A neural network-based control scheme for monitoring start-up processes and short runs

Traditional control charts are commonly used as a monitoring tool in long-run processes. However, such control charts, due to the need for phase I analysis, are not suitable for start-up processes or short runs. Q control charts have been developed to help monitor start-up processes and short runs. In this article, a back propagation network is proposed for detecting a mean shift in start-up processes and short runs. In-control run length distribution of the control scheme is estimated using simulation study to provide information about the possibility of a false alarm within a specified number of observations. Performance of the proposed control scheme is assessed using different performance measures. It is shown numerically that the proposed control scheme outperforms the CUSUM of Q charts in detecting small to moderate mean shifts.