A heuristic approach for the economic design of X ‐ and R control charts

This paper proposes a simplified procedure to approximate optimal values for the sample size, control limits, and sampling interval of a control chart based quality control station. The procedure considers the specifications in evaluating the control limits, permits asymmetry in these limits and accounts for the cost structure of the control process. The proposed procedure is compared with the optimal approach and with the current approach used by the company from which production information was obtained. This information was used to generate simulated data on which the comparisons are based.