Introduction to using control charts.

National Institute for Children's Health Quality. (n.d.). Introduction to using control charts. https://www.nichq.org/resource/introduction-using-control-charts

This introductory resource provides a foundational overview of control charts and their critical role in monitoring process behavior over time. Produced by the National Institute for Children's Health Quality, the material explains how to distinguish between common cause variation (inherent to the process) and special cause variation (resulting from external or unusual factors). It guides users through the basic components of a control chart, including the upper and lower control limits and the central mean line. The primary argument is that visualizing data sequentially allows organizations to assess process stability, determine whether improvement interventions are genuinely effective, and prevent overreacting to normal fluctuations. By equipping practitioners with the knowledge to interpret these charts, the resource aims to foster more data-driven, objective decision-making within quality improvement initiatives and sustained operational excellence.