Integrated control chart system for time-between-events monitoring in a multistage manufacturing system

This article develops a control chart system consisting of several individual time-between-events (TBE) charts, each of which is used to monitor the time between successive events at different process stages in the manufacturing of a product in a multistage manufacturing system. The design algorithm considers all the TBE charts within a system in an integrative and optimal manner. Numerical studies show that the proposed design algorithm improves the performance characteristics of the chart system significantly and thus the product quality is further guaranteed. The proposed control chart system is easy to understand and operate; thus, the floor operators can utilize and understand it as easily as for the traditional system. © 2007 Springer-Verlag London Limited.