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Accuracy & Precision - The twin

objectives of world class
manufacturing.

CE

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Accuracy & precision

Accuracy & precision can be best explained by using

the analogy of a rifle firing at a target.

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Accuracy and precision

With the center of the target taken to be the true value of the
characteristic being measured and by the rifle shots representing
the measured values, there are four combinations of accuracy and
precision as depicted in the following slides.

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Inaccurate and imprecise

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Accurate and imprecise

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Precise but inaccurate

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Accurate and precise

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Objectives of world class manufacturing

The objective of world class manufacturing a is to

continuously achieve higher levels of accuracy & precision
in the manufacturing processes.

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Sigma in statistical terms

Standard deviation is also referred to as the Greek letter sigma in quality

management literature. Consequently process variation can be described by how
many sigmas ( i.e how many multiples of standard deviation or SD ) fit within the
specification limits.The higher this number, the better is the quality and vice versa.
Sigma is a statistical measure of the quality consistency for a particular
process / product.

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Sigma process

From a sigma process we come to know that at what

distance, in terms of the standard deviation, the
specification limits are placed from the target value.

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Move beyond 3 sigma

Until a few years back all statistical process controls were

designed on the basis of 3 sigma limits. It is only in the
recent years that this concept has been challenged and
the organizations have started looking for quality levels
beyond 3 Sigma.

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3 Sigma process
Mean=8
SD = 2

LSL

5
- 3 SD

10

11 12 13

USL

14

15

+ 3 SD

Note : LSL is Lower specification limit and USL is Upper specification limit.

16

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4 Sigma process
Mean=8
SD = 1.33

LSL

1 2

5
- 4 SD

10

11 12
+ 4 SD

USL

13 14

15

16

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5 Sigma process
Mean=8
SD = 1.07

LSL

- 5 SD

10

11 12 13
+ 5 SD

USL

14

15

16

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6 Sigma process
Mean=8
SD = 1

LSL

5
- 6 SD

10

11 12 13
+ 6 SD

USL

14

15

16

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Precision

Lesser the standard deviation of the process, more precise or

consistent is the process

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3 Sigma Vs 6 Sigma

The goal of Six Sigma program is to reduce the

variation in every process to such an extent that the
spread of 12 sigmas i.e. 6 Sigmas on either side of
the mean fits within the process specifications. The
figure on next slide shows what this looks like.

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3 Sigma Vs 6 Sigma
6 Sigma curve

LSL

USL
3 Sigma curve

10

11 12 13

14

In a 3 sigma process the values are widely spread along the center line,
showing the higher variation of the process. Whereas in a 6 Sigma
process, the values are closer to the center line showing
less variation in the process.

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3 Sigma Vs 6 Sigma

The comparison on the previous slide also shows a process

in which the process spread of Six Sigmas (ie. 3 Sigmas on
either side just fits within the specifications). In this case
one must be extremely careful to ensure that the process
average never slips off the target, otherwise the curve will
shift and non-conforming items will increase. With Six Sigma
requirement the process mean can shift by as much as 1.5
sigma before the likelihood of non-conforming items is
increased. Even if the process mean does shift off center by
as much as 1.5 sigma, only 3.4 non-conforming items per
million parts should result.

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Amount of process shift allowed

1.5 SD

1.5 SD
LSL

USL
SD = 1

10

11 12 13

14

15

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Calculating non conformities

LSL

Non
conformities

USL

Non
conformities

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Sigma levels and defect rate

Quality level

% Quality

Defective PPM*

3 Sigma

99.73

66807

4 Sigma

99.9937

6210

5 Sigma

99.999943

233

6 Sigma

99.9999998

3.4

*Parts Per Million

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Sigma levels & Cost of quality

Sigma

Defect rate(PPM)

Cost of quality

3.4

<10%

233

10-15%

6210

15-20%

66807

20-30%

308537

30-40%

6,90000

>40%

Competitive level
World
Class

Industry
Average

Non
Competitive