In quality control monitoring, which statement best describes a shift?

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Multiple Choice

In quality control monitoring, which statement best describes a shift?

In quality control monitoring, a shift means a sustained change in the process mean over time. This is seen as a systematic drift where the central tendency moves to a new level, often visible as several consecutive measurements lying on the same side of the established centerline or as a new, higher or lower average after the shift. This indicates the process has entered a different operating state and may point to an assignable cause that needs investigation and possible correction. This is different from random fluctuations, which are irregular and patternless; or from a single out-of-range result, which is just an isolated incident and does not reflect a lasting change. If results remain stable with no trend, there’s no shift.

In quality control monitoring, a shift means a sustained change in the process mean over time. This is seen as a systematic drift where the central tendency moves to a new level, often visible as several consecutive measurements lying on the same side of the established centerline or as a new, higher or lower average after the shift. This indicates the process has entered a different operating state and may point to an assignable cause that needs investigation and possible correction. This is different from random fluctuations, which are irregular and patternless; or from a single out-of-range result, which is just an isolated incident and does not reflect a lasting change. If results remain stable with no trend, there’s no shift.

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