A3: CH 3--Quality Management-Abdulmajeed Alqahtani https://xlitemprod.pearsoncmg.

com/api/v1/print/om

Instructor: John Bing

Student: Abdulmajeed Alqahtani Assignment: A3: CH 3--Quality
Course: BUA 345--Operations & Supply
Date: 06/03/19 Management
Chain Management

The Canine Gourmet Company produces delicious dog treats for canines with discriminating tastes. Management wants the
box-filling line to be set so that the process average weight per packet is 44 grams. To make sure that the process is in
control, an inspector at the end of the filling line periodically selects a random box of 8 packets and weighs each packet.
When the process is in control, the range in the weight of each sample has averaged 8 grams.
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Click the icon to view the table of factors for calculating three-sigma limits for the x-chart and R-chart.

a. Design an R- and an x-chart for this process.

Note that the range, R, is the difference between the largest observation in a sample and the smallest. A range chart, or
R-chart, is used to monitor process variability. The control limits for the R-chart are given by the formulas below, where R is
the average of several past R values and the central line of the control chart, and D3 and D4 are the constants that provide
three standard deviation (three-sigma) limits for a given sample size.

UCLR = D4 R and LCLR = D3 R

To find the control limits for the sample ranges, first identify the values of D4 , D3 , and R. Note that the sample size is 8, as
specified in the problem statement.

D4 = 1.864, D3 = 0.136, R = 8

Now, compute the control limits for the sample ranges. First, find UCLR .

UCLR = D4 R

= 1.864(8)
= 14.912

Next, find LCLR .

LCLR = D3 R

= 0.136(8)
= 1.088

Therefore, the control limits for the sample ranges for the process are 14.912 grams and 1.088 grams.

Note that x represents a sample mean. An x-chart is used to see whether the process is generating output, on average,
consistent with a target value set by management for the process or whether its current performance, with respect to the
average of the performance measure, is consistent with its past performance. The control limits for the x-chart are given by
the formulas below, where x is the central line of the chart, which can be either the average of past sample means or a
target value set for the process, and A2 is the constant to provide three-sigma limits for the sample mean.

UCLx = x + A2 R and LCLx = x − A2 R

To find the control limits for the sample means, first identify the values of x and A2 .

x = 44, A2 = 0.373

Now, compute the control limits for the sample means. First, find UCLx .

UCLx = x + A R
2
= 44 + 0.373(8)
= 46.984

Next, find LCLx .

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A3: CH 3--Quality Management-Abdulmajeed Alqahtani https://xlitemprod.pearsoncmg.com/api/v1/print/om

LCLx = x − A R
2
= 44 − 0.373(8)
= 41.016

Therefore, the control limits for the sample means for the process are 46.984 grams and 41.016 grams.

b. The results from the last 5 samples of 8 packets are shown below. Is the process in control? Explain.

Sample x R
1 45 5
2 45 9
3 42 10
4 43 6
5 44 7

Now, construct the R-chart and the x-chart using the control limits from part (a). Use the R-chart to determine if the process
variability is out of control and use the x-chart to determine if the process average is out of control. If any of the sample
points fall outside of the control limits or if the chart shows any unusual patterns, such as a run or a sudden change, then
the corresponding process it out of control and the entire process is out of control.

The R-chart is shown below.

The x-chart is shown below.

The process variability is in statistical control and the process average is in statistical control. Therefore, the entire process
is in control.

1: More Info
Factors for calculating three-sigma limits for the x-chart and R-chart

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A3: CH 3--Quality Management-Abdulmajeed Alqahtani https://xlitemprod.pearsoncmg.com/api/v1/print/om

Size of Sample Factor for UCL and LCL Factor for LCL for Factor for UCL for
(n) for x-chart (A2 ) R-Chart (D3 ) R-Chart (D4 )

2 1.880 0 3.267
3 1.023 0 2.575
4 0.729 0 2.282
5 0.577 0 2.115
6 0.483 0 2.004
7 0.419 0.076 1.924
8 0.373 0.136 1.864
9 0.337 0.184 1.816
10 0.308 0.223 1.777

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