The PROC SHEWHART statement starts the SHEWHART procedure and it optionally identifies various data sets.

To create a Shewhart chart, you specify a chart statement (after the PROC SHEWHART statement) that specifies the type of Shewhart chart you want to create and the variables in the input data set that you want to analyze. For example, the following statements request and charts:

proc shewhart data=Values;
   xrchart Weight*Lot;
run;

Here, the DATA= option specifies an input data set (Values) with the process measurement variable (Weight) and the subgroup-variable (Lot). ¹

You can use options in the PROC SHEWHART statement to

• specify input data sets containing variables to be analyzed, control limit information, or annotation information

• specify a graphics catalog for saving traditional graphics

• specify whether charts are to be produced as traditional graphics or line printer charts

• define characters used for features on line printer charts

See Chapter 3, SAS/QC Graphics, for a detailed discussion of the alternatives available for producing charts with SAS/QC procedures.

Note: If you are learning to use the SHEWHART procedure, you should read both this section and the "Getting Started" subsection in the section for the chart statement that corresponds to the chart you want to create.