Attribute charts are a kind of control chart to display information about defects and defectives. Helps you visualize the enemy – variation! Show
Just like the name would indicate, Attribution Charts are for attribute data – data that can be counted – In other words, the data that counts the number of defective items or the number of defects per unit. While variable charts like X̅ and R chart are used for measurable quantities such as length, weight height. If your process can be measured in attribute data, then attribute charts can show you exactly where in the process you’re having problems, if any. Defect Vs DefectiveDefect: A defect is a non-conformity that does not meeting the customer requirement. A product or service may have one or more defects but is defective only if defects prevent the product from functioning. Defects are the subsets of defective and can be categorized as minor, medium, and major based on criticality. Often non-conformity is used to signify the defects. For example, Dimension differences, failure of visual, safety, and functional requirements etc. Defect analysis is carried out based on the Poisson distribution (evaluates the rate of defects in the process) using the following methods.
Defective: A product or service that has one or more defect and it is not suitable for use. In other words, a product or service is defective if the defect(s) existing in it affects its functionality. Often non-conforming is used to signify the defectives—each product or service experiences only two choices i.e, either defective or not. A defective analysis is carried out based on Binomial distribution (evaluates the proportion of defectives in the process) using the following methods.
Selection of control chartThe control chart is a graph used to study how process changes over time. A control chart always has a central line for average, an upper line for upper control limit, and lower line for the lower control limit. The control limits are ±3σ from the centerline. Selection of appropriate control chart is very important in control charts mapping, otherwise ended up with inaccurate control limits for the data. Using Attribute ChartsAttribute charts are used for charting either-or conditions over time for either static samples sizes (ex 10 samples every week) or varying sample sizes. Six Sigma certification exams like to throw curveballs about how and when to apply certain attribute charts to different situations. Here’s a quick way for you to determine which chart to use in which situation. Types of Attribute ChartsThere are four types of Attribute Charts:
How to Pick Which Attribute Chart to Use for Defects or DefectivesAssuming that one or more defects in a product make that product entirely defective, you can use the following guide to pick which one to use. For example, If the Quality inspector monitors 100 bottles of information every shift, then it is a constant lot size. Similarly, if the quality inspection is monitoring 10% of bottle information from the production, then the lot size varies based on the number of bottles produced on that particular shift. Different Attribute ChartsThere are 4 main attribute charts. Let’s take a close look at each.
Attribute Charts: p Chart (proportion chart)What is a p Chart:p chart is also known as the control chart for proportions. It is generally used to analyze the proportions of non-conforming or defective items in a process. It uses binomial distribution to measure the proportion of defectives or non confirming units in a sample.
When to Use a p Chart:p chart is one of the quality control charts is used to assess trends and patterns in counts of binary events (e.g., pass, fail) over time. p charts are used when the subgroups are not equal in size and compute control limits based on the binomial distribution.
How to Use a p Chart:Step 1) Calculate each subgroups non conformities rate= np/n
Step 2) Compute centerline p̅ = total number of defectives / total number of samples =Σnp/Σn Step 3) Find Control Limits: Calculate upper control limit (UCL) and low control limit (LCL). If LCL is negative, then consider it as 0. Since the sample sizes are unequal, the control limits vary from sample interval to sample interval. Step 4) Plot the graph with proportion on the y-axis, lots on the x-axis: Draw centreline (p̅), control limits (UCL and LCL). Interpret the data to determine whether the process is in control. Attribute Charts: np ChartWhat are np Charts:np chart is also known as the control chart for defectives (d-chart) . It is generally used to monitor the number of non-conforming or defective items in the measurement process. It uses binomial distribution to measure the number of defectives or non confirming units in a sample.
When to Use np Charts:np chart is one of the quality control charts is used to assess trends and patterns in counts of binary events (e.g., pass, fail) over time. np chart requires that the sample size of the each subgroup be the same and compute control limits based on the binomial distribution.
How to Use np Charts:Step 1) Count the number of defectives in each sample Step 2) Compute p̅ = total number of defectives / total number of samples =Σnp/Σn
Step 3) Calculate centreline np̅ = total number of defectives/no of lots = Σnp/k Step 4) Calculate the control limits Step 5) Plot the graph with proportion on the y-axis, the number of samples on the x-axis: Draw centreline (np̅), control limits (UCL and LCL). Interpret the data to determine whether the process is in control. Attribute Charts: C ChartsWhat are c chartsc chart is also known as the control chart for defects (counting of the number of defects). It is generally used to monitor the number of defects in constant size units.
When to Use c Chart:c chart is one of the quality control charts used to track the number of defects in a product of constant size
How to Use c Charts:Step 1) Count the number of defects in each sample Step 2) Compute centreline c̅ = total number of defects / number of samples =Σc/k
Step 3) Calculate the control limits Step 4) Plot the graph with number of defects on the y-axis, lots on the x-axis: Draw centreline (c̅), control limits (UCL and LCL). Interpret the data to determine whether the process is in control. Attribute Charts: u ChartWhat are u Charts:u chart is also known as the control chart for defects per unit chart. It is generally used to monitor the count type of data where the sample size is greater than one.
When to Use u Charts:u chart is one of the quality control charts used to monitor the number of defects per unit of variable sample size.
How to use u ChartsStep 1) Calculate the number of defects per unit in each lot.
Step 2) Compute centreline u̅= total number of defects / number of samples =Σc/Σn
Step 3) Calculate Control limits: Since the sample sizes are unequal, the control limits vary from sample interval to sample interval. Step 4) Plot the graph with number of defects per each unit on the y-axis, lots on the x-axis: Draw centreline (u̅), control limits (UCL and LCL). Interpret the data to determine whether the process is in control. Example to select an appropriate attribute chartVideos about Attribute ChartsASQ Six Sigma Black Belt Attribute Charts QuestionsQuestion: Which of the following control charts is most appropriate for monitoring the number of defects on different sample sizes? (A) u(B) np(C) c (D) p |