use trendlines and regression analysis to assist in evaluating the data to reach a useful conclusion.

Case: Performance Lawn Equipment In reviewing the data in the Performance Lawn Equipment Database. Elizabeth Burke noticed that defects received from suppliers have decreased (worksheet Defects After Delivery). Upon investigation, she learned that in 2014, PLE experienced some quality problems due to an increasing number of defects in materials received from suppliers. The company instituted an initiative in August 2015 to work with suppliers to reduce these defects, to more closely coordinate deliveries, and to improve materials quality through reengineering supplier production policies. Ms. Burke noted that the program appeared to reverse an increasing trend in defects; she would like to predict what might have happened had the supplier initiative not been implemented and how the number of defects might further be reduced in the near future. In maating with PL Ele human resources director Ms Burke also discovered a concem about the high rate of turnover in its field service 1. Defects After Delivery 575 813 532 3 Defects per million items received from suppliers 4 Month 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 5 January 812 828 824 682 571 6 Februar 810 832 836 695 7 March 847 818 692 547 8 April 823 839 825 686 542 9 May 832 832 804 10 June 848 840 812 496 11 July 837 849 696 472 12 August 831 857 798 460 13 Septemt 827 839 804 671 441 14 October 838 842 713 645 15 Novemb 826 828 705 438 16 Decemb 819 816 686 603 436 673 681 806 688 445 617 17 Defects after delivery Engines Emp