Purpose: This paper introduces new 2-of-3 main and supplementary runs rules to increase the performance of the classical $ar{X}$ control chart for detecting small process shifts. Methods: The proposed runs rules are compared with other competitive runs rules by numerical experiments. Nonlinear optimization problem to minimize the out-of-control ARL at a specified shift of process mean for determining action and warning limits at a time is formulated and a procedure to find two limits is illustrated with a numerical example. Results: The proposed 2-of-3 main and supplementary runs rules demonstrate an improved performance over other runs rules in detecting a sudden shift of process mean by simultaneous changes of mean and standard deviation. Conclusion: To increase the performance in the detection of small to moderate shifts, the proposed runs rules will be used with $ar{X}$ control charts.