In the context of process evaluation, what do run charts help identify?

Run charts are powerful tools used in process evaluation, primarily because they visually represent data points over a specific period of time. This visualization allows teams to clearly see trends, shifts, or patterns in process performance. By plotting data sequentially, run charts help identify fluctuations and changes in process behavior, thereby revealing process variability over time.

Understanding this variability is essential for practitioners as it can signal the presence of underlying issues within the process, such as inconsistencies that might need to be addressed for improvement. Identifying variability also aids in distinguishing between common cause variation, which is inherent to the process, and special cause variation, which may warrant investigation and potential intervention.

Hence, utilizing run charts effectively enables teams to monitor performance metrics and make informed decisions based on historical data trends, ultimately leading to a more refined and improved process.