2. Measurement Process Characterization
2.1. Characterization
2.1.2. What is a check standard?

2.1.2.1.

Assumptions

Case study:

Resistivity check standard

Before applying the quality control procedures recommended in this chapter to check standard data, basic assumptions should be examined. The basic assumptions underlying the quality control procedures are:

1. The data come from a single statistical distribution.
2. The distribution is a normal distribution.
3. The errors are uncorrelated over time.

An easy method for checking the assumption of a single normal distribution is to construct a histogram of the check standard data. The histogram should follow a bell-shaped pattern with a single hump. Types of anomalies that indicate a problem with the measurement system are:

1. a double hump indicating that errors are being drawn from two or more distributions;
2. long tails indicating outliers in the process;
3. flat pattern or one with humps at either end indicating that the measurement process in not in control or not properly specified.

Another graphical method for testing the normality assumption is a probability plot. The points are expected to fall approximately on a straight line if the data come from a normal distribution. Outliers, or data from other distributions, will produce an S-shaped curve.

A graphical method for testing for correlation among measurements is a time-lag plot. Correlation will frequently not be a problem if measurements are properly structured over time. Correlation problems generally occur when measurements are taken so close together in time that the instrument cannot properly recover from one measurement to the next. Correlations over time are usually present but are often negligible.