Average Charts – X-bar Chart

Average charts are made by simply taking the averages of a number of subgroups and plotting the averages on the chart. The average chart is called the X-bar chart because in statistical notation, a bar or line over the variable (X) symbolizes the average of X. “X-bar” is a shorthand way of saying “the average of X”.

An X-bar chart is a variable control chart that displays the changes in the average output of a process. The chart reflects either changes over time or changes associated with a categorical data variable. The chart shows how consistent and predictable a process is at achieving the mean.

X-bar charts measure variation between subgroups. They are often paired with either Standard Deviation (S) or Range (R) charts, which measure variation within subgroups. Definition: Variable Data Subgroups

All data in a subgroup has something in common, such as a common time of collection. For example, all data for a particular date, a single shift, or a time of day. Subgroup data can have other factors in common, such as data associated with a physician, or data associated with a particular volume of liquid. In Express QC, this is referred to as a Grouped subgroup and there is a categorical variable that holds the grouping category. For example, Physician_ID or Volume.