Data visualization tools can provide very powerful information and insight
when performing data analysis. In many situations, a set of data can be ade
quately analyzed through data visualization methods alone. In other situati
ons, data visualization can be used for preliminary data analysis. In this
paper, radial plots are developed as a SAS-based data visualization tool th
at can improve one's ability to monitor, analyze and control a process. Usi
ng the program developed in this research, we present two examples of data
analysis using radial plots; the first example is based on data from a part
icle board manufacturing process and the second example is a business proce
ss for monitoring the time-varying level of stock return data. (C) 2001 Els
evier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.