Labs Feature (Early Access)
This is a lab feature (read more about our lab). After incorporating early adopter feedback we will make this chart available in our standard ActionableAgile Analytics offering.
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The Individuals Chart (Finding Process Signals)
Here you can see the Cycle Times of individual items plotted over time
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The horizontal axis represents a cumulative number of items ordered by the date they are finished. Items finished on the same day listed consecutively, ordered by item ID, alphanumerically. The vertical axis represents the Cycle Time of the items.
Process Signals Chart Control
The Signal Detectors controls allow you to separate signal from noise and find patterns within your noise to get early indicators that process changes are afoot (for better or worse). These detectors are listed in order of signal strength and should be used in that order.
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In practice, most people who use process behavior charts effectively find that they have plenty of signals to tackle. However, if greater sensitivity is required, you can use the other signal detectors.
The Moving Range Chart (Validating your data)
The moving range chart is also sometimes called the mR chart or the XmR chart.
While the Cycle Time Run chart shows the actual cycle time values for the work items, the moving range chart shows the differences between successive Cycle Time values. In other words, it is a running record of the Cycle Time variation generated from your process.
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The XmR chart is your first, best, and probably last chart for characterizing the variation in your system. Nowhere else are you going to find such a clear, concise visualization of the probable noise and possible signal contained within your data. – Dan Vacanti
The vertical axis represents the variation between the two Cycle Times being compared.
The horizontal axis represents a cumulative number of comparisons made. There will always be one less point on the Moving Range chart than there is on the Cycle Time Run Chart. That’s because it takes two Cycle Time Run Chart points to plot one Moving Range chart point.
Chart Controls
Summary Statistics
These controls allow you to toggle a statistics bar on and off for each chart. This chart makes it easier to see the values for the basis lines used for each chart
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Moving Range Summary Statistics
Process Signals
These signal detectors are explained in detail in the Individuals chart documentation above.
These signals are listed in order of strongest to weakest. Most will find plenty to do by focusing on the first signal before moving on to weaker signals.
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Basis Lines
These are lines that are used to analyze your data in the charts. The first 4 are in the Individuals Chart (top) and the last 2 are in the Moving Range chart (bottom).
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Note: the sigma lines have nothing to do with standard deviation. They just unfortunately use the same nomenclature
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Layout
The layout determines which large sections of the chart you want to see. Use the checkboxes to toggle them on and off.
The Date control allows you to select a subset of the data to zoom into in the Cycle Time and Moving range chart. You do this by clicking and dragging your mouse.
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Item Filter
You can filter down the dots shown on this chart by choosing one or more available filters.
If you want to clear your filters so that all dots show up again, you click the Reset button.
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Workflow Stages
As this chart deals with Cycle Times, you need at least 2 workflow stages selected.
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This allows you to look at the behavior of your entire process or just a specific portion of it.
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FAQ
How do I tell if my process is stable?
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How trustworthy are the process signal controls?
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Where to learn more
Donald J Wheeler - Contra Two Sigma: The consequences of using the wrong limits, Quality Digest Daily, May 1, 2013 http://www.spcpress.com/pdf/DJW255.pdf
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