Run Chart Rules

Run charts display data shown over time in graph form. They help teams understand if a process is stable or unstable, detect variation in a system, determine if changes are resulting in desired improvements and if improvements are being sustained over time. They are frequently used for monitoring quality improvement initiatives. There are specific rules used to interpret run charts, to ensure you are drawing the correct conclusions about your data. This downloadable pamphlet summarizes four rules for recognizing signals of change in run charts, that should prompt you to ask questions about what may have caused the change. These rules help us correctly interpret and react appropriately to the patterns of data over time, and not react to individual data points.