Struggling to Understand Control Chart Rules?

QI Macros add-in for Excel will create control charts in seconds
and analyze stability so that you don't have to!

To Analyze Stability using Control Chart Rules:

  1. Create a control chart from QI Macros menu.
  2. QI Macros will do the math, draw the graph and analyze stability for you.

Why it Matters:

  • a process must be stable before you can analyze process capability to determine if it meets customer specifications.
  • a process must be stable before beginning an improvement project.

How does a control chart help determine if a process is out of control?

  • Control limits (±1, 2, 3 sigma) are calculated from the data.
  • Zones represent the spaces between the limits.
  • Control chart rules are then applied to data points as they move through those zones.
  • Unstable points and trends are identified for investigation.
control limits and zones

QI Macros highlights unstable points and trends by turning them red.

example of control chart after running stability analysis using control chart rules


Control Chart Rules used by various industries and experts

Control chart rules can vary slightly by industry. However, most of the basic rules used to run stability analysis are the same.

QI Macros uses the rules from Introduction to Statistical Process Control, 4th edition pp 172-175, Montgomery as its default. QI Macros also offers these other rules and makes it easy to change from one rule set to another using its Control Chart Rules sub-menu.

#

Control Chart Rule

West-gard Nelson- Juran AIAG Mont-gomery Western Electric IHI
1
n points above UCL or below LCL
1 1 1 1 1 1
2
Zone A: n of n+1 points above/below 2 sigma

  • Healthcare and Westgard Rules state that 2 out of 3 points can be both Above AND Below centerline
  • All other rules state that 2 out of 3 points MUST be above OR below the centerline
2 2 2 2 2 2
3
Zone B: n of n+1 points above/below 1 sigma
4 4 4 4
4
n points in a row above/ below center line
8 9 7 8 8 8
5
Trends of n points in a row increasing or decreasing
7 6 6 6 6
6
Zone C: n points in a row inside Zone C (hugging)
15 15 15 15
7
n points in a row alternating up and down
14 14 14
8
Zone C:n points in a row outside Zone C
8 8 8
9
Zone B: 4 points above/ below 1 sigma; 2 points one above, one below 2 sigma
4

To view the Control Chart Rules that are currently enabled, select "Show Current Rules" from the Control Charts (SPC) > Control Charts Rules menu:

show-current-rules-menu-image


The Evolution of Control Chart Rules

Western Electric Rules were first developed almost 100 years ago.
Western Electric Control Chart Rules

 

Nelson Rules expanded the set of rules to cover increasingly rare conditions.
Nelsons Control Chart Rules

  • Westgard Rules are used with Levey Jennings Charts in laboratories. They are a slightly different subset of traditional rules with a couple of special rules.
  • AIAG Rules are recommended by the Automotive Industry Action Group. They are only slightly different from Nelson/Juran Rules, using 9 instead of 8 for detecting runs.
  • Healthcare Rules are recommended by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement. They only use rules 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6.

Stop Struggling with Control Charts!
Start creating your Control Charts in just minutes.

Download a free 30-day trial. Get Control Charts now!

QI Macros Draws These Charts Too!