The SCHART statement creates an s chart for subgroup standard deviations, which is used to analyze the variability of a process.[35]
You can use options in the SCHART statement to
compute control limits from the data based on a multiple of the standard error of the plotted standard deviations or as probability limits
tabulate subgroup sample sizes, subgroup standard deviations, control limits, and other information
save control limits in an output data set
save subgroup sample sizes, subgroup means, and subgroup standard deviations in an output data set
read preestablished control limits from a data set
specify a method for estimating the process standard deviation
specify a known (standard) process standard deviation for computing control limits
display distinct sets of control limits for data from successive time phases
add block legends and symbol markers to reveal stratification in process data
superimpose stars at points to represent related multivariate factors
clip extreme points to make the chart more readable
display vertical and horizontal reference lines
control axis values and labels
control layout and appearance of the chart
You have three alternatives for producing s charts with the SCHART statement:
ODS Graphics output is produced if ODS Graphics is enabled, for example by specifying the ODS GRAPHICS ON statement prior to the PROC statement.
Otherwise, traditional graphics are produced by default if SAS/GRAPH® is licensed.
Legacy line printer charts are produced when you specify the LINEPRINTER option in the PROC statement.
See Chapter 3: SAS/QC Graphics, for more information about producing these different kinds of graphs.
[35] You can also use R charts for this purpose; see RCHART Statement: SHEWHART Procedure. In general, s charts are recommended with large subgroup sample sizes ().