A key component of Deming’s ‘Theory of Profound Knowledge’ is in relation to the measurement of performance (of a system) and the ‘Theory of Variation’.

I’ve noticed over the years that, whilst the foundational points around variation can be well understood, the use of control charts within operational practice can be ‘absolutely butchered’ (technical term 🙂 ).

This caused me to write a ‘how to’ guide a while back, for me and my colleagues.

I recently ‘dusted it down’ and tidied it up into a version 2.0 in order that I can share it more widely, for anyone who can find value within.

I attach it as a pdf document for anyone interested:

Control charts – a how to guide V2.0

It doesn’t replace the excellent writings of Donald Wheeler…though it hopefully makes you curious to ‘pull’ his writings towards you.

It doesn’t tell you what to measure…because it couldn’t!

It doesn’t ‘do it for you’…but, hopefully, it does give you enough so that you can experiment with doing it for yourself.

…and it can’t beat working alongside someone who knows what they are doing, and can act as your coach.

Note: If you do end up using/ sharing this guide then I’d be grateful if you could add a simple comment at the bottom of this page so that I am aware of this. Not because I’m going to invoice you (I’m not!)…but because I would find this knowledge useful (#feedback).

You might tell me: what you thought of it (warts and all), where you might use it, whether you have shared it with others (and whether they appreciated this or not!)… and if it has improved your measurement practices.

Thanks, Steve