RE: Methods to Determine Special vs. Common Cause

[Steven_S_Prevette@rl.gov]

> Does anyone have a definition of "special cause" using natural
> language. 

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I believe that the educational program "Sesame Street" has a fine
definition, even with a little song to go with it.  They have an exercise
called "which one of these things is different?", if I remember right.  Now,
it has been a long time since I have personally seen Sesame Street.

But that is the idea.  A special cause relates to a datum point (or data
points) which is/are "different" than all of the rest, and thus is probably
the result of a different "cause" than all of the rest.

The control chart provides the operational definition of point(s) that are
"different" than all of the rest.

Steve Prevette
QA Engineer, ESH Planning and Performance
Fluor Hanford, A Fluor Global Services Company
ASQ Certified Quality Engineer
steven_s_prevette@rl.gov
509-373-9371
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