Defining Sets, Specifications for Charts from Variables - X(X-Bar) tab

Select the X (X-Bar) tab of the Defining Sets, Specifications for Charts from Variables dialog box to access the options described here. You can use these options to define variables for control and specification limits on X or X-Bar charts. Note that set specifications are optional. If variables with chart specifications are defined, sets will automatically be created when specs change in consecutive samples.

Notes:

Missing values in specification variables

 In Statistica, a change in a specification variable value (an increase in the UCL for the range) is used to signal the start of a new set. If there are missing data within a specification variable (e.g., the specification variable for the Range UCL is missing observations), it is not known to which set the sample should be assigned. Therefore in order to avoid incorrect or seemingly incorrect results when missing data are encountered in the specification variable, an error message is displayed and the chart is not created.

Specifying sigma

For any chart there can only be one estimate of sigma; however, there are various chart elements that are functions of sigma ( such as the center line of the range chart; sigma is a function of the center line for the range). Therefore, if you define sigma, the center line for the range chart is automatically defined, and vice versa. Thus, only one of these specifications for sigma can be set. For example, if you specify a center line for the range chart on the R (MR, S) tab, and then specify a value for process sigma on the X (X-bar) tab, the variable setting for the range chart center line will automatically be cleared.

Variable specifications X Center Line and Sigma

Center line

Click the Center line button to display a standard variable selection dialog box, where you can select a variable for use as the center line for each set. The values in this variable will be used in place of the default process mean value.

Sigma

 Click the Sigma button to display a standard variable selection dialog box, which is used to specify the variable containing Process sigma for each set. Target values for sigma can be derived from experience or previous similar processes. For a description of the computations involved in standard quality control charts, refer to Computational Details. See also, the Introductory Overview.

Lower and Upper Control Limits (LCL/UCL)

LCL

Click the LCL button to display a standard variable selection dialog box. Select the variable that contains the values to use in computing the lower control limit for each set. You will also need to select one of the option buttons in the Specify in terms of box (see below).

Do not compute LCL by default

Select this check box to not calculate the LCL by default when a variable UCL is defined.

UCL

Click the UCL button to display a standard variable selection dialog box. Select the variable that contains the values to use in computing the upper control limit for each set. You will also need to select one of the option buttons in the Specify in terms of box (see below).

Do not compute UCL by default

Select this check box to not calculate the UCL by default when a variable LCL is defined.

Specify in terms of

You can specify control limits in terms of multiples of sigma ( 3*Sigma), as computations from probability values (e.g., the 10th and 90th percentiles), or as a constant. Select the option button that corresponds with the data in the variable you have selected for the LCL/UCL. Note that you must use the same option for both LCL and UCL (i.e., if LCL is to be calculated as a multiple of sigma, then the UCL must also be calculated in this way).

Multiples of sigma

Select this option button if the selected variables contain values (3), that should be used in calculating the upper and lower control limits. The upper and lower control limits for each set will be calculated as ± the selected variable values * sigma.

p (normal probabilities)

Select this option button if the selected variables contain probabilities on which to base the upper and lower control limits. Note that the actual control limits will always be based on the respective normal distribution values (when establishing the control limits, the p value given in the variable will be converted to the respective normal z value), which is then applied to the computation of the control limits.

Specific value

Select this option button, if the selected variables contain constants which should be treated as the lower and upper control limits for each set.

Lower and Upper Warning Limits (LWL/UWL)

LWL

Click the LWL button to display a standard variable selection dialog box. Select the variable that contains the values to use in computing the lower warning limit for each set. You will also need to select one of the option buttons in the Specify in terms of box (see below).

Do not compute LWL by default

Select this check box to not calculate the LWL by default when a variable UWL is defined.

UWL

 Click the UWL button to display a standard variable selection dialog box. Select the variable that contains the values to use in computing the upper warning limit for each set. You will also need to select one of the option buttons in the Specify in terms of box (see below).

Do not compute UWL by default

Select this check box to not calculate the UWL by default when a variable LWL is defined.

Specify in terms of

 You can specify warning limits in terms of multiples of sigma ( 3*Sigma), as computations from probability values ( the 10th and 90th percentiles), or as a constant. Select the option button that corresponds with the data in the variables you have selected for the LWL/UWL. Note that you must use the same option for both LWL and UWL ( if LWL is to be calculated as a multiple of sigma, then the UWL must also be calculated in this way).

Multiples of sigma

Select this option button if the selected variables contain a value ( 3), that should be used in calculating the upper and lower warning limits for the sets. The upper and lower warning limits will be calculated as ± the selected variable value * sigma.

p (normal probabilities)

Select this option button if the selected variables contain probabilities on which to base the upper and lower warning limit. Note that the actual warning limits will always be based on the respective normal distribution values (when establishing the warning limits, the p value given in the variable will be converted to the respective normal z value), which is then applied to the computation of the warning limits.

Specific value

Select this option button, if the selected variables contain constants which should be treated as the lower and upper warning limits for each set.

Specifications and Specification Limits (LSL/USL) for Process Capability

To specify a traditional (symmetric) specification range, you must select variables to use for the nominal target value and the deviation (delta). To specify an asymmetric specification range, you can select variables for the nominal target value, LSL, and USL. Additionally, you may specify one-sided specification limits by specifying only the nominal target value and either the LSL or the USL.

Nominal

Click the Nominal button to display a standard variable selection dialog box which you can use to select the variable that contains the nominal values to use in computing process capability indices for each set.

+/- Delta

Click the +/- Delta button to display a standard variable selection dialog box. Select the variable that contains the deviation (delta) to use in defining the specification range.

LSL

Click the LSL button to display a standard variable selection dialog box. Choose the variable that contains the values for the LSL (lower specification limit) for each set.

USL

Click the USL button to display a standard variable selection dialog. Choose the variable that contains the values for the USL (upper specification limit) for each set.