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Make control charts work with these detailed explanations and instructions.
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The control chart serves to “sound the alarm” when a process shifts (for instance, a machine suddenly breaking on a factory floor) or if someone has a breakthrough that needs to be documented and standardized across the larger organization. Simply put (without taking anomalies into consideration), you'll know something needs to be fixed if you're below your lower control limit or above your upper control limit. See the control chart example below:
In industrial settings, control charts are designed for speed: The faster the control charts respond following a process shift, the faster the engineers can identify the broken machine and return the system back to producing high-quality products. At a factory, a lag in testing could mean that thousands of parts are produced incorrectly before anyone notices the machine is broken, which results in wasted time and materials, as well as angry customers.
In nonprofit organizations, a control chart could be used to determine when an online donation system has broken down. If the website goes offline, halting critical donations, the leadership team can quickly alert IT and ensure the page gets back up and running quickly. Alternatively, seeing a major jump in donations likely means something good is happening—be it world events or a successful marketing campaign. Either way, leadership should know as soon as possible when donation activity changes.
Because of Excel’s computing power, you can create an Excel control chart—but in order to do so, you need to know how the upper and lower limits are calculated. There are different statistical analysis tools you can use, which you can read more about here.
Control charts can be used as part of the Balanced Scorecard approach to account for an acceptable range or variation of performance. If you choose to do this, there are five key quality control rules to keep in mind when considering using control charts at your organization:
The key with control charts is to recognize when anything is happening outside the norm. Be it good or bad, you will want to develop an action plan for how to respond when the latest measure lands outside the acceptable limits.
The different types of control charts include:
- X-Bar and R Chart: Used for monitoring the mean and range of a process over time.- X-Bar and S Chart: Similar to the X-Bar and R Chart but uses standard deviation instead of range.- P Chart (Proportion Chart): Used for monitoring the proportion of defective items in a process.- NP Chart: Similar to the P Chart but used for a fixed sample size.- C Chart: Used for monitoring the number of defects per unit.- U Chart: Used for monitoring the number of defects per unit when the sample size varies.
To interpret a control chart:
- Center Line: Represents the average value of the process.- Control Limits: Upper and lower control limits (UCL and LCL) indicate the threshold for variation. Data points within these limits suggest the process is in control.- Data Points: Individual data points plotted over time. Points outside the control limits indicate potential issues or special causes of variation.- Patterns: Look for patterns such as trends, cycles, or clusters, which may indicate underlying problems.
Common mistakes people make when using control charts include:
- Misinterpreting Random Variation: Treating random variation as a sign of a problem can lead to unnecessary adjustments.- Ignoring Special Causes: Failing to investigate points outside control limits can overlook significant issues.- Incorrect Control Limits: Using incorrect calculations for control limits can lead to misinterpretation.- Overcomplicating the Chart: Adding too much data or unnecessary details can make the chart difficult to read.- Lack of Training: Inadequate training on how to use and interpret control charts can lead to misinformed decisions.
To use control charts to improve your processes:
- Monitor Performance: Regularly use control charts to track process performance and stability.- Identify Variations: Detect and investigate any points outside control limits or unusual patterns.- Implement Improvements: Use insights from control charts to make data-driven decisions and implement process improvements.- Continuous Monitoring: Continuously monitor the process after implementing changes to ensure improvements are sustained.- Train Employees: Ensure employees are trained in using and interpreting control charts to foster a culture of quality and continuous improvement.