One-sided and two-sided \(w\)-\textit{of}-\(w\) runs-rules schemes: an overall performance perspective and the unified run-length derivations (Q1733148)

Summary: The one-sided and two-sided Shewhart \(w\)-\textit{of}-\(w\) standard and improved runs-rules monitoring schemes to monitor the mean of normally distributed observations from independent and identically distributed (iid) samples are investigated from an overall performance perspective, i.e., the expected weighted run-length (\textit{EWRL}), for every possible positive integer value of \(w\). The main objective of this work is to use the Markov chain methodology to formulate a theoretical \textit{unified approach} of designing and evaluating Shewhart \(w\)-\textit{of}-\(w\) standard and improved runs-rules for one-sided and two-sided \(\overline{X}\) schemes in both the zero-state and steady-state modes. Consequently, the main findings of this paper are as follows: (i) the zero-state and steady-state \textit{ARL} and initial probability vectors of some of the one-sided and two-sided Shewhart \(w\)-\textit{of}-\(w\) standard and improved runs-rules schemes are theoretically similar in design; however, their empirical performances are different and (ii) unlike previous studies that use \textit{ARL} only, we base our recommendations using the zero-state and steady-state \textit{EWRL} metrics and we observe that the steady-state improved runs-rules schemes tend to yield better performance than the other considered competing schemes, separately, for one-sided and two-sided schemes. Finally, the zero-state and steady-state unified approach run-length equations derived here can easily be used to evaluate other monitoring schemes based on a variety of parametric and nonparametric distributions.