X-Bar R Chart

Classical control chart for continuous measurements in subgroups — X̄ tracks location, R tracks spread.

Also known as: X-Bar R, XBar R chart, mean-range chart

The X̄-R chart combines two charts: the X̄ chart tracks each subgroup's mean; the R chart tracks its range. Location and spread shifts thus appear separately.

  • Subgroup size typically n = 4 or 5 (up to 10)
  • Factors A_2, D_3, D_4 from tables (depend on n; e.g. A_2 = 0.577 at n = 5)
  • Reading order — inspect R first; if spread is out of control the X̄ limits are invalid
  • For n > 10 use the X̄-S chart instead (standard deviation rather than range — more efficient for larger subgroups)

See also

Used in

In the Algorithm Lab

Sources

  • Shewhart, W. A. — Economic Control of Quality of Manufactured Product, 1931
  • Montgomery, D. C. — Introduction to Statistical Quality Control, 8th Edition, Chapter 5
  • AIAG — SPC Reference Manual, 2nd Edition