Ace the 2025 Certified Quality Engineer Exam – Elevate Your Expertise and Shine!

The primary function of a control chart is to identify trends over time. Control charts are graphical tools used in statistical process control to monitor and control the performance of a process by displaying data points in time order along with control limits. These limits are determined based on the natural variation present in the process. By plotting data points on the chart, one can visualize the stability and predictability of the process. If the data points show a upward or downward trend or patterns, it indicates that the process may be changing or may require intervention.

This ability to track changes in process performance over time allows organizations to proactively manage quality, rather than reacting to issues after they arise. It is an essential tool for identifying outliers, trends, and the overall capability of a process, which can contribute to making informed decisions about process improvements.

Other options do not encompass the main function of control charts. While measuring customer satisfaction, enforcing quality standards in production, and analyzing employee performance are all important aspects of quality management, they fall outside the primary function of control charts. Control charts themselves are not designed specifically for these purposes, although trends identified on control charts can indirectly support these areas by ensuring consistent quality outputs.