7.4.2 NP Chart - control chart for counts


This statlet constructs control charts for the number of defective items in a group. The tabs are:

Input

Summary

NP Chart

Runs Rules


Example

The example data consists of 30 subgroups, with group sizes ranging from 80 to 120 items. The numbers of defective items and group sizes are specified:


Input

Two columns must be specified, containing the group counts of defective items and group sizes:

The group sizes need not all be the same.

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Summary

This tab summarizes the results of the NP chart:

The process parameters are estimated by

process p = p-bar

where p-bar is the average of the subgroup proportions (weighted average if the subgroup sizes are different).

Options button

The Options button generates a dialog box allowing you to specify how the control limits should be computed:

Settings include:

Type of analysis - either "Initial studies", in which the data determine where the control limits are placed, or "Control to standard", which uses the specified standard proportion to set the limits.

Use average sample size - for data from subgroups of different sizes, whether the control limits should be based on the average sample size or the individual subgroup sizes.

The Initial studies mode is commonly used to determine whether or not a process is in a state of statistical control and to determine control limits for monitoring the process in the future. The Control to standard mode is most often used in real-time to monitor a process against pre-established limits.

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NP Chart

This chart plots the counts with 3-sigma control limits:

The lines are located at:

upper control limit: np + 3*[np(1-p)]1/2

center line: np

lower control limit: np- 3*[np(1-p)]1/2

where p=p-bar if in "Initial studies" mode or the specified process proportion if in "Control to standard" mode, and n is the subgroup size (or average subgroup size).

Any points outside the 3-sigma control limits are highlighted in red. In addition, any points which violate the Runs rules described below are also highlighted.

Options button

You can specify various aspects of the control chart by pressing the Options button:

These include:

Upper control limit - if checked, an upper control limit is included on the chart.

Lower control limit - if checked, a lower control limit is included on the chart.

Outer warning limits - if checked, warning limits are drawn at the centerline +/- 2 sigma.

Inner warning limits - if checked, warning limits are drawn at the centerline +/- 1 sigma.

Connect points - if checked, lines are drawn connecting each of the points on the chart.

Smoother - you may superimpose a moving average or exponentially weighted moving average (EWMA) on the chart. These smoothers are used to help estimate any trend which might be present in the data. They may also be drawn separately using the MA and EWMA tabs. When drawn here, they use the settings of those tabs.

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Runs Rules

This tab lists any unusual groups of points on the chart:

For a detailed discussion of runs rules, refer to the Individuals Chart statlet.

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