As majority of people, I hate statistics. It is surprising as working as full time black belt for so long :). I do not use it very often in my projects at all. However, there are some statistical tools, that are easier to be understood and implemented. Run chart and Control chart are two of them.
There are both charts templates availabe for download, to make it even more easier for you to work with it.
This article covers:
- Run chart
- Control chart
- Reaction on non-standard situations
- Run chart and Control chart in excel
- Run chart and Control chart template download

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Run chart
Run chart is a data line graph. Is showing a measured values in chronological order. This graph is allowing us to:
- Monitor process behavior over the time.
- Find trends or patterns in the monitored process.
- Understand if changes made are really resulting in improvement or are sustained.
Run chart is 2 dimensional graph. X axis represents time and measure on y axis. Line in the middle of this graph is Median. Median is a value, that splits increasing order results on two equal halves. It helps visualize
- trends β 5 or more points in the row with the same direction.
- A shift β 6 or more points on one side of the median.
- Expected more or fewer runs.
- Enormous data points.
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Control chart
Control chart data collection and visualization is equal to the run chart. There are two additional lines on top of run chart data. Upper control limit and lower control limit. Control chart is used to determine if monitored process is under control. Measured values are visualized, so it helps to determine cause of variation. It can also determine stable process, but out of required limits.
Common cause variation is when all points are within the control limits. When a control chart shows common cause variation, process is in control or stable.
Control chart consists of:
- Collected data points.
- Mean of collected points, which is center line.
- Standard deviation
- Upper and lower control limits
There can be other features, like warning control limits, personal notes, action taken notes and so on.
Control chart helps with visualization:
- Points outside of the control limits
- Up or down Trends
- A points shift on one side of the mean.

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Reaction on non-standard situation
Each of described non-standard process behaviors, needs reaction. I suggest describing each reaction in the instruction or any guideline. It must consist of:
- Regular process behavior review. Have used charts visualized online or on some screen close to the process.
- Time period of data collection. This depends of monitored process requirements. Most common is every hour or two.
- Time period, chart must be checked on regular bases.
- Check points description. By that meant what must be checked on the chart in what time period.
- Reaction or possible reactions for each non-standard process behavior. It can be some set up change, or some tool exchange and so on.
Run chart and Control chart in excel
And his is how run chart and control charts are created in excel.
Runchart in excel
LetΒ΄s have some dimension data. Measurements were recorded every 2 hours during a day. Run chart will require median β the middle line. Excel have formula for it.

Insert median next to each data point.

Select all rows, Click insert on upper bar and choose line. And there it is. The Run chart.

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Control chart in excel
As mentioned earlier, control chart is run chart with control limits. To have right results average of data point needs to be calculated.

We subtract each data point from the average. This is called range. We must calculate range average to calculate control limits.

Formula for upper control limit is: average+2.66*average of the range. And formula for lower control limit is: average – 2.66*average of the range. 2.66 value is statistical number. Both control limits are inserted to the table next to data point and median.

Then we follow exact same steps as used on previous graph. And here is our control chart.

Run chart and Control chart template download
You can download Run chart and Control chart excel template on the link below:
I do videos, blog posts, and all templates for free, in my free time. I will appreciate if you can donate me a cup of cofee, for more energy in my creation. (1 dollar counts, too π Click on this link: I would like to support Erik in his effort
And once again, I would like to encourage you to not be scared of using Six Sigma because of statistics. You can improve 80% of malfunctioning processes by using simple tools, like process mapping, 5S, PDCA and so on.
Do not forget to visit and subscribe my YouTube channel. I am uploading Six Sigma, Lean and Project oriented videos regurarly. So, stay tuned.
Yours sincerely Erik.