Chapter 6 Part 3

X-bar and R Control Charts

Attribute Data
Data that is discrete
Discrete data is based on counts.
Assumes integer values

Number of defective units

Number of customers who are very satisfied
Number of defects

Variables Data
X-bar and R chart is used to monitor mean
and variance of a process when quality
characteristic is continuous.
Continuous values (variables data) can
theoretically assume an infinite number of
values in some interval.

Time
Weight
Ounces
Diameter

X-bar and R Chart

X-bar chart monitors the process mean by
using the means of small samples taken
frequently
R chart monitors the process variation by
using the sample ranges as the measure of
variability

Range = Maximum value Minimum value

Notation
X quality characteristic
n sample size

k number of samples
X sample mean ( X - bar)
X

Notation
X sample mean of X ( X - bar)
X mean of the Xs
X is also called
" X double bar, "
the estimated process mean, or
the overall mean

Notation
R Sample Range
Maximum value - Minimum value
R

R Mean of ranges
k

estimated standard deviation of X

estimated standard error of X

n

Example of Notation
A company monitors the time (in minutes) it
takes to assemble a product.
The company decides to sample 3 units of the
product at three different times tomorrow:

9 AM
12 Noon
3 PM

What is the sample size, n?

What is k, the number of samples?

Suppose the following data are obtained.

Assembly Time
(minutes)

Hour

X1

X2

X3

9:00 AM

12

12 Noon

10

3:00 PM

How would you compute

X-bar?
R
R-bar
X double bar

Example of Notation
Hour

Assembly Time
(minutes)

Sample
Mean, X

Sample
Range, R

X1

X2

X3

9:00 AM

12

21/3 = 7

12 4 = 8

12 Noon

10

24/3 = 8

10 6 = 4

3:00 PM

15/3 = 5

92=7

X = 20/3 = 6.7 R =19/3 =6.3

Sample Means
X

X
n

First Sample

X
n

5 12 4 21

7
3
3

Sample Means
Second Sample

X
n

6 8 10 24

8
3
3

Third Sample

X
n

9 4 2 15

5
3
3

Estimated Process Mean

X

X
k

785

3
20

3
6.7

Sample Ranges
R Maximum Value - Minimum Value
First Sample :
R 12 4 8
Second Sample :
R 10 - 6 4
Third Sample :
R 9-2 7

Mean of R
R

R
k

847

3
19

3
6.3

Underlying Distributions

When constructing an X-bar chart, we

actually have two distributions to consider:

The distribution of the sample means X , and

The process distribution, the distribution of the

quality characteristic itself, X.

The distribution of X is a distribution of

averages.

The distribution of X is a distribution of ???

Underlying Distributions

These distributions have the same mean

Mean of X Mean of X

Their variances (or standard deviations) are

different.
Which distribution has the bigger variance?

Would you expect more variability among

averages or among individual values?

The variability among the individual values

is ???

Underlying Distributions

The standard deviation among the sample

means is smaller by a factor of 1
n

Therefore,
Std of X

n
n

Std of X

Underlying Distributions
Sampling
distribution
of X

Distribution
of X

Distribution of X

M
M

LCL

M UCL
M
M
M X
m
m

The distribution of X is assumed to be normal.

This assumption needs to be tested in practice.

Distribution of X-bar

n
M
M

LCL

M UCL
M
M
M X
m
m

If the distribution of X is normal, the distribution of

X-bar will be normal for any sample size.

Control Limits for X-bar Chart

Since we are plotting sample means on the Xbar chart, the control limits are based on the
distribution of the sample means.

The control limits are therefore

UCL X 3
n

LCL X 3
n

Control Limits for X-bar Chart

Distribution of X

LCL

X 3
n

UCL

X 3
n

Control Limits for X-bar Chart

LCL X 3
n

UCL X 3
n

LCL X A2 R
UCL X A2 R

Control Limits for X-bar Chart

3
A2 R
n
A2 is a factor that depends on the n, the sample size,
and will be given in a table.

Example of X-bar Chart

A company that makes soft drinks wants

to monitor the sugar content of its drinks.
The sugar content (X) is normally
distributed, but the means and variances
are unknown.
The target sugar level for one of its drinks
is 15 grams.
The lower spec limit is 10 grams.
The upper spec limit is 20 grams.

Example of X-bar Chart

The company wants to know how much sugar
on average is being put into this soft drink and
how much variability there is in the sugar
content in each bottle.
The company also wants to know if the mean
sugar content is on target.
Lastly, the company wants to know the
percentage of drinks that are too sweet and
the percentage that are not sweet enough.
(Next section)

Example of X-bar Chart

To obtain this information, the company

decides to sample 3 bottles of the soft drink at
3 different time each day:
10 A.M,
1:00 P.M. and
4:00 P.M.

The company will use this data to construct

an X-bar and R chart. (In practice, you need
25-30 samples to construct the control limits.)
For the past two days, the following data were
collected:

Example of X-bar Chart

Day

Hour

X1

X2

X3

10 am

17

13

1 pm

15

12

24

4 pm

12

21

15

10 am

13

12

17

1 pm

18

21

15

4 pm

10

18

17

What is n?

What is the k?

What is the next

step?

Example of X-bar Chart

Day Hour
1
10 am

X1
17

X2
13

X3
X
6 36/3 =12

R
11

1 pm

15

12

24 51/3 =17

12

4 pm

12

21

15 48/3 =16

10 am

13

12

17 42/3 =14

1 pm

18

21

15 54/3 =18

4 pm

10

18

17 45/3 =15
8
X = 92/6 R = 51/6
= 15.33 = 8.5

X-bar Chart Control Limits

LCL X A2 R
UCL X A2 R

Table A: X-bar Chart Factor, A2

n

A2

1.88

1.02

0.73

0.58

X-bar Chart Control Limits

X 15.33
R 8.5
From Table A in notes or Table 6 - 1, p. 182 of text
n3
A2 1.02

X-bar Chart Control Limits

LCL X A2 R
15.33 1.02(8.5)
6.66
UCL X A2 R
15.33 1.02(8.5)
24.0

X-bar Chart for Sugar Content

30.00
25.00
20.00
15.00
10.00
5.00
0.00
10

10

Hour

Hour

2
Day

Interpretation of X-bar Chart

The X-bar chart is in control because ????

This means that the only source of
variation among the sample mean is due
to random causes.
The process mean is therefore stable and
predictable and, consequently, we can
estimate it.

Interpretation of X-bar Chart

Our best estimate of the mean is the

center line on the control chart, which is
the overall mean (X-double bar) of 15.33
grams.
If the process remains in control, the
company can predict that all bottles of this
soft drink produced in the future will have
a sugar content of, on average, 15.33
grams.

Interpretation of X-bar Chart

This prediction, however, indicates that there
is a problem with the location of the mean.
The process mean is off target by 0.33 grams
(15.33 -15.00).
The process mean, although stable and
predictable, is at the wrong level and should
be corrected to the target.

Interpretation of X-bar Chart

Since the process mean is in control, there
are no special causes of variation that may be
responsible for the mean being off target.
Since the operators are responsible for
correcting problems due to special causes
and management is responsible for correcting
problems due to random causes of variation,
management action is required to fix this
problem.

Interpretation of X-bar Chart

The reason is that, because the process is in
control, the filling machines require more than
a simple adjustments (typically due to special
causes) which can be made by the operators.
The machines may require
new parts,
a complete overhaul, or
they may simply not be capable of operating
on target, in which case a new machine is
required.

Interpretation of X-bar Chart

Expecting the operators to adjust the mean to
the target when the process is in control is
analogous to requiring that you produce zero
heads (head = defective unit) if you are hired
to toss a fair coin 100 times each day.
Why?

R Chart
Monitors the process variability (the variability
of X)
Tells us when the process variability has
changed or is about to change.
R chart must be in control before we can use
the X-bar chart.

R Chart

Rules for detecting changes in variance:

If at least one sample range falls above the upper
control limit, or there is an upward trend within the
control limits, process variability has increased.
If at least one sample range falls on or below the
lower control limit, or there is a downward trend
within the control limits, process variability has
decreased.

R Chart Control Limits

LCL D3 R
UCL D4 R

Table B: Factors for R Chart

n

D3

D4

2
3
4
5

0
0
0
0

3.27
2.57
2.28
2.11

R Chart Control Limits

n3
D3 0
D4 2.57

LCL 0(8.5)
0
UCL 2.57(8.5)
21.85

R Chart for Weight

25
20
15
10
5
0

R
LCL
UCL
R-bar
10

10

Hour

Hour

2
Day

Interpretation of R Chart
Since all of the sample ranges fall within the
control limits, the R chart is in control.
The standard deviation is stable and
predictable and can be estimateddone in
next section.
This does not necessarily mean that the
amount of variation in the process is
acceptable.

Interpretation of R Chart
Continuous improvement means the company
should continuously reduce the variance.
Since the process variation is in control,
management action is required to reduce the
variation.

Expected Pattern in a Stable Process

X-bar Chart
UCL

LCL

Time

Expected pattern is a normal distribution

How Non-Random Patterns Show Up

Sampling
Distribution

(process variability is increasing)

UCL

x-Chart
LCL

Does not
reveal increase

UCL

R-chart

Reveals increase
LCL

How Non-Random Patterns Show Up

(process mean is
shifting upward)
Sampling
Distribution

UCL

Detects shift

x-Chart
LCL

UCL

R-chart
LCL

Does not
detect shift

Is a Stable Process a Good Process?

In control indicates that the process mean is

stable and hence predictable.

A stable process, however, is not necessary a

good (defect free) process.

The process mean, although stable, may be far off

target, resulting in the production of defective
product.
In this case, we have, as Deming puts it, A stable
process for the production of defective product.

Control Limits vs. Spec. Limits

Control limits apply to sample means, not

individual values.

Mean diameter of sample of 5 parts, X-bar

Spec limits apply to individual values

Diameter of an individual part, X

Control Limits vs. Spec. Limits

Sampling
distribution,
X-bar
Process
distribution,
X

Mean=
Target

LSL
Lower
control
limit

Upper
control
limit

USL

Underlying Distributions
Sampling
distribution
X
of X

Distribution
of X

LSL
LCL

USL
UCL

Control limits are put on distribution of X-bar

Spec limits apply to the distribution of X

Responsibility for Corrective Action

Special Causes
(Process out of
control)

Random Variation
(Process in Control)

Operators
(workers)

Management

Benefits of Control Charts

Control charts prevent unnecessary

adjustments.
If process is in control, do not adjust it.
Adjustments will increase the variance.
Management action is required to improve
process.
Adjustments should be made only when
special causes occur.

Benefits of Control Charts

Control charts assign responsibility for
corrective action.
Control charts are the only statistical valid
way to estimate the mean and variance of a
process or product.
Control charts make it possible to predict
future performance of a process and thereby
take early corrective action.