walter
Shewhart. Walter Shewhart was a statistician at Bell Telephone Laboratories in New York.
Shewhart developed a system for bringing processes into statistical control by developing
ideas which would allow for a system to be controlled using control charts. Run charts
evolved from the development of these control charts, but run charts focus more on time
patterns while a control chart focuses more on acceptable limits of the process.
Shewhart's discoveries are the basis of what as known as SQC or Statistical Quality
Control.
| INSTRUCTIONS | RUN
CHART EXAMPLE | SOFTWARE | SOURCES &
RELATED TOPICS |
INSTRUCTIONS FOR CREATING A
CHART
Step 1 : Gathering Data
To begin any run chart, some type of process or operation must be available to take
measurements for analysis. Measurements must be taken over a period of time. The data must
be collected in a chronological or sequential form. You may start at any point and end at
any point. For best results, at least 25 or more samples must be taken in order to get an
accurate run chart.
Step 2 : Organizing Data
Once the data has been placed in chronological or sequential form, it must be divided
into two sets of values x and y. The values for x represent time and the values for y
represent the measurements taken from the manufacturing process or operation.
Step 3 : Charting Data
Plot the y values versus the x values by hand or by computer, using an appropriate
scale that will make the points on the graph visible. Next, draw vertical lines for the x
values to separate time intervals such as weeks. Draw horizontal lines to show where
trends in the process or operation occur or will occur.
Step 4 : Interpreting Data
After drawing the horizontal and vertical lines to segment data, interpret the data and
draw any conclusions that will be beneficial to the process or operation. Some possible
outcomes are:
- Trends in the chart
- Cyclical patterns in the data
- Observations from each time interval are consistent
| OVERVIEW | RUN
CHART EXAMPLE | SOFTWARE | SOURCES &
RELATED TOPICS |
RUN CHART EXAMPLE
Problem Scenario
You have just moved into a new area that you are not familiar with. Your desire is to
arrive at work on time, but you have noticed over your first couple of weeks on the job
that it doesn't take the same amount of time each day of the week. You decide to monitor
the amount of time it takes to get to work over the next four weeks and construct a run
chart.
Step 1: Gathering Data
Collect measurements each day over the next four weeks.Organize and record the data in
chronological or sequential form.
M T W TH F WEEK 1 33 28 26.5 28 26 WEEK 2 35 30.5 28 26 25.5 WEEK 3 34.5 29 28 26 25 WEEK 4 34 29.5 27 27 25.5
Step 2: Organizing Data
Determine what the values for the x (time, day of week) and day (data, minutes to work)
axis will be.
Step 3: Charting Data
Plot the y values versus the x values by hand or by computer using the appropriate
scale. Draw horizontal or vertical lines on the graph where trends or inconsistencies
occur.
Step 4: Interpreting Data
Interpret results and draw any conclusions that are important. An overall decreasing
trend occurs each week with Mondays taking the most amount of time and Fridays generally
taking the least amount of time. Therefore you accordingly allow yourself more time on
Mondays to arrive to work on time.
| OVERVIEW | INSTRUCTIONS
| SOFTWARE | SOURCES & RELATED TOPICS |
APPLICABLE SOFTWARE
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