Run chart

A run chart, also known as a run-sequence plot is a

graph that displays observed data in a time sequence.
Often, the data displayed represent some aspect of the
output or performance of a manufacturing or other
business process. It is therefore a form of line chart.

Overview
Run sequence plots[1] are an easy way to graphically
summarize a univariate data set. A common assumption A simple run chart showing data collected over
of univariate data sets is that they behave like:[2] time. The median of the observed data (73) is also
shown on the chart.
random drawings;
from a fixed distribution;
with a common location; and
with a common scale.

With run sequence plots, shifts in location and scale are typically quite evident. Also, outliers can easily be
detected.

Examples could include measurements of the fill level

of bottles filled at a bottling plant or the water
temperature of a dish-washing machine each time it is
run. Time is generally represented on the horizontal (x)
axis and the property under observation on the vertical
(y) axis. Often, some measure of central tendency
(mean or median) of the data is indicated by a
horizontal reference line.

Run charts are analyzed to find anomalies in data that

suggest shifts in a process over time or special factors
that may be influencing the variability of a process.
Typical factors considered include unusually long
"runs" of data points above or below the average line,
the total number of such runs in the data set, and
unusually long series of consecutive increases or
Run chart of eight random walks in one dimension
starting at 0. The plot shows the current position
on the line (vertical axis) versus the time steps
(horizontal axis).

decreases.[1]

Run charts are similar in some regards to the control charts used in statistical process control, but do not
show the control limits of the process. They are therefore simpler to produce, but do not allow for the full
range of analytic techniques supported by control charts.

References
  This article incorporates public domain material from the National Institute of Standards and Technology
(https://www.nist.gov).

1. Chambers, John; William Cleveland; Beat Kleiner; Paul Tukey (1983). Graphical Methods
for Data Analysis (https://archive.org/details/graphicalmethods00cham_0). Duxbury. ISBN 0-
534-98052-X.
2. NIST/SEMATECH (2003). "Run-Sequence Plot" (http://www.itl.nist.gov/div898/handbook/ed
a/section3/runseqpl.htm) In: e-Handbook of Statistical Methods 6/01/2003 (Date created).

Further reading
Pyzdek, Thomas (2003). Quality Engineering Handbook (Second ed.). New York: CRC.
ISBN 0-8247-4614-7.

External links
Run-Sequence Plot (http://www.itl.nist.gov/div898/handbook/eda/section3/eda33p.htm)

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Run_chart&oldid=1070278659"