Attribute control charts for monitoring the covariance matrix of bivariate processes

In this article, we consider the use of 3 attribute charts—the npxy, the npw and the Max D charts—to control the covariance matrix of bivariate processes. In comparison with the generalized variance |S| chart, the 3 attribute charts signal faster, with smaller samples, all kind of disturbances, except when the 2 variables are highly correlated. To compete with the VMAX chart, the Max D chart needs larger samples, but no more than twice bigger. An example illustrates the monitoring of the covariance matrix using the Max D and npw.