Turning Judgment Calls into Reliable Data with Gage R&R
One of the biggest challenges in making improvements in transactional processes is getting data which can be relied upon. There is an abundance of categorical data in transactional areas – situations...
View ArticleChallenges of Discrete and Attribute Data Measurement
More than ever, companies today realize the importance of measurement – everything from measuring performance to measuring gap closure – in order to achieve goals. Measurement is the process of...
View ArticleTrusting the Data: Gage R&R in Transactional Projects
An essential component of any Six Sigma project is the gage R&R step conducted during the Measure phase. Traditional training will cover the full analysis of variance (ANOVA) of a set of continuous...
View ArticlePerception Versus Reality: Importance of Measurement
At a high level, there is usually agreement on the big issues in any healthcare organization. Through observation and feedback alone, key stakeholders may realize there are problems with excessive wait...
View ArticleMeasurement Uncertainty as a Real World Issue
As the industrial world continues to become more competitive, measurement tolerances will become tighter. At the same time, customers insist that products be produced at a lower cost. In this...
View ArticleA Simple Way to Test Data Without Doing a Gage R&R
In Six Sigma work, practitioners normally are expected to conduct a gage R&R study to verify that that the measurement systems being used are providing measurements free from variations due to...
View ArticleProper Data Granularity Allows for Stronger Analysis
Can we trust the data? This is the fundamental question behind measurement system analysis (MSA). The question can come up in any data-based project. Shortcomings in a measurement system’s accuracy...
View ArticleThe Power of Gage R&R in the Pharmaceutical Industry
There is usually a strong belief that a validated analytical method, either partly automated or fully manual is simply perfect and cannot generate any defect since it complies with highly demanding...
View ArticleMeasurement Systems Analysis in Process Industries
The gage R&R study is the standard tool in the Six Sigma process improvement methodology to evaluate the adequacy of a measurement system with regard to measurement variability. While it is well...
View ArticleMeeting ITIL SLAs: MSA for Project Completion Time
A common service level agreement (SLA) measurement among Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) practitioners is project completion time, in one form or another. Many use a percent...
View ArticleAttribute Agreement Analysis for Defect Databases
A defect database that tracks errors in processes (or even products) – a database that is so sophisticated that it actually tracks where the defect occurred in addition to the type of defect – can...
View ArticleMaking Sense of Attribute Gage R&R Calculations
Measurement error is unavoidable. There will always be some measurement variation that is due to the measurement system itself. Most problematic measurement system issues come from measuring attribute...
View ArticleMeasurement System Analysis Resolution, Granularity
Quality improvement methodologies and the analyses that are performed within your organization are only as good as the data on which they are based. That is why it is essential to make sure that your...
View ArticleCharacterizing the Measurement Process
Measurement system analysis (MSA) can be fun, always impresses the customer, and can often result in an important surprise or two. Learn why gage R&R is only one part of the equation for achieving...
View ArticleAnomaly in Normality: The Importance of Selecting the Right Measurement Scale
A number of improvement projects are hampered because of lack of quality data. Engineers tend to overlook the importance of validating the measurement system, and even more importantly often times...
View ArticleGain Continuous Measurement System Validation with a 5/3 Strategy
Manufacturing processes vary over time. Occasional large, special-cause events that are sprinkled against a background of lesser variation are natural to the process. Most processes, as a result, use a...
View ArticleThe Art of Measuring What Matters
“Ensure that every measure of performance is pertinent to the achievement of a goal or value of your organization. Otherwise, you risk misdirecting the organization.” –Peter Drucker, Management: Tasks,...
View ArticleMeasurement System Redesign and Innovative Data Management
A multinational paper company wanted to reduce its cost of poor quality. The company recognized an opportunity to use Six Sigma concepts to minimize variability in its processes. The post Measurement...
View ArticleA Comparison of Measurement System Analysis Metrics: Part 1 of 2
The precision of a measurement system is commonly assessed using a gage repeatability and reproducibility (GR&R) study. In Part 1, this article describes available GR&R metrics. Part 2 covers...
View ArticleA Comparison of Measurement System Analysis Metrics: Part 2 of 2
The precision of a measurement system is commonly assessed using a gage repeatability and reproducibility (GR&R) study. Part 1 of this article discussed metrics used in measurement system...
View ArticleUnderstand the Difference Between Verification and Validation
Many people use the terms verification and validation interchangeably without realizing the difference between the two. Not understanding that difference can lead to many models that do not truly...
View ArticleAvoid Two Common Mistakes in Measurement System Analysis
Measurement system analysis (MSA) determines whether the measurement system is adequate and confirms that significant error is not introduced to the true value of a process characteristic. MSA is the...
View ArticleMSA: Be Sure that Your Data Is Valid
Data is the lifeblood of Lean Six Sigma. But that data must be measured reliably. Be sure to choose the right method to validate your data. The post MSA: Be Sure that Your Data Is Valid appeared first...
View ArticleCase Study: Use Category Resolution to Assess Gage R&R Results
Although the gage reproducibility and repeatability (GR&R) study is a crucial tool in Six Sigma’s DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control) toolset, it is not the most glamorous; mistakes...
View ArticleMastering Gage R&R: Key Steps for a Successful Study
You want to make good data-driven decisions, but can you trust your data? Is the measurement system you used to gather the data giving you precise and consistent measurements? A Gage R&R study will...
View ArticleMaking Informed Decisions: The Power of Measurement System Analysis (MSA)
Making data-driven decisions is critical in today’s business environment, but can you trust your measurement system to give you meaningful data? Measurement System Analysis is the tool you need to know...
View ArticleUnderstanding Reproducibility: Ensuring Reliable Measurement Systems
If you have your three laboratory technicians measure the same samples using the same equipment and measurement process will they give you the same answers? Let’s learn more about the concept of...
View ArticleWhy Calibration is Essential for Quality Control
Calibration is the act of testing the accuracy of measurement equipment and adjusting it to conform to an independent standard. The post Why Calibration is Essential for Quality Control appeared first...
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