The run chart is a useful tool to show patterns and trends in specific data points. It looks a lot like a line graph, except it doesn’t show changes over time. When you use a run chart, you are looking to show what specific trends and patterns are popular or not. Think about it. If you need to know what trendy items someone is buying, on a large scale, then you can tailor your business to that specific trend, and do so for many years.
However, there are cautions to be taken with relying solely on run charts. They should be used in conjunction with other kinds of data. This said, a run chart will never be able to show if something is sustainable over time. It doesn’t deal with limits.
