X and Moving Range Charts

X and MR Charts are used to handle situations where only one

observation per subgroup is taken. Situations where this type of control
chart may be used include:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Processes where sampling is destructive.

Testing of the process characteristic is costly.
Long production times.
Low volumes.

Exit Program

About the Authors

Paul Eggert is a Marketing Manager for an international computer company. He received his bachelors degree
in Business from New Jersey School of Business in 1992 and expects to graduate with an MBA from Boise
State University in the Spring of 2002.
Susan Mohr is a Staff Strategist for an international telecommunications company. She received a
Microbiology Degree from Montana State University and expects to graduate with an MBA from Boise State
University in the Fall of 2002.
Sera Cullen

X and MR Chart Definitions and Examples

Control Charts for Individuals or Attributes

* An X & MR Chart is used when only one observation per subgroup is taken and process variability needs to be determine
* Examples include but are not limited to:
**Destructive Sampling
**Testing of the Process Characteristic is Costly
**Long Production Times
*Since sampling is not being performed, the central limit thereom does not apply.
*Therefore if the data are not normally distributed the X and MR chart is not recommended.

X Chart
* X is an individual observation from a population represented on an X Chart that reflects the population distribution.
* The X Chart is made up of three components including:
**Observation: The individual observation from a population.
**Data Point Mean: This is the average of the data points being measured calculated as follows:
X = Ex/k where X = data mean
E = summation sign
x = population value
k = the number of values used to sum X

**Control Limit: The three standard deviation limit is referred to as natural variation where the controls are calculated
Lower Control Limit (LCL) = X - 3(R/d2)
Upper Control Limit (UCL) = X + 3(R/d2)
where X = data mean
R = mean of moving range
d2 = 1.128

Moving Range (MR)

*The Moving Range provides the basis of the variability estimation of an individual control chart (X chart).
*The MR Chart is made up of three components including:

**MR Data Points: The range obtained by taking the absolute value of the difference between successive observatio
M1 (Moving Range Point One) = |x2-x1|
M2 (Moving Range Point Two) = |x3-x2|

**MR Mean: The average of the sum of moving range calculations obtained by taking the absolute value of the differe
successive observations.
MR = Ex/k where MR = moving range mean
E = summation sign
x = calculated moving range value
k = the number of values used to sum MR
**Control Limit: The formulas used to determine the control chart patters are:
Upper Control Limit (UCL) = MR*D4
Lower Control Limit (LCL) = MR*0
Where MR = moving range mean

**MR Mean: The average of the sum of moving range calculations obtained by taking the absolute value of the differe
successive observations.
MR = Ex/k where MR = moving range mean
E = summation sign
x = calculated moving range value
k = the number of values used to sum MR
**Control Limit: The formulas used to determine the control chart patters are:
Upper Control Limit (UCL) = MR*D4
Lower Control Limit (LCL) = MR*0
Where MR = moving range mean
D4 = 3.267

Example

*The following example demonstrates sample strength observations for a chemical used in manufacturing. The mo
calculated from the observations and graphed onto an X and an MR Chart as shown.

Chemical Strength

X Chart
Sample Strength

Sample
Moving
Strength Range
50
0
43.9
6.1
41.2
2.7
49.9
8.7
48.6
1.3
46.5
2.1
43.8
2.7
55.7
11.9
48.7
7
50.3
1.6
46.5
3.8
44.3
2.2

75.00
60.00
45.00
30.00
15.00
0.00

Observation
Data mean
Upper Contr
Lower Contr
1

9 10 11 12

Batch Number

MR Chart
Sample Strength

Batch
Number
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12

25.00
20.00
15.00
10.00
5.00
0.00

MR Mean
Upper Contro
Lower Contro
MR Data Poi
1

Moving Range

9 10 11 12

d Examples

ess variability needs to be determined.

mmended.

cts the population distribution.

ted as follows:

on where the controls are calculated as:

ntrol chart (X chart).

nce between successive observations.

king the absolute value of the difference between

king the absolute value of the difference between

al used in manufacturing. The moving range is

rt
Observations
Data mean
Upper Control Level
Lower Control Level
10 11 12

art
MR Mean
Upper Control Limit
Lower Control Limit
MR Data Points
10 11 12

Chemical Strength
Batch
Number
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12

Sample Moving Sample

Strength Range Mean
50.0
47.45
43.9
6.1
47.45
41.2
2.7
47.45
49.9
8.7
47.45
48.6
1.3
47.45
46.5
2.1
47.45
43.8
2.7
47.45
55.7
11.9
47.45
48.7
7.0
47.45
50.3
1.6
47.45
46.5
3.8
47.45
44.3
2.2
47.45

MR
Mean
4.55
4.55
4.55
4.55
4.55
4.55
4.55
4.55
4.55
4.55
4.55
4.55

X UCL
59.56
59.56
59.56
59.56
59.56
59.56
59.56
59.56
59.56
59.56
59.56
59.56

X LCL
35.34
35.34
35.34
35.34
35.34
35.34
35.34
35.34
35.34
35.34
35.34
35.34

MR UCL MR LCL
14.88
0
14.88
0
14.88
0
14.88
0
14.88
0
14.88
0
14.88
0
14.88
0
14.88
0
14.88
0
14.88
0
14.88
0

Enter Data and Plot X&MR Charts

Tim's

UCL X

LCL X

20.84

Batch
Number

Starfish

Moving
Range

Enter your
data here

Mean of the Data

14.73

5.00

10.00

5.00

12.00

2.00

11.00

1.00

15.00

4.00

16.00

1.00

14.00

2.00

18.00

4.00

19.00

1.00

10

20.00

1.00

11

22.00

2.00

8.61

UCL MR

LCL MR

7.51

0.00

test1 (see n6)

Mean of the
Moving Range
2.30
number of data points for mean of the MR

need to build the link

Print Chart

Moving Range Control Chart

Return To Data Entry Screen

8
7
6

MR Value

Moving Range
UCL MR
LCL MR
MR Mean

4
3
2
1
0

Batch Number

Print Chart

Return To Data Entry Screen

X Chart

25.00

20.00

X Value

15.00

Starfish
UCL X
LCL X
Data Mean

10.00

5.00

0.00
1

Batch Number

Batch Number
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

Moving Ra UCL MR LCL MR MR Mean

7.5141
0
2.3
5.00
7.51
0.00
2.3
2.00
7.51
0.00
2.3
1.00
7.51
0.00
2.3
4.00
7.51
0.00
2.3
1.00
7.51
0.00
2.3
2.00
7.51
0.00
2.3
4.00
7.51
0.00
2.3
1.00
7.51
0.00
2.3

Batch Number

Starfish
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

10.00
12.00
11.00
15.00
16.00
14.00
18.00
19.00

UCL X
20.84
20.84
20.84
20.84
20.84
20.84
20.84
20.84
20.84

LCL X
8.61
8.61
8.61
8.61
8.61
8.61
8.61
8.61
8.61

Data Mean
14.72727
14.72727
14.72727
14.72727
14.72727
14.72727
14.72727
14.72727
14.72727

Listbox
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0
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0.0
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0.00
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0.000
4
0.0000
5
0.00000
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0.000000
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0.0000000
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0.00000000
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