Tools for identifying and reducing process variability




















They lead to a systematic view of problems and opportunities. Importantly, visual displays help you identify small but important details that might be missed in other types of analysis. For example, if you are tracking the length of your commute, a summary statistic such as the average mean for the month will tell you the average commute time was higher than usual last month.

A visual display might show you that this is because on a single day, it took you three times as long as usual — perhaps because your car broke down — while every other day closely followed your usual routine. The basic types of visual data displays most closely associated with statistical process control are plots showing data over time e. Here we will dive into run and control charts. Quality improvement requires using data to learn and to predict future performance.

In improvement, it is critical to understand that every process has inherent variation that we want to understand. There are two types:. Intended variation is an important part of effective, patient-centered health care. It is also called purposeful, planned, guided or considered variation. Example: A physician purposely prescribes different doses of a drug to a child and an adult. Unintended variation is due to changes introduced in to health care process that are not purposeful, planned or guided.

They usually create inefficiencies, waste, ineffective care, errors and injuries in our health care system and reducing them usually results in improved outcomes and lower costs. Example: Without realizing it, a physician prescribes pain medication to one person and does not prescribe it to a second person with the same condition due to implicit bias subconscious stereotyping about who needs pain relief.

Variation in a quality measure may result from common causes — expected causes that are inherent in the system. It may also derive from special causes — unnatural causes that are not part of the system but arise due to specific circumstances. In a stable system, only common causes affect the outcomes. Variation is predictable within statistically established limits. By contrast, in an unstable system, outcomes are affected by both common causes and special causes.

In this case, variation is unpredictable. In a quality improvement journey, we use well annotated run charts and control charts to learn from variations in data. A run chart is a graph of data over time. Measurement system analysis. Use and interpret multivariate tools such as principal components, factor analysis, discriminant analysis, multiple analysis of variance etc to investigate sources of variation.

Multi vari studies. Use and interpret charts of these studies and determine the difference between positional, cyclical and temporal variation. Analyze attributes data using logit, probit, logistic regression , etc to investigate sources of variation. Statistical process control SPC. Define and describe the objectives of SPC, including monitoring and controlling process performance, tracking trends, runs, etc and reducing variation in a process. It includes the following:.

Candidates also need to understand its impact on statistical process control. Question: A bottled product must contain at least the volume printed on the label. This is chiefly a legal requirement. Conversely, a bottling company wants to reduce the amount of overfilled bottles. But it needs to keep volume above that on the label. A Decrease the target fill volume only. B Decrease the target fill variation only.

C Firstly decrease the target fill volume. Then decrease the target fill variation. D Firstly decrease the target fill variation. Then decrease the target fill volume. I originally created SixSigmaStudyGuide. Go here to learn how to pass your Six Sigma exam the 1st time through!

View all posts. Ijust wanted to thank you Ive been calling and searching reading etc never could find one source to stay focused on to study. Thanks to you now I have found that course and plan to stay on track any recommendations Thanks for helping and taking the time to help people I really appreciate this really thanks any suggestioins you have for me I appreciate.

I have a write up on how to approach any Six Sigma exam here. I would caution that clear communication with your stakeholders is essential here. Your email address will not be published. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. What is Variation? We call the differences between multiple instances of a single product variation.

Process spread vs centering. Unlock Additional Members-only Content! To unlock additional content, please upgrade now to a full membership. Upgrade to a Full Membership If you are a member, you can log in here. Ted Hessing. Comments 4 Ijust wanted to thank you Ive been calling and searching reading etc never could find one source to stay focused on to study. May God bless you and thanks. Pivoting is essential in many cases as new information is discovered.

The standard deviation represents the typical distance a unit is from the average. On the other hand, the range represents an interval containing all the units. The range is typically 3 to 6 times the standard deviation, depending on the sample size. Frequently, histograms take on a bell-shaped appearance that is referred to as the normal curve as shown below.

For the normal curve, For measurable characteristics like wire length, fill volume, and seal strength, the goal is to optimize the average and reduce the variation. Optimization of the average may mean to center the process as in the case of fill volumes, to maximize the average as is the case with seal strengths, or to minimize the average as is the case with harmful emissions. In all cases, variation reduction is also required to ensure all units are within specifications.

Reducing variation requires the achievement of stable and capable processes. The figure below shows an unstable process. The process is constantly changing.

The average shifts up and down. The variation increases and decreases. The total variation increases due to the shifting. Instead, stable processes are desired as shown below. Stable processes produce a consistent level of performance. The total variation is reduced.

The process is more predictable. However, stability is not the only thing required. Once a consistent performance has been achieved, the remaining variation must be made to safely fit within the specification limits.

Such a process is said to be stable and capable. Such a process can be relied on to consistently produce good product. A capability study is used to determine whether a process is stable and capable. It involves collecting samples over a period of time. The average and standard deviation of each time period are estimated and these estimates plotted in the form of a control chart.

These control charts are used to determine if the process is stable. If it is, the data can be combined into a single histogram to determine its capability. To help determine if the process is capable, several capability indices are used to measure how well the histogram fits within the specification limits.

One index, called Cp, is used to evaluate the variation. Another index, Cpk, is used to also evaluate the centering of the process. Together these two indices are used to decide whether the process passes. The values required to pass depending on the severity of the defect major, minor, critical. While capability studies evaluate the ability of a process to consistently produce good product, it does little to help achieve such processes.

Reducing variation and the achievement of stable processes requires the use of numerous variation reduction tools.

Variation of the output is caused by variation of the inputs. Consider a pump. An output is flow rate. Suppose the pump uses a piston to draw solution into a chamber through one opening and then pushes it back out another opening. Valves are used to keep the solution moving in the right direction. The flow rate will be affected by piston radius, stroke length, motor speed and valve backflow, to name a few.

Flow rate varies because piston radius, stroke length, etc. Variation of the inputs is transmitted to the output as shown below. Reducing variation requires identifying the key input variables affecting the outputs and then establishing controls on these inputs to ensure that the outputs conform to their established specifications.

In general, one must identify the key input variables, understand the effect of these inputs on the output, understand how the inputs behave and finally, use this information to establish targets nominals and tolerances windows for the inputs. One type of designed experiment called a screening experiment can be used to identify the key inputs. Another type of designed experiment called a response surface study can be used to obtain a detailed understanding of the effects of the key inputs on the outputs.

Capability studies can be used to understand the behavior of the key inputs. Armed with this knowledge, robust design methods can be used to identify optimal targets for the inputs and tolerance analysis can be used to establish operating windows or control schemes that ensure the output consistently conforms to requirements.

The obvious approach to reducing variation is to tighten tolerances on the inputs. This improves quality but generally drives up costs. The robust design methods provide an alternative. Robust design works by selecting targets for the inputs that make the outputs less sensitive more robust to the variation of the inputs as shown below. The result is less variation and higher quality but without the added costs.

Several approaches to robust design exist including Taguchi methods, dual response approach and robust tolerance analysis. Another important tool is a control chart. A control chart can be used to help determine whether any key input has been missed and if so to help identify them. Many other tools also exist for identifying key inputs and sources of variation including component swapping studies, multi-vari charts, analysis of means ANOM , variance components analysis, and analysis of variance ANOVA.

When studying variation, good measurements are required. Appears as Annex A of the document. Now we have seen 2 failures on 60 samples, so the team is recommending to go to lot acceptance sampling plan for attributes and Normal inspection II. So we produced a lot of so they are recommending the we test samples and accept the lot if we have 7 or less failures AQL 1. Can this be done and how will this be justified? Following that, the validation can be repeated. I generally use double sampling plans, as they keep the initial sample size close to 60, but allow a second larger sample in the case of a nonconforming.

The alternate plans reduce the chance of false rejections. Selecting validations sampling plans is based on confidence statements and RQLs. Selecting a sampling plan for validation based on AQLs in inappropriate. That does mean we ignore the AQL, as it helps us to determine the chance of false rejection, but the focus is the RQL.

Hello Taylor, Could you explain more regarding to the last paragraph? Is it correct and why it is different with process validation? Your email address will not be published.



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