Control Chart
Quality, Testing & Inspection · Industrial Engineering · Last updated: July 30, 2026 · How this entry was written
Definition: A time-ordered graph of a measured characteristic with a central line and statistically derived upper and lower limits. Points beyond the limits or forming nonrandom patterns signal that the process needs investigation.
Example in context
“The operator plotted each subgroup average on the control chart and stopped the line when three consecutive points hugged the upper limit.”
“Operatör her alt grup ortalamasını kontrol grafiğine işaretledi ve ardışık üç nokta üst limite yaklaşınca hattı durdurdu.”
Where engineers use it
Used daily at machine stations, laboratories and packaging lines to visualise process behaviour over time. Engineers rely on it to separate noise from real change, trigger reaction plans and demonstrate ongoing control to customers and auditors.
Synonyms: Shewhart Chart
In Industrial Engineering
A time-ordered graph of process data with a center line and statistically calculated upper and lower control limits. Points falling outside the limits or forming unusual patterns signal special-cause variation that requires investigation.
“When three consecutive points on the control chart trended toward the upper limit, the operator checked the tooling before any defective parts were produced.”
Practice: can you use “Control Chart” at work?
You receive twenty subgroups of bore diameter measurements from a machining cell. Describe how you would construct the appropriate control chart and what you would examine before judging stability.
Show a model answer
“Please plot today's readings on the control chart before the shift ends.”
“Control Chart” in 21 languages
| English | Control Chart |
|---|---|
| Turkish | Kontrol Grafiği |
| French | Carte de contrôle |
| German | Regelkarte |
| Spanish | Gráfico de control |
| Chinese | 控制图 |
| Arabic | خريطة المراقبة |
| Portuguese | Carta de controle |
| Russian | Контрольная карта |
| Japanese | 管理図 |
| Italian | Carta di controllo |
| Vietnamese | Biểu đồ kiểm soát |
| Hindi | नियंत्रण चार्ट |
| Thai | แผนภูมิควบคุม |
| Indonesian | Peta kendali |
| Korean | 관리도 |
| Bengali | নিয়ন্ত্রণ চার্ট |
| Dutch | Regelkaart |
| Swedish | Styrdiagram |
| Finnish | Ohjauskortti |
| Ukrainian | Контрольна карта |
Frequently asked questions
What does Control Chart mean in engineering?
A time-ordered graph of a measured characteristic with a central line and statistically derived upper and lower limits. Points beyond the limits or forming nonrandom patterns signal that the process needs investigation. In Quality, Testing & Inspection, the term carries a usage-frequency rating of 10/10 in the Engineering English library.
How do you pronounce Control Chart?
Control Chart is pronounced /kənˈtroʊl tʃɑːrt/ (IPA). The Engineering English app plays audio for the term and checks your pronunciation with speech recognition.
How is Control Chart used in a sentence?
Example from an engineering context: “The operator plotted each subgroup average on the control chart and stopped the line when three consecutive points hugged the upper limit.”
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