Measurement System Analysis

A measurement systems analysis (MSA) is a specially

designed experiment that seeks to identify the
components of variation in the measurement.
Why is MSA important ?
u Our ability to assess the performance of a process we
wishto improve is only as good as our ability to measure
it
u The measurement system is our eyes for our process
n We need to be able to see the performance of
our process clearly in order to improve it
n Sometimes, improving the ability to measure our
process results in immediate process
improvements
Sources Of Observed Process
Variaion
OObsbseervrveeddVVariation
Observed Vaaririaatition

iActual
on Process Variation MeMeaassuremeureme
Measurement ntnon
Variation

- Long-term Process Variation

- Short-term Process Variation
Variance
VVaarira
i ancncee Variance
VVaarira
i ancncee
Due to Instrument DueDue
Due to to
Operators
to
- Repeatability - Reproducibility
- Calibration
- Stability
- Linearity

The variation due to the measurement system must be identified first,

then separated from actual process variation
Measurement Variation

u Measurement Variation is broken down into two components: (The

two Rs of Gage R&R)
n Reproducibility (Equipment or Gage or Operator Variability)
l Different individuals get different measurements for the same thing
n Repeatability (Equipment or Gage or Operator Variability)
l A given individual gets different measurements for the same thing when
measured multiple times

u The tool we use to determine the magnitude of these two sources of

measurement system variation is called Gage R&R
Reproducibility (Operators Precision)
u Reproducibility is the variation in the average of the
measurements made by different operators using the
same measuring instrument when measuring the
identical characteristic on the same part

Inspector A

2
o

Inspector B Inspector C
Repeatability (Gage Precision)
u Repeatability is the variation between successive
measurements of the same part, same characteristic,
by the same person using the same equipment
(gage). Also known as test /re-test error, used as an
estimate of short-term variation.

Ideal Process Target

2
g
Bias (Instrument Accuracy)
u Bias is the difference between the observed average
value of measurements and the master value. The master
value is determined by precise measurement typically by
calibration tools linked to an accepted, traceable reference
standard.

Master Value (Reference Standard)

Average Value
Measurement Error
Gage R & R variation is the percentage that Generally recognized criteria for
measurement variation (repeatability and gage acceptability is when
reproducibility) represents of the variation observed Gage R & R variability to process
in the process variability is :
Under 10%: Acceptable gage
10% to 30%: Might be
Observed Measurements acceptable
Over 30%: Gage is
unacceptable and should be
corrected or replaced
True Values Measurement Error

Bias Gage R&R Stability Discrimination Linearity

Repeatability Reproducibility

Operator Operator * Part