Creating a random series of numbers in Excel for QC

If you need to generate a list of random numbers in Excel you may want to avoid using the RANDBETWEEN formula. It will return duplicate numbers:

This is not ideal if your aim is to select numbered entries on a spreadsheet to review at random. You can generate a random list of numbers without duplicates by using the RAND formula instead. Enter the RAND formula in a column adjacent to the data set you are QCing.

The RAND formula will generate new numbers each time the spreadsheet is edited. To get a static list of randomly generated numbers copy the results and use the paste values option. Then you can sort the data by the formula results to randomly select entries to review: