On the performance and comparison of various memory-type control charts

Abstract

Several versions of the exponentially weighted moving average (EWMA) control chart, such as the generally weighted moving average (GWMA), the double, triple, and quadruple EWMA (DEWMA, TEWMA, and QEWMA), and the homogeneously weighted moving average (HWMA) charts, have been developed to enhance its detection ability, especially for small and moderate shifts. These charts have been criticized as it is considered that an appropriately designed EWMA chart provides as good or better zero-state and steady-state average run-length (ARL) performance. In this article, we perform a careful comparison study of the above control charts under similar in-control (IC) run-length properties. We show that the “new” memory-type control charts have better out-of-control (OOC) run-length characteristics, especially for small to moderate shifts in the process mean for both the zero-state and steady-state cases, except for the HWMA chart where its steady-state OOC performance is very poor. We also present a comparison study based on the worst-case ARL measure. Finally, the extensions of the EWMA chart have better IC robustness ability than the EWMA and HWMA charts.