What Is the Purpose of a Control Chart?

You can chart multiple variables by using more than one control chart.

Dr. Walter Shewhart of Bell Laboratories invented control charts in 1924. Control charts are extremely common in any industry where you need to monitor performance, such as in health care.

Identification

Control charts are graphs that display variations in a process chronologically and compare them to a reference point, usually the average result for the process.

Function

A control chart helps determine whether variations in your process are due to defects with the product or extraneous circumstances, such as employee mistakes.

Benefits

Using a control chart shows the effects of alterations to your process and helps you correct any errors in real time. You can also predict the range of possible future results.

References

• "International Journal for Quality in Health Care": Use and Interpretation of Statistical Quality Control Charts
• ASQ: Data Collection and Analysis Tools
• The Guide to Managing for Quality: Control Chart
• "Basic Tools for Process Improvement": Control Chart