A model for the joint economic design of X̄ and R control charts is developed. This model assumes that the process is subject to two assignable causes. One assignable cause shifts the process mean; the other shifts the process variance. The occurrence of the assignable cause of one kind does not block the occurrence of the assignable cause of another kind. Consequently, a second process parameter can go out-of-control after the first process parameter has gone out-of-control. A numerical study of the cost surface to the model considered has revealed that it is convex, at least in the interest region.UNESP,FEG,DEPT PROD,BR-12500 GUARATINGUETA,SP,BRAZILUNESP,FEG,DEPT PROD,BR-12500 GUARATINGUETA,SP,BRAZIL