IE 571 Homework #2 (due 10/2/2012 before 5:00 pm)

1. Samples of size n = 5 are collected from a process every half hour. After 50 samples have
been collected, we calculate x = 20.0 and s = 1.5. Assume that both charts exhibit control
and that the quality characteristic is normally distributed.
a) Estimate the process standard deviation.
b) Find the control limits on the x and s charts.
c) If the process mean shifts to 22, what is the probability of concluding that the process is
still in control?

2. Samples of n = 5 units are taken from a process every hour. The x and R values for a
particular quality characteristic are determined. After 25 samples have been collected, we
calculate x = 20 and R = 4.56.
a) What are the three-sigma control limits for x and R?
b) Both charts exhibit control. Estimate the process standard deviation.
c) Assume that the process output is normally distributed. If the specifications are 19 ± 5,
what are your conclusions regarding the process capability?
d) If the process mean shifts to 24, what is the probability of not detecting this shift on the
first subsequent sample?

3. Thirty samples each of size 7 have been collected to establish control over a process. The
following data were collected:
30 30
 xi  2700 and  Ri  120
i 1 i 1
a) Calculate trial control limits for the two charts.
b) On the assumption that the R chart is in control, estimate the process standard deviation.
c) Suppose an s chart were desired what would be the appropriate control limits and center
line?

4) Control charts for x and R are in use with the following parameters. The sample size is n =
9. Both charts exhibit control. The quality characteristic is normally distributed.
x Chart R Chart
UCL = 363.0 UCL = 16.18
Center line = 360.0 Center line = 8.91
LCL = 357.0 LCL = 1.64
a) What is the α-risk associated with the x chart?
b) Specifications on this quality characteristic are 358 ± 6. What are your conclusions
regarding the ability of the process to produce items within specifications?
c) Suppose the mean shifts to 357. What is the probability that the shift will not be detected
on the first sample following the shift?
d) What would be the appropriate control limits for the x chart if the type I error probability
were to be 0.01?